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BMW set to become World's Top Luxury car maker


sayerbloke
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Common Audiphilia strikes again. the_finger.gif

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I must say, the only BMW's I like now are the current M3's, and the 6, and the Z4's.

The new boxy look of the 3/5/7 just too heavy and bloated and I don't like the new M5 for looks, despite the fact it can wipe the floor with most other cars. crazy.gif

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[ QUOTE ]

Common Audiphilia strikes again. the_finger.gif

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Do you like the X3 then? crazy.gif

And the new 3 Series, come on. It looks like a Mitsubishi Carisma from the back!

I love the 3 Series, I've liked every incarnation better than the last. The 3 Series coupe was my second choice if I couldn't have got the Audi Cabrio (mid blue with cream leather, gorgeous!) But the new one, no way.

It's not Audiphilia, you don't hear me say that of the new Mercedes C or E Class for example.

The new small Beemrs have just really lost their way I'm afraid. Thay're still great cars, no doubt about it, but the styling...

And it's worse because the styling used to be one of the best features. frown.gif

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[ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]

Common Audiphilia strikes again. the_finger.gif

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Do you like the X3 then? crazy.gif

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Awful car.

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And the new 3 Series, come on. It looks like a Mitsubishi Carisma from the back!

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I think that's being a bit harsh on Mitsubishi.

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The new small Beemrs have just really lost their way I'm afraid. Thay're still great cars, no doubt about it, but the styling...And it's worse because the styling used to be one of the best features. frown.gif

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Disagree there see, I think the 1-series is a good looking car that grows on you. The base models are crap. The higher you get though, the better they look and the better they go.

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You'd think they'd make sure their indicators work properly then.

99% of BMWs I see seem to have faulty ones.

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Mastra, you've got it wrong. They have telepathic indicator systems so that other BMW drivers know which way the BMW in front is going. But because we all drive 'inferior' machines we are not privileged. sekret.gif

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[ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]

You'd think they'd make sure their indicators work properly then.

99% of BMWs I see seem to have faulty ones.

[/ QUOTE ]

Mastra, you've got it wrong. They have telepathic indicator systems so that other BMW drivers know which way the BMW in front is going. But because we all drive 'inferior' machines we are not privileged. sekret.gif

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Yep. Anyway, on motorways it`s obvious where they`re going; the outside lane. You have the magnets in the driver's side door to thank for that. It just saves having to go to the effort of steering into the lane tongue.gif

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Oooh - the question of BMW's new styling direction ... always a good chestnut. I'm beginning to think it's a bit like Marmite.

Anyway, my 1/2p is as follows.

Re the X3, no I don't especially like it, although I have just bought one for the Mrs. She wanted a car that was identical to her old X5 in every way except smaller, and (apart from the looks) the X3 is the closest there is to this ideal. Regarding the looks, her considered view is that she doesn't give a stuff about how a car looks, which is difficult to argue with.

Now that it has arrived though, it is growing on me. After the close inspection that results from a careful waxing, I can kind of see what they are trying to do. Maybe, with time ... who knows.

As regards the other models, I loved the last generation 7 but hated the new one as the proportions were all wrong. The facelift is veerryyy nice, though.

The 5 .... ? Well I hated the old version when it originally came out, but grew to like it so much that I eventually bought a 530i Sport. Then, I hated the current version when pictures first appeared, but in time and after seeing them on the road I now quite like them and am eying a 535d for next time.

The 3? Hated the E36 when it appeared - too chunky. Over time .... same story, it grew on me and I bought an E36 323i (before the 530iS). Thought the E46 version a bit bland when it appeared, but (guess what!) with time .... etc etc am now in a 330Ci. To be honest, I don't like the current version and doubt I'll buy it; it reminds me of the Avensis rather than the Carisma, not that that changes much! On past performance, though, I guessing that it will grow on me.

The 1 series? The headlights are too big, but other than that I quite like it. Don't want one though; not my kind of car.

X5 - I always liked it, but it reflects the old 5 series design philosophy rather than the new.

Z4 - I didn't like the Z3 as it was too girly retro. The change to the Z4 was welcome - but then again, a Pot Noodle would be welcome if you hadn't eaten for a week. Time has had it usual effect on me, though, and I would consider a test drive if offered one with no strings attached.

And, last and quite definately least, the 6 series. Coupe or Cabrio, doesn't matter; I detest it. Absolutely horrible. Sorry, MrMe, but there you are. I can only suggest that you drive it into a brick wall to reshape that awful front end. Alternatively, ask me again in 3-4 years and I'll tell you it looks great.

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I am sorry but how many Presidents, VP's, Dignitaries etc are seen getting out of BMW's ? Never happens.

They are always seen in a Merc. They will always be the Top ( volume ) Luxury Car maker.

That is why people aspire to own the 3 pointed star. Image and Branding are everything when you are spending over £30k.

Why aspire to own a BMW when they are driven by chavs on the local council estate and Reps in 1 and 3 series.

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Why aspire to own a BMW when they are driven by chavs on the local council estate and Reps in 1 and 3 series.

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Because they start in the morning, which is more than you can say for a Merc these days. As my business partner discovered a few weeks after taking delivery of a C class.

Merc decided to cash in by keeping prices high but dropping the engineering quality. It is discovering that reputations can be lost as well as gained.

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Y'see spartacus, that's where we differ soooooooooo much. (From the great populus that is).

I'm a car enthusiast. So branding and image mean absolutely nothing to me. Nor will it when it comes to my next purchase, which will (all being well! tongue.gif ) be in the 30k bracket. It won't be a Merc, but it could be a BMW. But if so, it'll be because it's a great car not because of what people will think when they see me in it.

If I was remotely worried about image and branding, this year I would have spent £25k on a boring mid-range 3-series/A4/C-Class instead of a quick, top of the range fully specced Subaru Legacy.

If it's done right, I don't think entering the volume market (whether it's A-class, A3, 1-Series, C-Class, A4, 3-series etc etc) necessarily devalues a brand. There's still only so many people who can afford a 6-series or an S-class. Of course if it's done wrong - think X-Type - then it can hurt. Badly.

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[ QUOTE ]

That is why people aspire to own the 3 pointed star. Image and Branding are everything when you are spending over £30k.

Why aspire to own a BMW when they are driven by chavs on the local council estate and Reps in 1 and 3 series

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In the UK that is the BMW image.

On the Continent, the 3 pointed star is a station taxi.

Most VP's get out of Mercs, a few get out of Audi's and BM's

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Bang on.

I used to be very anti-BMW simply because of their image (especially in my particular corner of Cheshire!). But I guess I've mellowed, and I'm now far more willing to ignore image and look at the car purely on its merits. And BMWs, especially higher up the range, are very, very good. As is their customer service (generally...).

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Bang on.

I used to be very anti-BMW simply because of their image (especially in my particular corner of Cheshire!). But I guess I've mellowed, and I'm now far more willing to ignore image and look at the car purely on its merits. And BMWs, especially higher up the range, are very, very good. As is their customer service (generally...).

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169144-ok.gif

The only personal problem I have is that I vowed never to buy a BMW because the company (HQ/Factory in Germany) is so corrupt (speaking from personal experience here).

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Disagree there see, I think the 1-series is a good looking car that grows on you. The base models are crap. The higher you get though, the better they look and the better they go.

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....Wow! I agree with MrMe!! (we often, but not always, disagree).

I saw a high-end Series-1 in dark blue the other evening and it looked very funky and 'the biz'. I've owned and always liked BMWs - I don't think anyone can seriously argue that BMWs are not excellent cars. I don't like the look of the Series-1 when basic and in pale colours. If I didn't have a VeeDub GTI or R32, I'd have another Beemer rather than an Audi for example.

But each to their own 169144-ok.gif

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[ QUOTE ]

Y'see spartacus, that's where we differ soooooooooo much. (From the great populus that is).

I'm a car enthusiast. So branding and image mean absolutely nothing to me. Nor will it when it comes to my next purchase, which will (all being well! tongue.gif ) be in the 30k bracket. It won't be a Merc, but it could be a BMW. But if so, it'll be because it's a great car not because of what people will think when they see me in it.

If I was remotely worried about image and branding, this year I would have spent £25k on a boring mid-range 3-series/A4/C-Class instead of a quick, top of the range fully specced Subaru Legacy.

If it's done right, I don't think entering the volume market (whether it's A-class, A3, 1-Series, C-Class, A4, 3-series etc etc) necessarily devalues a brand. There's still only so many people who can afford a 6-series or an S-class. Of course if it's done wrong - think X-Type - then it can hurt. Badly.

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That's a great car and you are right the enthusiasts choice.

Branding and image is not jut about what people think of you but what they think of your car.

You will find that out at when you come to sell your car.

Strong image and Positive branding = Good residuals

As a car enthusiast myself that makes just as much sense.

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