Houston, we have Beamer
Discussion
Tony from Dream Machines had no unused courtesy cars to offer me this evening, and was kind enough to entrust unto my sensible good self, his very own BMW! It doesnt go like a TVR, but it has its merrits 
Compared to the V8S and Cerb, wow! Its quieter than an insect mortuary, the cieling is so high that should you look up into the abyss, you'd be dubious as to whether or not there even was one. I did a double take looking over at my girlfriend, thinking she'd been replaced by a similar looking dwarven child, resting in the large armchair somehwere over at the other side of the spacious cabin. A fireplace, bear rug and curled up dog would not have looked amis at her feet.
The ride and visibility are astonishing, compared. You feel as if you're floating gently above the roads in a cavernous bubble, complete with sat nav, tv, lots of buttons and the optional steering wheel spec. The very space/time continum even seems warped, by the complete lack of all sense of speed.
Compared to a TVR, piloting a BMW is like being at the helm of a glass fronted, somewhat hesitant, air-powered public library which floats upon air cushions from one dimension to the next. I quite liked it!
Kentish, tell us about your new motor mate, I would love to have one as a second car
>>> Edited by UKBob on Monday 24th January 22:35
Compared to the V8S and Cerb, wow! Its quieter than an insect mortuary, the cieling is so high that should you look up into the abyss, you'd be dubious as to whether or not there even was one. I did a double take looking over at my girlfriend, thinking she'd been replaced by a similar looking dwarven child, resting in the large armchair somehwere over at the other side of the spacious cabin. A fireplace, bear rug and curled up dog would not have looked amis at her feet.
The ride and visibility are astonishing, compared. You feel as if you're floating gently above the roads in a cavernous bubble, complete with sat nav, tv, lots of buttons and the optional steering wheel spec. The very space/time continum even seems warped, by the complete lack of all sense of speed.
Compared to a TVR, piloting a BMW is like being at the helm of a glass fronted, somewhat hesitant, air-powered public library which floats upon air cushions from one dimension to the next. I quite liked it!
Kentish, tell us about your new motor mate, I would love to have one as a second car
>>> Edited by UKBob on Monday 24th January 22:35
I know what you mean, with the exception of the AEG stuff on the Aurora, german motors are brilliant daily drivers.
I recently borrowed my bosses unbadged 5 series thinking it was a 520(usual trick) but soon realised my mistake as the 4.something L V8 howled me up to 100 on the motorway slip road, What an engine!
I wonder what that would that engine would do for a Trevor. I hate to think
I recently borrowed my bosses unbadged 5 series thinking it was a 520(usual trick) but soon realised my mistake as the 4.something L V8 howled me up to 100 on the motorway slip road, What an engine!
I wonder what that would that engine would do for a Trevor. I hate to think
I know what you mean! I drive an Audi A4 as my daily car, and it does everything really well, and I mean everything! It has more BHP than my S2, and is on paper faster by a fair bit. But does it make my heart beat faster? Does it make me smile like a mad chimp? Hell no! That is what owning a TVR is all about in my mind, although not sure I would want to do the daily grind in my S2. So maybe all cars do have their place.
Hi Rob,
They say once you own a BM you'll be less than pleased with anything else and I think that's true having owned 5 now!
Mine is more of a seat of the pants drive and has fantastic sports suspension (which is standard on this one) making it very quick around twisty bits and even more fun with the traction control switched off!
It's also one of only 350 special edition sport derived models which makes it somewhat rare.
Not as fast in a straight line as the Tiv though and no wind in the hair
They say once you own a BM you'll be less than pleased with anything else and I think that's true having owned 5 now!
Mine is more of a seat of the pants drive and has fantastic sports suspension (which is standard on this one) making it very quick around twisty bits and even more fun with the traction control switched off!
It's also one of only 350 special edition sport derived models which makes it somewhat rare.
Not as fast in a straight line as the Tiv though and no wind in the hair
Podie said:
[obvious gag]
… but do the indicators work..?
[/obvious gag]
I must say I am not a lover of BM's having owned a few I find them hugely overrated and the new ones look like Stevie Wonder designed them!!! And as Podie discreetly points out above, BM drivers have the worst reputation going!! Having owned 3 BM's a Merc E-Class and 2 Jags I have moved to Audi with an A8 and it is superior to them all in every way, IMHO, I will be sticking with Audi for the daily driver for some time I think, I fancy a new shape A6 or A8 next year.
Each to their own I guess.
Mike
V8Smith said:
[obvious gag]
… but do the indicators work..?
[/obvious gag]
I must say I am not a lover of BM's having owned a few I find them hugely overrated and the new ones look like Stevie Wonder designed them!!! And as Podie discreetly points out above, BM drivers have the worst reputation going!! Having owned 3 BM's a Merc E-Class and 2 Jags I have moved to Audi with an A8 and it is superior to them all in every way, IMHO, I will be sticking with Audi for the daily driver for some time I think, I fancy a new shape A6 or A8 next year.
Each to their own I guess.
Mike
I know what you mean Mike, the new generation BMWs are a bit iffy on the styling with the exception of the new 1 and soon to be released 3 series, oh and the 6 series which is
. Having said that the 5 series has grown on me. The trouble is so many idiots were given them as company rep mobiles over the past few years and that has tainted them somewhat.
Having driven a C and E class Merc for a while in the past I'd say the solidity is there and the ride was superb although not particularly sporty (on the models I drove) but I also found the interior trim was very akin to an OAP sitting room and I had trouble with fragile switches. I also had a 5 series at the same time and the quality of build, ride and handling was superior. My outgoing Passat was quieter on the road and at speed but the handling was nowhere near as good as the new BM which has a much firmer ride but then it is a sports model.
I agree about Audi, top car and really nice looking too. They have been excellent ever since the 100 and 80 models got a curvey body shape (1991 ish) and galvanising (way ahead of the pack on that front). IMHO Audi and BMW are just about the perfect choice as an everyday car.
but I get my cerb back 
UKbob said:
Cheers mate. You'll have to bring your beamer over to a meet one day, I didnt like the car (too big, not sporty enough) but might pop into a dealer for a nose round sometime. Just a nose round mind you!!
Nah, I'll bring the Tiv!
The BM is 140bhp so not awesomely fast but quick enough, very good fun around bends etc.
I wouldn't want a daily runner to be more exciting than my sunny day car (Tiv) to be honest as I'd be disappointed when I drive the S.
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