RE: BMW exposes X3 and X4 M to the world
Discussion
pb8g09 said:
If your missus is gonna force you to get a big SUV, you may as well get the fastest and most fun if you can afford it?!
My Mrs forces me NOT to have an SUV. (I fixed your grammar for you, BTW 
)IforB said:
I suppose the dislike is based upon the idea that these cars are by their very nature dynamically flawed because of their size, height, CofG, weight etc.
An M-car has always been a dynamically impressive car that has been optimised to be as good as it gets in that class. These things will never be that, as the non-X versions of the same cars will hand them their backsides, but they will meet the other idea of a normal car optimised to be as good as it can be.
Personally, I'm completely non-plussed by these things. They will always be compromised compared to their normal siblings and were it to be my money, it would be the M3 and not the X3M I'd get
I think I agree with you: if I wanted to blast across a continent at 250km/h I wouldn't want to be sitting that far off the ground in a 2 tonne truck, thank you very much, however developed its chassis may be.An M-car has always been a dynamically impressive car that has been optimised to be as good as it gets in that class. These things will never be that, as the non-X versions of the same cars will hand them their backsides, but they will meet the other idea of a normal car optimised to be as good as it can be.
Personally, I'm completely non-plussed by these things. They will always be compromised compared to their normal siblings and were it to be my money, it would be the M3 and not the X3M I'd get
Why is everyone so whiny over a few fast SUVs? FFS, not everyone can be bothered / afford to / justify a focused Caterham or even a 911.
Some people (myself included) have a necessity to have a load-lugger. Some people (also me) don't want to chug about in my 2 litre diesel. We enjoy driving, and enjoy driving quickly, and there's something fun about 400bhp wheel-barrows, like it or not.
The more they build, the better; everyone loves choice.
And you know what, when i don't have children, and dogs, and enjoy camping at festivals and sticking a few MTBs in the car or on the roof, i might go out and buy a 911 RS or a Caterham 420 - but until then, you can stick it.
Some people (myself included) have a necessity to have a load-lugger. Some people (also me) don't want to chug about in my 2 litre diesel. We enjoy driving, and enjoy driving quickly, and there's something fun about 400bhp wheel-barrows, like it or not.
The more they build, the better; everyone loves choice.
And you know what, when i don't have children, and dogs, and enjoy camping at festivals and sticking a few MTBs in the car or on the roof, i might go out and buy a 911 RS or a Caterham 420 - but until then, you can stick it.
IforB said:
An M-car has always been a dynamically impressive car that has been optimised to be as good as it gets in that class. These things will never be that, as the non-X versions of the same cars will hand them their backsides, but they will meet the other idea of a normal car optimised to be as good as it can be.
Surely you've contradicted yourself? You're saying an M-car has been dynamically impressive and as good as it gets in that class, then proceeded to say it won't be as good dynamically as something else in a different class?Not a car for me, but I don't understand the hatred towards these. If people want a car of this ilk, why shouldn't they be allowed to have a high performance one?
Daaaveee said:
I definitely prefer the X3 over the X4 though, something about the rear doesn't quite sit right with me.
I'm the same and I'm not fond of the rear of the X4, but I've not seen one in the metal so maybe it looks better when you see it. I really like the idea of a X3M though. I've always liked the X5M too and I loved my X5 4.8iS...even though in many ways it was a pointless performance vehicle(big/heavy/not that great in the bends/crap under braking). I still miss it loads for some reason though.
kambites said:
simonbamg said:
Tut tut, going from a estate to an SUV is against pistonheads forum law!
The difference between the two seems to be more styling than anything fundamental these days anyway. It's not like these things have enormous ground clearance or live-axles anymore. I'd be interested to know how much higher the CoG of an X3 is compared to a similarly engined 3-series estate. I bet there's not much in it.
What seems odd is all the save the planet goodness engineers have done with engines and powertrains that then gets undone by heavy un-aerodynamic bodies.... CAR did a piece on it recently...no-one cares though right? electric is coming along nicely and that can shift even heavier lumps at a pace that keep the stat-nerds happy.
The biggest appeal to the F8x M3/M4 to me is the flared arches, wider track and the very aggressive and purposeful look, a 440i might have more than enough shove but it’s the whole package for me, the fact that it’s a unique model, it’s a head turner. It has a different gearbox, different engine with huge power gains over the next model below, they’re unique.
I get the impression these won’t have a massive power difference to the M40i models as they come with 380 bhp now, they’ll all have autos and the difference may be like a standard 440i and a 440i with the MPPK.
That being said, someone who’s 6’3 with 2 kids in baby seats, wont find the M3 practical enough with those massive buckets and having to kneel down to get the kids in the seats so I do see where this could make sense, the M5 is a 100 k car, residuals will be poor which will keep the monthlies above 800 pounds, these will be in a whole different price bracket so I do see the point.
I get the impression these won’t have a massive power difference to the M40i models as they come with 380 bhp now, they’ll all have autos and the difference may be like a standard 440i and a 440i with the MPPK.
That being said, someone who’s 6’3 with 2 kids in baby seats, wont find the M3 practical enough with those massive buckets and having to kneel down to get the kids in the seats so I do see where this could make sense, the M5 is a 100 k car, residuals will be poor which will keep the monthlies above 800 pounds, these will be in a whole different price bracket so I do see the point.
I remember the days when I would buy a car magazine (remember those) whenever there was an article about a BMW with an "M" in it's name, these just leave me totally cold to the point I couldn't even make it through the entire article. M= ST line= R Line = S line. I guess it make BMW money which is what it is all about, forget the motorsport links just add some big wheels and spoilers.
Edible Roadkill said:
Yawn....how much a month is all the owners will need to know.
Yawn.....same with just about any other car then?You state that as if it's some kind of problem, if it is, please can you explain why that's an issue? Or is the way you pay for your cars the right way, and nobody else can have it another way?
So what should the M badge be reserved for ?
Obviously, no big cars like the M5, nobody races them really, too big, no gin palace convertibles like the M6, No SUV's. no tarty little 2 seaters like Z M cars.
So, just stuff that people race, that would be a 2 litre one series with big wings, no interior etc like the touring cars.
Should they be all stripped out ?
Obviously, no big cars like the M5, nobody races them really, too big, no gin palace convertibles like the M6, No SUV's. no tarty little 2 seaters like Z M cars.
So, just stuff that people race, that would be a 2 litre one series with big wings, no interior etc like the touring cars.
Should they be all stripped out ?
People like the vision a higher riding car gives them, getting in and out is easier with kids and if BMW/Merc et al, can still make them handle well, then for people who only run one car they get a bit of shove to go with it when the road allows. 
What's not to like?
I've never driven a car where I couldn't find something to like about it- wheres the love people!?
Renault Cactus hire car- a truly awful thing but perfectly fine if you want to get about in an easy to use, easy to park piece of transport.
What's not to like?
I've never driven a car where I couldn't find something to like about it- wheres the love people!?
Renault Cactus hire car- a truly awful thing but perfectly fine if you want to get about in an easy to use, easy to park piece of transport.
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