BMW no longer the ultimate driving machine?

[eighteight325is]

Apologies if this is a re-post but I haven't seen anything about this. Someone say it isn't so:

http://www.jalopnik.com/cars/adspromotions/bmw-thinks-its-got-the-ultimate-driving-thing-covered-nixes-31yearold-advertising-slogan-192541.php

[Jon325i]

I haven't heard anything about this - you wonder what those marketing gurus are up to when they decide to take a time-tested (and proven) "ultimate driving machine" tag line and replace it with something else. Such is the corporate climate these days.

Jon

[Low Level E30]

Is this legit?

[eighteight325is]

Is this legit?

That's what I wanted to know? As blogs go, Jalopnik (and its' readers) are pretty good at sniffing out late-breaking stories. I've heard/seen things there that have turned out to be true, long before seeing them in the mainstream auto media.

I seriously want to call shennanigans but I've seen to many wacky decisions come out of the automotive world to be sure.

[AdironRider]

Are they just picking bums off the street for their marketing execs these days? Creators of ideas my ass.

[Dave]

Its like The New Coke.

[Eric Giles]

Honestly, I am not suprised-but it is another dumb move for BMW. BMW realizes that they can make more money selling to the 'brand buyers', so they design their cars for them instead of the enthusiasts. Sure, there are a few models in the lineup that we like-but it ain't the way it used to be.

As silly as it may sound to some, when I saw that the E90 had window switches on the doors instead of the center console (which as we all know having them on the center console makes it much easier for people driving a manual) I knew that the 3 series was now truly part of the 'new idea'. Hell, when was the last time you saw a limited slip diff on anything but an M car-1996 or so? Sheesh....

[Teaguer]

Who cares ??!!

This is referring to the newer models and newer generations to come .

They stopped making "real" Bimmers years ago anyway .

[DJB]

Hell, when was the last time you saw a limited slip diff on anything but an M car-1996 or so? Sheesh....

Most Z3 had Torsen diffs.

[Mike325]

As silly as it may sound to some, when I saw that the E90 had window switches on the doors instead of the center console (which as we all know having them on the center console makes it much easier for people driving a manual)

True. Having the window switches on the console makes it eaisier to take the door pannels off too.

[ldsbeaker]

Don't forget your dipstick, or the oil/water/battery gauges... Oh, wait a minute, newer Bimmers don't have any of those...

[Steve30]

Its partially true. The Roundel reported that they're trying the new catch phrase to appeal to car buyers who wouldn't have previously bought BMWs because of the image. They want to attract independent thinkers and whatnot- I can't remember what the blurb said exactly.

Think of it this way, whereas in the 80s BMW was marketed to the cut-and-thrust businessman, now they're marketing towards college professors and nouveau riche, tech-savvy academics.

I thought they should have dropped "the ultimate driving machine" when their dashboards stopped being built around the driver.

[Adrian_Visser]

k so does anybody else hate the look of the e90 as much as me?
i think its uggly, i mean the v10 m5 is sweet as hell but i think the styling is murder. e46's are the best looking beemer's if u ask me. after that late model e30's with mtech kits.

[Ryan Stewart]

You guys havent noticed their ad campaign in the car rags? Its all about how they are the last independent company and that since they arent ruled by bean counters ideas make it into production.

I remember when BMW barely advertised on TV, radio, or otherwise. Usually just an April Fools ad or 2. Now they have to. Its no longer, "Finally I can afford a BMW." Now its, "Why would I buy a BMW when I can have an Infinity, Lexus, AUDI, or Acura?"

[chuckybob]

hahahhahahahaha the comments on jalopnik are so right on.