RE: BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe | Driven

[daytona111r]

I just see a sperm whale when I look at this

[MDL111]

I agree not has handsome as the 6GC, it seems like cars are getting a over-styled nowadays. I did see the 8GC recently and in person next to other cars it actually looks quite handsome / or not as bad as in some pictures

[ilikejam]

Surely won't be long until Kia's lawyers are on the phone?

[cerb4.5lee]

pycraft said:

Jex said:

Why is front wheel drive seen as downmarket? Ok, for ultimate performance, rear wheel drive is better, but in real world driving, especially in the winter, front wheel drive is better (unless the engine is in the back).

Because traditionally, front wheel drive was cheaper to produce. And all the cheap car manufacturers used FWD whilst all the expensive ones used RWD.

Beyond that, there has always been something of a macho element to it; as you say, performance is better with RWD whilst behaviour is more predictable and safe with FWD, creating an environment where favouring FWD said (a) you didn't care enough about performance and (b) you were either too poor a driver, or too much of a wimp, to master the problems of RWD in the wet/snow/whatever.

I think FWD feels downmarket though and my Mini cooper S is seriously unpredictable in the wet and it just drags you all over the road under hard acceleration. RWD never feels as crude as that to me and it is just far more predictable.

I find the Mini fun don't get me wrong, but I just think that it is a cheap and nasty way of doing things and I certainly much prefer RWD(not because it is macho but just because it is much better imo).

[SturdyHSV]

Sensibly sized kidney grills? U wot m8?

They only look vaguely sensible because of the scale of recent BMW design jokes

[anonymous-user]

parabolica said:

Your wish is their command: X8 coming soon

What the stting crikey is that?

[parabolica]

Simonium said:

What the stting crikey is that?

well they had to make something big enough that those front grills would fit onto and not look out of proportion.

[John.Taylor]

Is this the facelift Kia Stinger?

[pycraft]

cerb4.5lee said:

I think FWD feels downmarket though and my Mini cooper S is seriously unpredictable in the wet and it just drags you all over the road under hard acceleration. RWD never feels as crude as that to me and it is just far more predictable.

I find the Mini fun don't get me wrong, but I just think that it is a cheap and nasty way of doing things and I certainly much prefer RWD(not because it is macho but just because it is much better imo).

Swings and roundabouts. And on the subject of roundabouts, as the owner of a FWD Cooper and a RWD 335iGT I'd say it depends on where you're driving; my wife has had bad experiences with roundabouts and RWD! Most of my entertaining driving is done in the Downs, where the roads are to be honest too twisty and narrow to get to the point where it makes a difference; oversteer or understeer, still means hedge.

[cerb4.5lee]

pycraft said:

oversteer or understeer, still means hedge.

I've been more close to crashing in the Mini in the last 2 years than I have since I started driving(nearly 30 years ago). I don't know whether it is because I respect RWD more(plus I have more experience with it), or I just don't get on with(understand) FWD enough.

[MX6]

I think it looks quite decent, the overall proportions and shape are not displeasing. It does look a big machine especially from the side profile. Yes the grill looks better than those huge ones BMW are putting on the 7 series and others, but it still looks on the large side. It would look better if it were more similar to that of the i8.

The interior looks nice enough, though maybe not really special enough for a car of this price, could be from a 4 series. On paper the motor seems more than ample for a road car, though expectations have inflated.

It's not really a car that especially appeals to me for £70k, but it one of those that could look interesting after a few years of big depreciation.

[spikyone]

I can only add to the comments that this looks like a bit too much like the Stinger in side profile. And this view of the 8GC does it no favours whatsoever:



From here, it looks like they did a cut 'n' shut with the front end of the 2-door onto the rear of a Panamera. The 2-door is better looking by a comfortable distance.

[tim-jxv5n]

Speed addicted said:

E65Ross said:

Considering the amount of sales, I'd say that should answer your question. And why should this bother you? Is it a bad thing to have a bit more choice? Don't quite like a 3 series styling and prefer the 4GT? Well, get a 4GT then. I might be wrong, but I THINK the GT cars have a hatch style boot, so can be more practical than a saloon? But I can't remember exactly.

I can't see the problem with having more choice to be honest. Maybe we should all just have a Golf estate instead with 1 engine option.

Yup, the 3gt and 4gc are hartchbacks, more practical for loading stuff into while not being estates. The 3 and 4 have slightly different amounts of room in the back too (the 4 is lower)

I've got a 4gc, I'd have got a 3 saloon but when there's a more practical, better looking option on the table it's a no brainer. Saloon cars are no use to anyone when a hatch is available

[Shiv_P]

Interior absolutely pathetic. Might as well be a 320d.

[Macboy]

When a mate of mine asked for some help negotiating on a 4-series the discounts on the 8-series were so huge that the monthlies weren't all that different. He just didn't want something this huge to struggle negotiating around the work carpark and into his home garage. The price of these is always slightly irrelevant because BMW force dealers to take them who then give away all their margin or wait for a huge bag of support money to move them on. It's amazing (in the UK at least) they still bother with this model. The price list is only there to serve as the "was" figure for the "Now only" sale price.

[cerb4.5lee]

tim-jxv5n said:

I've got a 4gc, I'd have got a 3 saloon but when there's a more practical, better looking option on the table it's a no brainer. Saloon cars are no use to anyone when a hatch is available

I've always been a fan of the 4GC and I really like the fact that it is a hatchback. I've had 2 E90 3 series and neither had the folding rear seat option...so they were useless at carrying anything big.

I just don't see the point of a saloon because they are pretty useless at carrying anything, but I guess people buy them because they are a touch quieter inside than a hatchback. I can't think of any other reason why you would buy a saloon though.

[tim milne]

spikyone said:

I can only add to the comments that this looks like a bit too much like the Stinger in side profile. And this view of the 8GC does it no favours whatsoever:



From here, it looks like they did a cut 'n' shut with the front end of the 2-door onto the rear of a Panamera. The 2-door is better looking by a comfortable distance.

I think it's fairly forgivable — though far from elegant — at the front, but aft of the B pillar it all falls apart.

It was often a truism in the 90s when Japanese car designers really got into their stride that the designs ran out of steam and coherence when it got to the back of the car.

[Chestrockwell]

aston addict said:

Jesus god Matt Bird are you poor sighted? Or do BMW bung you a bag full of cash to say this heap is handsome?

Actually, come to think of it, any connection between you and Birds BMW?!

What a pig ugly car with a low rent interior. The ONLY way BMW will shift these is by selling ‘em cheap.

As a previous poster said, it’s proportions are completely off, judging by the pictures.

I saw a new 8-something convertible by a car wash today. Hideous.

And I laugh every time I see a new X5/X6/X7. It’s like the owners have had a full frontal taste lobotomy.

Edited by aston addict on Thursday 26th September 05:56

How on earth can you say low rent interior? What are you comparing it to?

I drove a convertible one of these and while it’s not eye catching like the Merc interiors with their chrome and what not. It will never look dated and it’s very simple and easy to use unlike my brothers A6!

Looks are subjective and I’m not going to tell you that you’re wrong but to call the interior low rent is ridiculous.

Have you been in one or driven one?
What are you comparing the interior to?

[ZX10R NIN]

The rear three quarters looks bad, I'm not a fan of the looks overall.

[redroadster]

Watch how it depreciates like setting fire to money .