Motor Trend Going Crazy

[aNoodle]

For the first time in I can't remember how long, Motor Trend doesn't have BMW in the top or second position in a comparo. What is going on here....?

The Z4 comes in 3 out of 4? "This is a few too many body creases from being an acceptable-looking sports car," remarked one editor. Another quipped, "Maybe after a few weeks in a rock tumbler, you'd have something here." http://motortrend.com/roadtests/coupe/112_0408_sportconv/index4.html


The 7 series ties for 5th out of six contenders? "Maybe the "i" in 745i should stand for "I, Robot." Few cars we've ever encountered feel as coldly indifferent to the human at the wheel as this big BMW...."I dislike more things about this car than I like," was one of several similar remarks in the logbook....As the astronauts in "2001: A Space Odyssey" might've said, "Darn nice ship we've got here--if only we could jettison that infuriating HAL 9000." And so it is with this BMW. One editor wrote: "A nicely engineered powertrain and chassis spoiled by a 'more is more' misapplication of technology."
http://motortrend.com/roadtests/luxury/112_0409_class/index2.html

 

[bmw046series]

You have to remember these are the same people that build American cars.

 

[jrt67ss350]

You have to remember these are the same people that build American cars.

Oh, give me a break - people have been saying the exact same things since the new cars came out. This is nothing new.

I have to agree with the comments about the Z4 - I've never really liked the styling compared to that of the Z3. I've never driven a new 7series so, I can't comment on that.

 

[Big Daddy]

I did not like the B1 Bomber look of the Mustangs when they came and the Z4 looks like a B1 as well. My wife is actually the artist in our family and she chose the Z3. When I talked about trading it in on a Z4 years ago I almost got in the dog house. Maybe this is why sales are down?

 

[codex57]

I did not like the B1 Bomber look of the Mustangs when they came and the Z4 looks like a B1 as well. My wife is actually the artist in our family and she chose the Z3. When I talked about trading it in on a Z4 years ago I almost got in the dog house. Maybe this is why sales are down?

Probably. Design seems to be the biggest complaint. Average BMW buyers aren't enthusiasts so things like looks are at the top of their priority list, not driving feel.

 

[epj3]

Yea when the cars are UGLY and have more big problems than a hyundai....

 

[Bryan330i]

I did not like the B1 Bomber look of the Mustangs when they came and the Z4 looks like a B1 as well. My wife is actually the artist in our family and she chose the Z3. When I talked about trading it in on a Z4 years ago I almost got in the dog house. Maybe this is why sales are down?

What do you and your wife think of the 6?

When looking at the pictures I thought it would be nice but after seeing the car around I get the same feel for the car as you are saying about the Z4. I was thinking that it could have been the color also because one parked across an intersection from me was white and I just had this unsatisfied feeling. I guess something like a B1, water balloon, Toyota Salara, confused kind of feeling.

 

[MrElussive]

Among the 4, I would put the Porsche Boxster S first (assuming it was well equipped), the BMW Z4 3.0i second, but I'm not sure about the 350Z and the TT Roadster. All four roadsters in this comparison are absolutely amazing so I wouldn't consider any of them "losers".
If I were to choose one out of the four to get, I would go with the Z4 3.0i. The overall styling (inside and out) just screams "roadster" and you get all of those wonderful things that come with the BMW roundel (performance, luxury, and practicality). The Boxster S is too expensive, I don't like the TT Roadster 3.2 DSG (although I'm a huge fan of the 225hp 6-speed Quattro Raodster), and the 350Z Roadster is just too heavy to be a quick and fun-to-whip-around roadster.

 

[theBMWenthusiast]

I did not like the B1 Bomber look of the Mustangs when they came and the Z4 looks like a B1 as well. My wife is actually the artist in our family and she chose the Z3. When I talked about trading it in on a Z4 years ago I almost got in the dog house. Maybe this is why sales are down?

hehe, ya i dont like the styling that much but i think its kind of weak that may also be affecting sales

 

[Big Daddy]

What do you and your wife think of the 6?

When looking at the pictures I thought it would be nice but after seeing the car around I get the same feel for the car as you are saying about the Z4. I was thinking that it could have been the color also because one parked across an intersection from me was white and I just had this unsatisfied feeling. I guess something like a B1, water balloon, Toyota Salara, confused kind of feeling.

She has the same feelings about the 6 as well. We both thought is might be ok looking at the photos, but in person....hmmm, nope! (does kind of look like a Salara doesn't it) We are not really looking at replacing the M roadster yet, but we have looked and after testing all the "roadster" types we find it very hard to part with the Z. Heck we havn't replaced the 750iL yet, still thinking on that one, not sure we want to do the SUV thing.

 

[Bryan330i]

She has the same feelings about the 6 as well. We both thought is might be ok looking at the photos, but in person....hmmm, nope! (does kind of look like a Salara doesn't it) We are not really looking at replacing the M roadster yet, but we have looked and after testing all the "roadster" types we find it very hard to part with the Z. Heck we havn't replaced the 750iL yet, still thinking on that one, not sure we want to do the SUV thing.

Yeah, I don’t think I would part with an M Roadster. I am thinking this could be one of those hot cars that remains hot for a long time and may even get better with age, especially given some of the recent changes.

I looked at dealer inventory today and no M Roadsters at any of 5 big California dealerships.

 

[Pink_Floyd]

Motor Trend is Right On... Sorry; not a big fan of them, but they've got this one right. The new BMWs are hideous excuses for automobiles.

 

[bahnstormer]

hey hey! pink floyd knows his stuff!

most of the new bmw's are crap...7, 5, x3

the z4 i like - that long hood is cool as hell - but the ride is crap supposedly =\

 

[MrElussive]

She has the same feelings about the 6 as well. We both thought is might be ok looking at the photos, but in person....hmmm, nope! (does kind of look like a Salara doesn't it) We are not really looking at replacing the M roadster yet, but we have looked and after testing all the "roadster" types we find it very hard to part with the Z. Heck we havn't replaced the 750iL yet, still thinking on that one, not sure we want to do the SUV thing.

I was side-by-side with a 645Ci this evening in NYC, in Times Square. It is a nice-looking car, it's just not a BMW at all, and the "nice-looking car" comment does not include the rear end.

 

[Pink_Floyd]

hey hey! pink floyd knows his stuff!

most of the new bmw's are crap...7, 5, x3

the z4 i like - that long hood is cool as hell - but the ride is crap supposedly =\

Thanks, I'm glad someone else sees things my way... I feel the same way about the z4 but seriously; compare that to the previous BMW designs that they have just completely deserted. The z4 is nice, but only when im comparison with the new 5, 6, 7 and X models. I don't think it's pretty, but it is more tolerable than all the others...

 

[MrElussive]

I LOVE the Z4....it is such a great-looking car that screams roadster, inside and out. I'd like that or maybe the M Roadster w/S54 engine.

 

[jrt67ss350]

I LOVE the Z4....it is such a great-looking car that screams roadster, inside and out. I'd like that or maybe the M Roadster w/S54 engine.

See, IMO, the Z3 screamed roadster more than the Z4 does. Something just doesn't seem right to me with the proportions of the Z4. The car just seems too bulky or something. IMO, the Z3 was the perfect size and also had the long hood and stubby tail (but better sculpted). The cockpit in the Z4 is interesting and neat to look at, but I like the wrap-around you feel of the Z3's cockpit better - to me, it better suits the overall feel/purpose a two seater roadster should have than that of the Z4. I guess the Z4 has better performance than the Z3 - I don't know, I've never driven a Z4. However, I have had a good amount of time behind the wheel of a Z3, and that car was awesome - I have a hard time imagining that the Z4 is leaps and bounds better performance-wise.

Styling wise, I really don't like the jumble of hard creases on the sides of the Z4. What stylistic purpose do they serve? It just looks like a confused, half-assed design to me. I think the most telling thing for me is that when I look at a Z3, I get excited. When I look at a Z4, I get this feeling of "meh...." I'd take a Z3 over a Z4 anyday.

 

[Kirby]

I have liked the Z4 ALOT since the first time I saw it. I think that the Bangle lines look good on a small roadster, less so on bigger cars. And now for my standard Z4 soapbox: BMW needs to boost the performance (horsepower and skidpan g's) of the Z4 or it will be in the middle of the roadster market. With the new C6 vette, RX8, etc. the 3.0l isn't attractive enough.

I WANT A Z4 ///M ROADSTER with 350 - 400 hp!!

By the way, Big Daddy, you need to hang on to that ///M Roadster.

 

[andreyiv]

Somewhere I saw spyshots of the Z4 M roadster, yes Z4. They said that it will either have the current M3 engine or something bigger.

 

[Pink_Floyd]

See, IMO, the Z3 screamed roadster more than the Z4 does. Something just doesn't seem right to me with the proportions of the Z4. The car just seems too bulky or something. IMO, the Z3 was the perfect size and also had the long hood and stubby tail (but better sculpted). The cockpit in the Z4 is interesting and neat to look at, but I like the wrap-around you feel of the Z3's cockpit better - to me, it better suits the overall feel/purpose a two seater roadster should have than that of the Z4. I guess the Z4 has better performance than the Z3 - I don't know, I've never driven a Z4. However, I have had a good amount of time behind the wheel of a Z3, and that car was awesome - I have a hard time imagining that the Z4 is leaps and bounds better performance-wise.

Styling wise, I really don't like the jumble of hard creases on the sides of the Z4. What stylistic purpose do they serve? It just looks like a confused, half-assed design to me. I think the most telling thing for me is that when I look at a Z3, I get excited. When I look at a Z4, I get this feeling of "meh...." I'd take a Z3 over a Z4 anyday.

Wow, I agree with you completely. I especially dislike the new interrior layouts of the new BMWs. Just like you said they are neat to look at, but thats it! The cockpit-like feeling that you get from the older generation 3 series are in my opinion the best. The consol is very high and runs right into the dash seperating you completely from the rest of the car. The coolest thing is that the entire center console is angled towards the driver in a very agressive and obvious manner. I don't want a car I can walk around in, I want one that grabs onto me and is completely driver oriented.

As far as the exterior styling of the Z4 I also agree with you. It looks like some half-assed sculpture created by an overconfident and self-obsessed artist. You can just see some pompous asshole *BANGLE* in a studio alone randomly drawing those hideous creases which really serve NO purpose and don't flow together or work together at all! Ok, Im done. I've got my e36 and I couldn't be happier.