What would you ask Satch?

[DarkWing6]

Hey guys,

For those of you that don't already know, Satch Carlson, the editor of Roundel, is going to be attending the E30 Picnic this year. I was able to talk to him the other day and setup some time to inverview him for the blog I write for, In My Garage.

Now is your chance... What would you ask Satch?

http://www.inmygarage.com/?p=910

(only comments on the blog will count for the prize)

[Court M3]

Why BMW is flooding the car market(ala Chevy) with all these new model types when all we want is a small light car with great handling and smooth motor?

[TDE30]

Awesome, I have been an avid reader of his column in Roundel. He used to (and may still) be big into older Saab Sonnett's back in his rallying days, and I heard somewhere he was a columnist for AutoWeek as well. Court M3 makes a good point with his question. I'd ask Satch why BMW is essentially taking a shit on it's heritage and introducing models with extremely controversial styling cues and turbocharged powerplants, and will this trend likely continue on for the next few decades? I mean I know they're still holding up well in terms of sales numbers, but whenever they realize that all they have become is a slightly more sporty version of Mercedes-Benz, will they try to win back some of its true enthusiasts by producing the car that we would buy?

[shiftbmw]

I mean I know they're still holding up well in terms of sales numbers, but whenever they realize that all they have become is a slightly more sporty version of Mercedes-Benz, will they try to win back some of its true enthusiasts by producing the car that we would buy?

I don't know about that anymore...the black series stuff mercedes is cranking out rips it up pretty good...I can't think of a bmw that is currently more "sporty."

[TDE30]

I don't know about that anymore...the black series stuff mercedes is cranking out rips it up pretty good...I can't think of a bmw that is currently more "sporty."

Maybe not sporty per se, but certainly more enthusiast oriented. I am referring to the ///M models in comparison to the AMG models. As far as the Black Series models go, they're neat and completely unlike anything Mercedes has built before, but most enthusiasts (myself included) couldn't get past the P-R-N-D.

[DarkWing6]

Really good questions guys. Post 'em up on the blog for the chance to win too!

[Charlie]

"What was it like being older than the parents of your fiance'?"

-Charlie

[FredK]

story?

[z31maniac]

will they try to win back some of its true enthusiasts by producing the car that we would buy?

Like something that isn't $30k+ just to get in the door?

I'd be all over that.

Although I guess they already do that with the Mini..........

[FredK]

BMW is not Hyundai.

The E30 was at least $25K when new, which is a whole lot of cash in 1990 dollars.

[emi325i]

I'd never buy a new german car of any brand. Yeah, sure the 135 is neat, but I'd have to be a moron to pay $40-50k for a little car which is going to require new suspension and electronic parts every 20k miles. There's just no way a car with 50 miles of wiring and more CPU power than the space station can be as reliable as a good-old E30 (I realize e30 isn't the most reliable, but it's one of the most reliable BMW has ever made).

So, since I'm not going to be buying one, they can make whatever they want... They made the X6, maybe they can sell a re-badged Chrysler minivan.. I mean, douche-bags will throw money out the window in exchange for smug anyway, might as well give it to BMW.

[Dave]

"What was it like being older than the parents of your fiance'?"

-Charlie

I had this clever question about whether he enjoyed Roman Polanski films, and then I scrolled down, and saw you kinda beat me to the punch . . .

[TDE30]

I'd never buy a new german car of any brand. Yeah, sure the 135 is neat, but I'd have to be a moron to pay $40-50k for a little car which is going to require new suspension and electronic parts every 20k miles. There's just no way a car with 50 miles of wiring and more CPU power than the space station can be as reliable as a good-old E30 (I realize e30 isn't the most reliable, but it's one of the most reliable BMW has ever made).

Warranty.

z31, good point about the Mini, I'd say that and 135i are the two closest "lower-priced" enthusiast models they have overseen. Realistically, it would be somewhere between $35-40k for what I'm talking about.

[z31maniac]

And even a 35k car is going to have a 650 or more monthly payment+insurance.

I do OK but I'd need to make a damn bit more money to have 800+ a month in vehicle expenses for ONE car.

If we get the house we put an offer on our monthly payment will be about what that car payment would be.

[FredK]

Inflation adjusted, a $25,000 car in 1990 is a $40,600 car in 2008. You're getting a lot more car for the money now.

I know you guys love E30s, as do I, but I realize that paying $40K for an E30 would be ludicrous.