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

I can't answer for hpowders, but I'm certainly not taking it personally. I just don't think that the "bought it in spite of ..." argument makes much sense. I guess I just don't understand why the reason for purchasing the E60 is that people simply like it for varied reasons. It seems that people here feel the need to justify why it sells well. I just assume it sells well because people like first of all, and get deals on it that they feel confortable with. That's all I'm willing to say about why people buy this car or that car because really if I don't know them personally I have no idea why they might want one car vs. another.

Replies to this message:

bdkinnh (Feb 08, 2006 6:28 pm)
- shipo (Feb 08, 2006 6:41 pm)
  - bdkinnh (Feb 09, 2006 7:05 am)

#693 of 729 Re: The Sales Figures Don't Lie! [rich545] by bdkinnh

Feb 08, 2006 (6:28 pm)

Replying to: rich545 (Feb 08, 2006 5:18 pm)

>" I just don't think that the "bought it in spite of ..." argument makes much sense."

I didn't mean to suggest that all, or even most people "bought it in spite of", but I'm sure a fair number did. Why do I think that? Because I almost did.

Nothing drives like a BMW. Nothing. An Audi is good, so is a MB, and the Infiniti is amazingly close for a Japanese car, but there's just something about a BMW. If you've drank the Kool-Aid, so to speak, then when you go car shopping your first thought is "Which BMW am I going to buy?"

I went back and forth about the 5, and whether or not I could get used to the look. I wasn't crazy about it, but I didn't (and still don't) think it is ugly. I did, however, love how it drove.

When I went to the dealership, check in hand ready to pull the trigger, I took it for an extended two-hour drive just to make sure. After about an hour and a half, I found the seats uncomfortable and my back started to hurt. I've had back problems for years, so this was a Big Red Flag for me, and I passed. I bought a Lexus GS300 instead.

If I had to do it over again? I'd buy the BMW and a big bottle of Advil.

So - I would have bought it "in spite of" the looks. In other words, even though I didn't love the look, I loved how it drove. And, since I don't care if anyone notices my car or is envious, feel would win out over look.

Although if it looked like an Element or Aztec...

Replies to this message:

shipo (Feb 08, 2006 6:41 pm)
- bdkinnh (Feb 09, 2006 7:05 am)

#694 of 729 From the other side of the fence... by shipo

Feb 08, 2006 (6:38 pm)

I am one of those that (to my eye at least) thinks the "E60 is ugly". I cannot remember when a car did so little for me looks wise unless you start talking about abominations like the Aztek or some such. Also, I can remember only a few times in last 40 or so years of automotive history when a new version of an existing model was such an about face style wise. I'm thinking of the Gen-I to the Gen-II Lexus GS and the Gen-III Mustang to the Gen-IV Mustang-II, as examples. That having been said, I am fairly certain that if both BMW and Audi didn't have cars in their respective lineups that work for me as an alternate (thinking the 3-Series, and A3 here) for my dear departed E39, I'd probably end up with an E60, in spite of the fact that I find it ugly. Why? Simple, where else am I going to find a sporty sedan that offers the unique blend of manual transmission, utility and performance that BMWs are traditionally known for? Infiniti? Ewww, no thanks. Cadillac? Yuck, no thanks again. We're talking the lesser of three evils here meaning the E60 would win by default. Not exactly high praise that.

So, does the possibility exist that I would opt for a car that I don't like the looks of because of said cars' other attributes? Yes, but only if I couldn't find something that fit my requirements nearly as well.

Best Regards,
Shipo

#695 of 729 Re: The Sales Figures Don't Lie! [bdkinnh] by shipo

Feb 08, 2006 (6:41 pm)

Replying to: bdkinnh (Feb 08, 2006 6:28 pm)

Geez, you posted yours while I was writing mine. I guess great New Hampshire minds think alike.

Best Regards,
Shipo

Replies to this message:

bdkinnh (Feb 09, 2006 7:05 am)

#696 of 729 5-Series by merc1

Feb 09, 2006 (4:42 am)

I think there is some meat to both arguments about who is buying the 5-Series and why.

Obviously there are some who bought the car despite not being in love with the looks. I can't see a whole lot of people buying the car if they thought it was downright ugly, but I'm sure there are some who bought that weren't exactly smitten with the looks.

Some of the BMW faithful have most definitely jumped ship too.

Then you have those BMW buyers that were looking for a change and this car suits their taste just fine.

Then you have those that have never bought a BMW before because of the styling. This group thinks the new look is a big improvement. I've heard this expressed more than a few times at the BMW stand at Detroit and Chicago.

I suggest a poll of 5-Series buyers/owners on the 5-Series board!

M

Replies to this message:

bdkinnh (Feb 09, 2006 7:16 am)
- rich545 (Feb 09, 2006 8:40 am)
  - shipo (Feb 09, 2006 9:20 am)

#697 of 729 Re: The Sales Figures Don't Lie! [shipo] by bdkinnh

Feb 09, 2006 (7:05 am)

Replying to: shipo (Feb 08, 2006 6:41 pm)

>"I guess great New Hampshire minds think alike."

That, and I type faster.

#698 of 729 Re: 5-Series [merc1] by bdkinnh

Feb 09, 2006 (7:16 am)

Replying to: merc1 (Feb 09, 2006 4:42 am)

>"I suggest a poll of 5-Series buyers/owners on the 5-Series board!"

I doubt that would really show anything. I'm sure there are a fair number of people that initially weren't thrilled with the look of the E60, but after owning it have "gotten used to it" and have come to like it. After spending that much, you almost have to.

I'm sure I've come across as an E60 basher - I'm really not. I like the car, and if I owned one I'm sure I'd be jumping in now to say how much I enjoyed it.

But, to say that the increase in sales is a testament to people's love of the look isn't right. I'm sure there are many that were forced into accepting it.

One poll I'd love to see, if you could get honest answers: out of all the E60 owners, if they could snap their fingers and make it look like the 2003 5er, would they do it?

Replies to this message:

rich545 (Feb 09, 2006 8:40 am)
- shipo (Feb 09, 2006 9:20 am)

#699 of 729 Re: 5-Series [bdkinnh] by rich545

Feb 09, 2006 (8:40 am)

Replying to: bdkinnh (Feb 09, 2006 7:16 am)

Fair enough on all fronts. I don't think you came across as a E60 basher BTW. I was really just responding to the idea that people would buy a car they didn't like the look of which I certainly wouldn't. I guess the bottom line is, everyone has their own reasons for buying cars. Some would buy the E60 eventhough they don't love the looks (again, if they hated the look I don't think they would), some honestly love the way it looks. Honestly, I'm somewhere in the middle. I like how it looks (stopping well short of hpowders gushing about it), and overall I think it's a great car. No, I don't wish it looked like a 2003 E39. I found the E39 to be somewhat boring and basically just a bigger version of the 3. I imagine since I feel that way there are other E60 owners that feel the same way. Are there things I don't love about the way the E60 looks? Sure, if I was BMW and I was considering what to change for the first facelift I would put headlights on it that look more like the new 3's (which would also change the hood), I would go with a more traditional trunk and I'd make the dash more like the 6's. Now, I don't think they'll do all of that, but they probably will change some of it.

Replies to this message:

shipo (Feb 09, 2006 9:20 am)

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