BMW no longer the ultimate driving machine?

[clavinZERO]

If they built a car that was more like we wanted, I would pay out more than 20k. I still like the idea of being able to work on my car. I hate the idea that now it's pretty much dealer-only to even check your oil when it comes to many new cars. And FWD just doesn't cut it with me. Basically, BMW should do what they did with the mini but to the e30... revamp it while trying to keep its soul and not passengerise/refine it. Just frustrated I guess.

[LEANE30]

this better be a bad joke... sorta like that minivan concept

(i'm just saying "MINI"-van, not "BMW"-van)

okay, i gotta post this right from the blog:

BMW's new EVP, Howard Mosher, has to be the biggest marketing moron to hit the contemporary auto business. According to an article in the 7/10 issue of Automotive Snooze, he cites research (the devil's candy) as inspiring this misguided branding soul search. Apparently because people said they had concerns about "poor handling in snow", they will answer that in ads. Because people noted that they had concerns about "fuel economy" and "safety", they will answer that in ads as well. My favorite tidbit is how the research shockingly noted that there is a segment of auto owners who simply feel they are "not a BMW type of person", and Genius Mosher thinks that this group also needs to be sold to, specifically to inform them on "why the vehicles are a good buy."
Howe can a former Rolls Royce and Land Rover exec be so stupid?

...um, weren't RollsRoyce AND LandRover bought out? ...yeah, those would be the marketing directors i'd want to higher:blowup:

if BMW starts to go under, i pray they simply close the doors and walk away instead of selling to some large American or Japanese car company

[mikeltang]

i agree ^^^ stupid suits trying to cater to a crowd that isnt interested in BMWs...

[chuckybob]

id love another entusiast's bmw, but the fact is there are more soccer moms and execs looking to project an image then there are enthusiasts, and bmw likes money.

[Eric Giles]

Just found out on the E30 M3 SIG list, and has supposedly been verified by people at BMW NA-the group that reported this is wrong. BMW is not dropping 'The Ultimate Driving Machine' line at all. The 'Company of Ideas' is a theme BMW is using to show how they build the ultimate driving machine, and that is all-it will not be BMW's ad line.

[clavinZERO]

Just found out on the E30 M3 SIG list, and has supposedly been verified by people at BMW NA-the group that reported this is wrong. BMW is not dropping 'The Ultimate Driving Machine' line at all. The 'Company of Ideas' is a theme BMW is using to show how they build the ultimate driving machine, and that is all-it will not be BMW's ad line.

and the peasants rejoice.

[vivalegreg]

good...i was about to say this is some bs, i love the ultimate driving machine slogan..

has anyone seen that commercial for bmw where they talk about how they are a company of "great ideas" and that they let these "great ideas" evolve to becomming "ultimate driving machines" ??

[Brian D]

http://corner-carvers.com/forums/sho...&postcount=753

Wow, an internet rumor that isn't true! Who'da thunk it?

[Eliminator]

Drive one. Seriously, the E46 & E90 are great to toss around, surprising when you look at their size. I love my Dad's current X3 daily driver. Does it drive like an e30? No, but frankly, a stock e30 doesn't drive like an e30.

Want a bare bones driver's car?, buy a Miata.

-Charlie

Dude, I HAVE an E46 coupe. I'm pretty sure it doesn't have I-drive, active steering, and a cyclops hump in the dash (which is what my comment was about). It also at least has a temperature guage, which the new cars do not. Not to mention a dipstick and a spare tire well.

The E46 DOES handle well, and I love the car. But it's definitely more isoloated and less involving than the E30. I see that the new BMWs are increasingly more cushy and isolated. Faster? Yes. But less of a driver's car IMO.

FWIW, I will NEVER own an E90. Not because they're hideous, but because of the missing dipstick and spare tire well.

[IS]

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....

Guess what - NOTHING is like it used to be. Name one brand that still makes "pure" cars, throughout their model lineup.