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Good, Bad or Ugly - Current and Future styling trends of BMW

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What is this discussion about? BMW 3 Series, BMW 5 Series, BMW 7 Series

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#331 of 728 Re: [wale_bate1] by rich545 Jul 21, 2004 (3:21 pm)
Replying to: wale_bate1 (Jul 21, 2004 11:43 am) Well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see until more sales figures are available for this year. Until then the best anyone can do is speculate on who buys what when or what indicates good or bad sales numbers. Early next year we should know for sure. All I was saying is that sales are not in fact lower given that 2101 more units had sold so far. As for the reasons for that, everyone has an opinion. As far as the car itself goes, it's one of those love it or hate it things. I certainly wouldn't try to convince anyone that hates it to buy it; in fact it really only matters that I like it to me. Vsaxena-Sorry, probably shouldn't have said you looked at the chart wrong. What I meant was that since the station wagon and M5 are not yet available the total 2003 5 sales can't be accurately compared to 2004 until you delete the station wagons and M5 from the 2003 numbers. I would also say that we won't really know whether this redesign was a success or failure until years down the road (no pun intended).
#332 of 728 Rich by wale_bate1 Jul 21, 2004 (3:28 pm)
No two ways you are correct about the appeal.   I'm quite certain it's an engaging and satisfying drive, and if the outside speaks to you, well, that's all she wrote!   I lusted seriously after the '02-03 E39, and for me, this gen isn't a step forward in styling. But that's my own deal!   I don't really think there's a mfr out ther right now with a real solid handle on styling, other, maybe, than Mazda. To some extent Aston as well, I guess.   Everybody seems to be casting about for the next big wave to ride, and I don't see anyone who's really caught it!
#333 of 728 Low Sales by saugatak Jul 30, 2004 (12:04 am)
I agree that the new e60's sales aren't impressive considering that it's a new model.   However, in addition to the e60 style being a little strange and offputting to many potential buyers, there are 2 other factors that might have led to lower sales: 1) sales of X5, lots of people are taking an SUV over a car; and 2) increased prices on e60.   IMO, the increase in prices is the main reason sales of e60 have declined, then the strange looks and lastly the X5 is cannibalizing some 5-series sales.   I'm seeing more e60s on the road now and IMO, it's the strangest looking car I've ever seen. I like some of the individual design elements a lot, they're very creative and well done.   But there's too many design elements and they don't work well together, instead they're competing for your attention. I haven't seen any other car that looks so different in different colors, and I think this is the result of too many contrasting styling elements.
#334 of 728 by kdshapiro Jul 30, 2004 (6:58 am)
There are lots of E60s in my neck of the woods and I like the vehicle more and more. As a contrast, while I have only slightly warmed up to the G35/Nissan styling after two years, after a few months the new Bangle version of the 5 series have grown on me tremendously. Can't wait for the unveiling of the new 3-series.   I think in the long run, once they tweak the overall design it'll be awesome.
#335 of 728 The new 3 series; Bangle finally gets it by vsaxena Aug 07, 2004 (10:26 pm)
There are pictures of the new 3 series (2006) on the 3 Series boards. Finally there is a Bangle car which works. It seems to have a lot more harmony than the E60. After the Z4, may be the best designed Bangle car. Replies to this message: kdshapiro (Aug 08, 2004 8:31 am)
#336 of 728 Re: The new 3 series; Bangle finally gets it [vsaxena] by kdshapiro Aug 08, 2004 (8:31 am)
Replying to: vsaxena (Aug 07, 2004 10:26 pm) The Z4 is gorgeous and the new is a car of a different ilk, but they did a great job with it.
#337 of 728 Comparisons by karmikan Aug 11, 2004 (7:38 am)
In an idle moment, I was reading through some old auto magazines and came across an interview with Henrik Fisker, the designer of the universally admired and drop-dead-gorgeous Aston Martin DB9. Here are a couple of quotations:   "I think the back-to-basics approach may be a function of us almost exhausting how much new technology we can pack into a car and still make it practical and usable for most consumers."   "I've gotten a lot of inspiration by looking back at what made the human fall in love with cars. Buying a car is such an irrational and emotional behavior, that I have to figure out what it is that they love. Really, who needs a car that costs more than say $15,000? I'm trying to capture the sense of the emotion and love affair that people have with cars."   These are two statements that seem to encapsulate much of what has been expressed here and elsewhere regarding the E60 design. BMW's current direction appears to be very much at odds with Fisker's thinking. The latest sales figures for the E60 show a steady decline which, I believe, will continue now that the early adapters have already bought. Meanwhile, there's an 18 month waiting list for the DB9 (I know that it's a limited production vehicle but it also costs $160K+ so it's all relative).   The market is speaking, I wonder if anyone at BMW is listening. Replies to this message: rich545 (Aug 11, 2004 8:04 am) kdshapiro (Aug 11, 2004 9:29 am)
#338 of 728 Re: Comparisons [karmikan] by rich545 Aug 11, 2004 (8:04 am)
Replying to: karmikan (Aug 11, 2004 7:38 am) The market is speaking across all BMW models; not just the re-designed models. Here are July and year-to-date sales for the 3 series which has not been changed:    3 Series July 04 YTD 04 July03 YTD03 8,823 63,777 9,952 68,924   Now, I know people will say that is because of the impending 3 redesign, but we can't prove that. X5 sales were also down. To me, the sales decline has less to do with the Bangle designs and much more to do with the overall economy and oil shortage fears. I know that there are some here who think the economy is doing better. I work in finance and I disagree. Most portfolios are flat at best and most major market indicators are down. Unemployment is still high. Gas prices are high. None of that adds up to great sales. Replies to this message: kdshapiro (Aug 11, 2004 9:29 am)
#339 of 728 Re: Comparisons [rich545] by kdshapiro Aug 11, 2004 (9:29 am)
Replying to: rich545 (Aug 11, 2004 8:04 am) I agree, there honestly isn't any difference between a moderately loaded 330i and loaded G35. They are both expensive. If I were to pass on the 330i on price, I would pass on the G35 as well.   The only thing I disagree with is the cutoff $15,000. It should be $10,000. A lot of expensive restaurants are also feeling the pinch. However people are crammed like sardines into the $6 buffet all you can eat place.
#340 of 728 rich545 & kdshapiro by karmikan Aug 11, 2004 (11:40 am)
I don't work in the financial sector so I'll defer to higher authority on the "real" state of the economy. But here are few snippets gathered from various sources:   "In the United States, demand for Mercedes-Benz brand cars rose by 1.5 percent to 17,500 vehicles in June. Year to date - Record sales of the C Class sedan (28,600 cars, up 16 percent), the E Class (27,200 cars, up five percent) and the SL Class (7,000 cars, up 22 percent) all contributed substantially to the good development on the North American market."   "Audi is looking to sell over 238,000 cars in Germany this year and to increase its sales in the USA to 200,000 vehicles in the medium term. Sales in the USA this year though will certainly be above the previous year's level of 86,000 vehicles."   "April - Lexus passenger cars posted strong sales of 11,573, an increase of 13.1 percent. The ES 330 luxury sedan led sales with 6,460 units, an increase of 21.9 percent. The LS 430 flagship luxury sedan posted sales of 2,706 units, up 63.8 percent, while sales of the SC 430 hardtop convertible increased 4.5 percent."   "Nissan Motor Co.'s U.S. arm recorded its best month ever, and Toyota Motor Corp.'s American division had its best-ever July, the two automakers said Tuesday."   Maybe the buyers of these particular brands are able to afford a new car by eating at the $6 all you can eat buffets. We can speculate that potential BMW buyers haven't discovered this technique. Once they do, sales should soar. Replies to this message: rich545 (Aug 11, 2004 12:05 pm)

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