RE: BMW 7 Series: Driven
Discussion
Kolbenkopp said:
BTW, the Kia/Hyundai cars are styled with Peter Schreyer (ex Audi, did the TT) at the helm. He is doing a very good job IMO.
Kia and Hyundai are doing a better job of styling than any of the "premium" German brands at the moment, IMO. Soon people will have to switch to criticising ugly Korean cars by saying they "look German". 
bigfatnick said:
very little mention of road noise. Why does nobody care about the horrible drone of road noise any more. and why dont we have anti sound getting pumped into cars, noise cancellation headphones style.
also, the only petrols in the uk are now straight 6. No V8 or V12. Shame.
There's a V12 coming next year! Road noise seemed very well suppressed from front and back I think.also, the only petrols in the uk are now straight 6. No V8 or V12. Shame.
Edited by bigfatnick on Sunday 18th October 22:10
Matt
It's a shame that the European market for luxury/executive limousines is largely confined to the Germans.
If economy no object - I'll import a Toyota Century
If economy a consideration - I'll import a Crown Hybrid
If for some reason it absolutely has to be a diesel, then fine I'll take the bloody 730d!
Now cue the fierce poo-pooing of anything that isn't a 7 series or an S-Class, mix it with some comments about "German engineering" and perhaps something entirely misinformed about "Japanese interiors" and then it'll once again become entirely apparent that those marketing departments in Stuttgart and Munich have you all wrapped round their neatly manicured little fingers, lol. There is an automotive world outside the domestic market - it's only a shame you'll never be able to work out an easy financing solution in terms of bringing in grey imports new :/
If economy no object - I'll import a Toyota Century
If economy a consideration - I'll import a Crown Hybrid
If for some reason it absolutely has to be a diesel, then fine I'll take the bloody 730d!
Now cue the fierce poo-pooing of anything that isn't a 7 series or an S-Class, mix it with some comments about "German engineering" and perhaps something entirely misinformed about "Japanese interiors" and then it'll once again become entirely apparent that those marketing departments in Stuttgart and Munich have you all wrapped round their neatly manicured little fingers, lol. There is an automotive world outside the domestic market - it's only a shame you'll never be able to work out an easy financing solution in terms of bringing in grey imports new :/
Will sell well in places like China where it is all about rear seat comfort. This is the way that the barge market is going unfortunately, even the new Quattroporte had its character ironed out and was replaced by a bigger, more comfortable but not necessarily better car.
Best driving diesel barge on sale today is Jaguar's XJ, a superb drive.
Regards,
MyCC.
Best driving diesel barge on sale today is Jaguar's XJ, a superb drive.
Regards,
MyCC.
Supremely technical and no doubt a very 'good' car.
But... The 7-series isn't alone in this but it's lost its elegance. White probably doesn't help but it looks generic. They seem to be walking the 7-series into a big pot of large execs. What would make this car stand out against a high-end Lexus, Kia and even Hyundai? I dunno. The BMW is gonna have a tough fight on its hands with this car in this sector.
But... The 7-series isn't alone in this but it's lost its elegance. White probably doesn't help but it looks generic. They seem to be walking the 7-series into a big pot of large execs. What would make this car stand out against a high-end Lexus, Kia and even Hyundai? I dunno. The BMW is gonna have a tough fight on its hands with this car in this sector.
Kolbenkopp said:
They are styling stuff to help exports to places where there is a tendency to prefer extroverted bling (to put it mildly 
). It is wrong IMO, they would sell the same or more if they went back to a more understated, simple and function derived styling. Especially as all the others are doing the OTT dross as well, so it just escalates and ends up looking sillier as time goes by.
Oh, I agree and it's understandable in commercial terms, if not to my personal aesthetic taste. The new seven does look contemporary, its just that "contemporary" doesn't do much for me in the case of quite a few modern cars. I'm all for looking forward but BMWs are becoming less distinctive (and imo less "distinctly BMW"), which is different to being subtle / understated.). It is wrong IMO, they would sell the same or more if they went back to a more understated, simple and function derived styling. Especially as all the others are doing the OTT dross as well, so it just escalates and ends up looking sillier as time goes by.Kolbenkopp said:
BTW, the Kia/Hyundai cars are styled with Peter Schreyer (ex Audi, did the TT) at the helm. He is doing a very good job IMO.
I'm aware and I agree that many of the up and coming Eastern brands are immeasurably better in their offerings 
I really think its hard to go wrong with modern cars - they're all pretty much doable, so the choice is more obviously based on personal preference as opposed to any material deficiency of competence / functionality / content.Zod said:
It looks fine to me.
That's the thing. i think you'd struggle to call it objectively offensive at all (which is a debatable point in the case of some other cars in BMW's lineup of late). But whilst it's more contemporary than say and E38 and less "challenging" than a pre-facelift E65 may have seemed when Bangle unleashed it on us, the G-model is just a bit bland. I personally think BMWs should be either functional and understated, or suave and understated. You could argue this meets those criteria but its a bit of a underdone result that lacks an obvious identity. lose the kidney grills and the badges and aside from the vestigial Hofmeister kink, its a complete anonobarge. Which is sad given that historically speaking they have some good form for looking nice and driving well (all sevens up to and including the E38 at the least, imo - I've only driven the E32 and E38 though).I'm glad that not everyone see it the same way as that would be even more dull than the car looks!
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