Cars We Drive!

[Beckwith]



Did you go from and LR3 to the GL? That's what I did.

Agree, nothing I have ever driven remotely compares to the LR3 in terms of just driving over ****, traction, etc. Simply the most incredible AWD system in the world.

Yes, I couldn't take my local dealership nickle and dimming me everytime I went and just being flat wrong about things. I swaped out the LR3 for a GL450 almost two years ago.

 

[Joffrey]



I thought they faked the exhaust note. I'm amazed this Milli Vanilli **** didn't get more criticism. What a pathetic move.

Why when so much else on the car is electronic, hydraulic or digital?

 

[idfnl]



Why when so much else on the car is electronic, hydraulic or digital?

Its like having a GF whose had a tit job and won't admit it even though you can see the udnerbreast scars. Its just a cost saving/stupid move for a mfg with a reputation. Surprised you don't see the line that was crossed piping fake sound into a cabin.

 

[Rumpelstiltskin]

3 series GT

Fugly.

I love how spectacularly BMW has lost its *********** recent past. first, it was the faked engine noise in the M5. then, it was all those cosmetic "special edition" M3's (which AMG promptly trumped by releasing the Black Series and 507 to show BMW how it's done).

now, they take a look at their version of the Pontiac Aztek and say, that was so awesome let's make a smaller one!

This is an example of "When good car companies go bad"

 

[idfnl]



This is an example of "When good car companies go bad"

I think its safe to say it happened here. Although the next gen of this embarrassment was actually ok looking, still, if the new one was is an Aztec, this munchkin is their homage to the timeless AMC Pacer.

 

[sonick]

I love the M-coupe.

 

[Piobaire]



Yes, I couldn't take my local dealership nickle and dimming me everytime I went and just being flat wrong about things. I swaped out the LR3 for a GL450 almost two years ago.

I had a great lease experience with Rover. I know the horror stories but my LR3 was totally dependable and the dealership is fantastic. I would get another Rover without a qualm over the service experience.

 

[impolyt_one]

BMW has made the fastback shape before, it's not new. The 5GT is ugly, but the 3GT isn't horrible looking. There's really no reason for it to exist, though- has none of the utility of a wagon and doesn't look as traditionally nice as a sedan - just about as awkward as the X6. However, the thing that Americans forget in their America-centric car society is that in cultural centers of the world, it's not that cool to go buy what looks like a corporate-owned fleet car (just about any BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Volvo, etc sedan - the larger ones driven by chaffeurs) - and having a wagon, an SUV, a sports car, or one of these alternate shape cars (A5 Sportback, 3GT, etc) promotes the separation between personal choice and company privilege, and that is true status. Big sedans are stodgy, the real sports cars are too showy for most, SUVs guzzle gas and aren't fun to drive in small backstreets, and are less refined - thus it always comes back down to small personal coupes like the M3, 911, or practical family wagons like the 3/5er touring, the E class wagon, etc.

 

[idfnl]



BMW has made the fastback shape before, it's not new. The 5GT is ugly, but the 3GT isn't horrible looking. There's really no reason for it to exist, though- has none of the utility of a wagon and doesn't look as traditionally nice as a sedan - just about as awkward as the X6. However, the thing that Americans forget in their America-centric car society is that in cultural centers of the world, it's not that cool to go buy what looks like a corporate-owned fleet car (just about any BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Volvo, etc sedan - the larger ones driven by chaffeurs) - and having a wagon, an SUV, a sports car, or one of these alternate shape cars (A5 Sportback, 3GT, etc) promotes the separation between personal choice and company privilege, and that is true status. Big sedans are stodgy, the real sports cars are too showy for most, SUVs guzzle gas and aren't fun to drive in small backstreets, and are less refined - thus it always comes back down to small personal coupes like the M3, 911, or practical family wagons like the 3/5er touring, the E class wagon, etc.

If BMW is competing with the Audi 5 then its game over. Audi has trailed BMW and Merc for a long time. A guy recently told me that Audi had surpassed them in sales but I didn't believe him. But now I think he may be right.

In any event, Walter White will order one for sure.

 

[HRoi]

i forgot the X6 in my "how BMW has lost its ****" chronicle

 

[idfnl]



i forgot the X6 in my "how BMW has lost its ****" chronicle

And I forgot the early iDrive system.

 

[Huntsman]

3GT : Hunchback of Munich

 

[dah328]



Ummm,

It doesn't matter how good an AWD system is if the tires cannot transfer force to the ground. Which wheel will you drive if none have them have grip?

Wet weather driving is entirely different than snow driving. Traction in rain is about getting water out from underneath the tires. Snow reduces traction because tires are cold and hard and have reduced (and sometimes no) grip when they're cold, and snow is a movable surface. That's why snow tires have different rubber formulations along with different surface features (the small sipes that can grip into ice or snow).

This reminds me of Piobaire's insistence a little while back that AWD vehicles handle better than FWD or RWD in adverse weather conditions. Who knew that second differential on an AWD vehicle actually changed tire composition, suspension geometry, and weight distribution when adverse weather conditions were detected?

 

[HRoi]

Well they do, all else being equal. You'd have to give him the benefit of the doubt of making apples-apples comparisons

 

[Find Finn]



3GT : Hunchback of Munich

 

Get out of my bell tower, said the first gen X3.