RE: BMW M850i xDrive: Driven

[Ares]

aston addict said:

Mercedes S Class coupe. Although I think it’s more expensive. 911 maybe - probably similar room in the back! And LC coupe - even with the cheese grater grille it’s a better looking car.

Bentley Conti and DB11 way more money so not really rivals.

Agree on the LC & 911, different markets though? although LC potentially suffers from the same over designing.

The Merc is awkward and obviously saloon based (although less so that previous gen)

[Ares]

spikyone said:

And to answer Ares, it's not the ugliest car on the road, but the car at the right end of the beauty scale is the DB11 Volante. That'll be just ahead of the DBS Superleggera Volante, judging by recent photos.

£75k BMW fails to impress as much at £150k Aston Martin....?

[Enda78]

I must be one of the few who like it. Hopefully they follow the dame depreciation curve as the 6 and I can pick one up in about 1.5-2 years.

[NJJ]

They do look better in the flesh having seen a few in Munich. The rear design is overly fussy though and hardly elegant. But if BMW really want to inject some prestige into the brand again, give some differentiation to their interiors. The cabin is just not special enough in it's design, yes high quality, but no real difference when compared to 7/6/5 Series.


And stop selling stuff like the 2 Series Active Tourer and 6 Series GT or whatever it is called. They've come too far away from the Ultimate Driving Machine. That was their trick in the 90s /00s.

[stavr0ss]

Lots of people begging the question ‘if this is ugly, what is beautiful?’ - personally I’d hold up the Alfa Romeo Giulia, okay its not available in coupe form yet but from the front to the back it’s hands down a better looking car. If we’re strictly talking ‘GT’ it gets trickier but Jaguar still make a decent fist of this with the F type (if that counts- go back 4-5 years and the XK hold up well IMO) or the Maserati granturismo...

[Rindergulasch]

Useless rear seats in such a huge dreadnought? No air suspension? Design just as bulbous, vulgar and ostentatious as all the other recent BMW coupes? The CEO should stick the whole board of directors in a trainee program at Mercedes.

[Shiv_P]

Why do BMW have to make such consistently miserable interiors?

[beanoir]

too fussy at the front, too fussy at the rear, lost in the middle. Exhausts look hideous, front look as ugly (or possibly more so) than the famously over styled M2, ok for the younger audience but not for the target demography of a large GT.

The last 6 series was a beautiful looking car

[sidesauce]

beanoir said:

too fussy at the front, too fussy at the rear, lost in the middle. Exhausts look hideous, front look as ugly (or possibly more so) than the famously over styled M2, ok for the younger audience but not for the target demography of a large GT.

The last 6 series was a beautiful looking car

As a current 6-series owner I'm very much looking forward to testing one of these.

[SalesManager]

Massive Yawn. Honestly would you have fun in this on British roads? No of course not. Looks like a car built for footballers wanting to show off how big their wallets are.

You'd have more fun slinging an M135i around English country lanes than that pimped up bloat-wagon.

[SalesManager]

Ares said:

So what current car is beautifully designed (genuinely intrigued)

[Housey]

Want to lose 60K in 12 months and not via an R8 or 570S?

I present the BMW 8 Series.

Epic depreciation guaranteed.

[Chestrockwell]

SalesManager said:

Yes but these are small sports cars that don’t have any compromises like the 8. The 8 is meant to be a big comfortable cruiser that’s also quick, it’s hard make a car that big look as slick as a 911 or Cayman, want proof? Look at the Panamera!

[ZX10R NIN]

At that price you'd go straight to Mercedes & buy an S500 Coupe.

[Chestrockwell]

ZX10R NIN said:

At that price you'd go straight to Mercedes & buy an S500 Coupe.

Good point, I’m a big fan of the S Coupe but I can’t help but think it’s comparable to the 8 series, I feel like they’re different cars in nature.

I’m in no position to buy either but by looking at an S Coupe, interior and everything, I see a car bought by people who want something luxurious and quiet. Someone who has an interest in cars but not in a hurry, just wants something quiet and comfortable.

Judging by the appearance, figures and interior of the M850i, it looks like the complete opposite, the same car on paper but with a different purpose.

If I won the lottery, the last car I’d buy would be an S class Coupe, even the AMG, that’s not to say I don’t like it, I love it, but it’s just too old man like for me. That’s what separates it from the BMW, you could be 65 and own it or you could be 35 and own it. I think it will be successful on that basis.

Mercedes Benz - The best or nothing

BMW - The ultimate driving machine.

[Chestrockwell]

Couldn’t upload 2 photos for some reason.

Find someone who doesn’t know about BMW or Mercedes and ask them which slogan belongs to which interior.

They’re the same but completely different in nature. (The cars)

[jzakariya]

Murphy16 said:

That rear bumper design is messy as hell, and the fake trapezoid exhaust tips look a bit silly.

Hate these on any car, but especially bad looking on this one.

[CaptainSensib1e]

Nerdherder said:

Makes me want to buy a Mustang.

The side profile of the 8 series is very similar to a Mustang. Not that that's a bad thing....

[kuiper]

Ah, the glorious 8 series.

As BMW further and further dilutes it's model niches, it is presumably soon to be seen in 4 door guise. And as a convertible. And a 'gran' hatchback.

That front grill is as hideous as all the other recent ones they've done.


I really want to like it, but no.

[Ares]

kuiper said:

Ah, the glorious 8 series.

As BMW further and further dilutes it's model niches, it is presumably soon to be seen in 4 door guise. And as a convertible. And a 'gran' hatchback.

That front grill is as hideous as all the other recent ones they've done.


I really want to like it, but no.

Did you feel that same way when the 6 Gran Coupe was launched? Did that dilute its model niches? That's one of BMW highlights in the last 10 yrs IMO.