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BMW Driving Experience

84 messages,  Last post on Jan 18, 2013 at 3:29 PM

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What is this discussion about? BMW 3 Series, BMW 5 Series, BMW 7 Series, BMW X5, BMW Z4, Car Comparisons, Performance Mods, Scheduled Maintenance, Motorsports, Coupe, Convertible, Sedan

Messages Page 5 of 9

#35 of 84 Re: GM UAW Contract [uplanderguy] by andres3

Sep 20, 2011 (4:08 pm)

Replying to: uplanderguy (Sep 20, 2011 3:44 pm)
I imagine driving in sub zero temperatures might be hard on a car (at least at start-up).
 
However, all States have their share of potholes as the gov't would rather waste money on radar dectector dectectors in Virginia than on fixing our roads.
 
I think Track use is unique and definitely requires a well built and engineered automobile. If one drives for short 20 to 30 minute intervals a few times for a few days on a couple of occassions each year at the track, I'd imagine it is not particularly hard on a "high quality" car. But a low quality car might have issues day 1 lap 1 on the track.
 
Some have argued my domestic car was a lemon because I've flogged it as a teenager. I've countered that a properly engineered car has no issues being driven any which way it can be (such as on a Track; my A3, or as a teenager, my friends Corolla/Prism.) He flogged his Prism 500% more than my Neon, and my A3 is used probably 150% more spiritedly than the Neon (even though I'm older now), yet we all know which 2 could handle being driven by a real driver.
 
His Prism was flawless to 100,000 miles despite full throttle acceleration being the normal course of business for it.
 
If a car can't be driven any which way it lets you without falling apart, then the engineers at Chrysler should have set the rev limiter at 3K, the top speed at 55 MPH, and the price tag at $999.99.

#36 of 84 Re: GM UAW Contract [uplanderguy] by fintail

Sep 20, 2011 (4:46 pm)

Replying to: uplanderguy (Sep 20, 2011 3:43 pm)
I bet a nice curb smack could mess up those suspension bits. For the traction control, probable defect...Camrys aint what they used to be
 
Traction control light on my MB comes on a bit...but that's because of how it is driven

#37 of 84 Re: GM UAW Contract [fintail] by dieselone

Sep 20, 2011 (5:49 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Sep 20, 2011 10:35 am)
Yeah, huge difference between any BMW and a Cav, from complexity to driving enjoyment.
 
Until this conversation came up, I've never heard the words Cavalier and BMW in the same sentence before. The spare tire in a BMW probably utilized more engineering resources than a whole Cavalier;)

#38 of 84 Re: GM UAW Contract [dieselone] by circlew

Sep 20, 2011 (6:23 pm)

Replying to: dieselone (Sep 20, 2011 5:49 pm)
Until this conversation came up, I've never heard the words Cavalier and BMW in the same sentence before. The spare tire in a BMW probably utilized more engineering resources than a whole Cavalier;)
 
ROTFLMAO!! ULG compares his stellar repair costs to the 318ti Club Sport which RB modified for track days. How long do you think a Cavalier would last flogging 5 times per year on a road coarse at 10/10ths of it's capability???? The mod for the Cav would be a tow truck to bring it to the shredding center!!
 
Not too long and the cost would lend itself to disposal after only 1 year, I would guess. Of course, you could mod the Cav but the mod would be a tow truck to bring it to the shredding center!!
 
Hardly an apples/apples comparison we all know ULG stands behind. Let's call a spade a spade and an appliance an appliance.
 
Everything is relative and there are basic efficient transportation and even then, those that costs more to repair in the same class. Corolla vs. Cavalier, for instance.
 
Value for the Money
Compared with its most natural rival, the sportier-natured Dodge/Plymouth Neon, the refined Cavalier puts comfort and utility ahead of performance and style. All told, however, it doesn't match the refinement of the Toyota Corolla. For a reasonable sum, however, you get a car with dual airbags and antilock braking, even if it isn't quite as much fun to drive as a Neon.
 
Regards,
OW

#40 of 84 Re: GM UAW Contract [roadburner] by dieselone

Sep 20, 2011 (6:49 pm)

Replying to: roadburner (Sep 20, 2011 10:45 am)
RB, very nice car. The first BMW I ever got behind the wheel of was a 1990 318i which a older friend of mine bought new a year or so out of college. Wow, that car blew me a away. Having mainly driven domestics I'd never experienced a car that performed so effortlessly. It's something that's hard to describe, but the feel of the car was like nothing that I was accustom to. I think the only word that came out of my mouth after driving it was "wow".
 
No it wasn't particularly fast, but it was the way it went about its business that thoroughly impressed me. It was extremely solid and everything about the powertrain was precise and smooth. It felt like you couldn't drive it hard enough to break it.

#43 of 84 Re: GM UAW Contract [dieselone] by roadburner

Sep 20, 2011 (7:48 pm)

Replying to: dieselone (Sep 20, 2011 6:49 pm)
RB, very nice car. The first BMW I ever got behind the wheel of was a 1990 318i which a older friend of mine bought new a year or so out of college. Wow, that car blew me a away. Having mainly driven domestics I'd never experienced a car that performed so effortlessly. It's something that's hard to describe, but the feel of the car was like nothing that I was accustom to. I think the only word that came out of my mouth after driving it was "wow".
 
Thanks for the kind words. The 318i you drove is a bit of a cult car among hard-core BMW enthusiasts. The M42 four cylinder is a very durable unit that will often go 250,000 miles before a rebuild.

#44 of 84 Re: GM UAW Contract [dieselone] by uplanderguy

Sep 21, 2011 (2:15 am)

Replying to: dieselone (Sep 20, 2011 5:49 pm)
Again, gotta say, the one BMW I was familiar with (5-series) needed a new engine at 86K miles. Now when someone says their (fill in the blank domestic) needed an engine at 86K miles, there are ten posts of derision afterwards. This earlier post resulted in no comments whatsoever about the engine. Why the disparity? Is it all about driving enjoyment on a European car? There's the lack of applies-to-apples here.

Messages Page 5 of 9

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