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BMW Bids Bangle Begone - READ ONLY

32 messages,  Last post on Mar 25, 2010 at 7:12 AM

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What is this discussion about? BMW 3 Series, BMW 5 Series, BMW 7 Series, Automotive News, Coupe, Convertible, Sedan

Messages Page 3 of 4

#13 of 32 Re: heading downmarket [Mr_Shiftright] by pp2009pp

Jan 30, 2010 (9:28 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 29, 2009 11:51 am)
"Perhaps we are on the cutting edge of yet another breaking trend, that firms like BMW should seriously contemplate---why build cars in the US that are in direct collision with speed laws? "
 
How about in direct collision with gas usage? My BMW 2009 X3 gets 14-15 mpg and it is small for an SUV. I heard that the 5-series Gran Turismo is as large as a 7 series. Isn't that going in the wrong direction?
 
I like this one as it appears to be very light:
 
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2008/06/bmw-builds-a-ca/
 
BMW has a video where Bangle talks about how hard it was to design the X3. It has a very nice interior layout that uses the space very efficiently. On the outside, particularly the tail lights however, he could have thought things through somewhat better.

#14 of 32 Re: heading downmarket [pp2009pp] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jan 31, 2010 (9:44 am)

Replying to: pp2009pp (Jan 30, 2010 9:28 pm)
Like I always say: "performance comes at a price". However, there is no excuse for making a car or a component unattractive.
 
My opinion is that anyone can be "outrageous", and shock people. This is easy, really, and, sadly, often rewarded in our culture---until 3 months later when we're all sick of it and we sober up---then we get shocked again.
 
BMW has prospered by making generally attractive cars, for the most part, modestly designed, for decades and decades. Then some fashion plate comes in and screws it all up, as if there were no BMW "genetics" going on for the last 75+ years.
 
Thank God he didn't mess up the grille.
 
God help BMW if it abandons its styling heritage.

#15 of 32 Re: heading downmarket [Mr_Shiftright] by fintail

Jan 31, 2010 (10:25 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jan 31, 2010 9:44 am)
The E60 5er is arguably the most heinous BMW styling effort in modern history. The company will be better off the more it is in the past. I have never been able to figure out what I loathe most about it - the headlight and taillight designs, or the interior.

#16 of 32 Re: heading downmarket [fintail] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jan 31, 2010 (11:05 am)

Replying to: fintail (Jan 31, 2010 10:25 am)
The styling has cohesion but all that means to me is that certain unpleasant design elements are carried throughout the car. It strikes me as very trendy in a superficial kind of way.
 
I realize that these days it is very very difficult to make a car distinctive in a positive way, but I find many of these design elements exude a kind of cheapness.

#17 of 32 Re: heading downmarket [Mr_Shiftright] by fintail

Jan 31, 2010 (11:34 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jan 31, 2010 11:05 am)
Trendy in a superficial way usually makes for dated and undesirable later.
 
When automakers abruptly change from a design theme, that's usually not a good sign for the existing theme.

#18 of 32 Re: heading downmarket [Mr_Shiftright] by jtla

Jan 31, 2010 (2:53 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jan 31, 2010 9:44 am)
Thank God he didn't mess up the grille.
 
2009 Acura TL comes to mind...

#19 of 32 Re: heading downmarket [jtla] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jan 31, 2010 (4:39 pm)

Replying to: jtla (Jan 31, 2010 2:53 pm)
Ewww....I knew you were going to say that....you might be right, too.
 
Ah, the irony of it all----for decades the Japanese shamelessly copied BMW, and now...... .
 

#20 of 32 Re: heading downmarket [fintail] by andys120

Jan 31, 2010 (7:40 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Jan 31, 2010 10:25 am)
The E60 5er is arguably the most heinous BMW styling effort in modern history
 
I couldn't agree more, they even messed up the grille (it looks blobby IMO) but I don't mind so much since I have an E39.

#21 of 32 Re: heading downmarket [andys120] by fintail

Jan 31, 2010 (9:02 pm)

Replying to: andys120 (Jan 31, 2010 7:40 pm)
E39 is a pretty timeless and elegant design...still looks good, especially in M5 or sport trim.

#22 of 32 Re: heading downmarket [jtla] by lemko

Feb 01, 2010 (9:13 am)

Replying to: jtla (Jan 31, 2010 2:53 pm)
Ewww! Seem anime artists are now designing cars. The grille looks like it was designed by the Pokemon animators. The back of the car looks like it was designed by the Transformers animators.

Messages Page 3 of 4

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