Ten Legendary Cars That Prove BMW Peaked in the 1990s
10-17-2015, 11:53 PM
#12
It didn't make it on that list, but the e46 m3 in 6-speed (not smg) is going to the the next desirable m3 the way the E30 M3 blew up.
10-18-2015, 05:24 AM
#13
10-19-2015, 03:19 PM
#14
Originally Posted by CosmosMpower' timestamp='1444657158' post='23772982
Those cars were all awesome in their time and fun to drive, very analog and direct. The modern cars are better though, it's silly to say BMW peaked in the 90's. The new cars are getting faster, more luxurious, comfortable from generation to generation. I like driving my E46 since it feels like a smaller lighter car compared to the E9x but I still bought a F80 as it's just a nicer package all around.
Well the largest criticism thrown at them is electric steer, which is vague but so is the steering of other manufacturers. It is thrown at them because they are supposed to be the drivers car and nobody cares if the steering is vague on a Ford. The "numbers car" they are shooting for is CAFE in that regard.
I still love mine and it is a run of the mill 328i as a daily. When they get the steering better figured out like Porsche has done, then they need to address the weight but the next 3 series at least is supposed to be getting lighter. I understand they have been trending on the cushy side, but I think they also get the criticism and will address lots of it. Nearly all models are still RWD and if they did not care about driver involvement you'd toss that in favor of something else.
But it is hard to blame BMW for getting less and less driver involved when you have our own federal standards requiring more weight and better mileage at the same time. They have been doing the same thing everyone else is in that regard.
I'd still like the next 3 to be lighter and smaller, but there is always the 2 series.
10-20-2015, 05:08 AM
#15
A few brief reviews have already popped up about the mid-cycle refresh 2016 3 Series. At least Autoblog has driven one, and said it's an improvement but that the steering feel is one of the areas still lacking.
Makes me wonder what type of set up they're using. Column mounted motor, or rack mounted motor.
Makes me wonder what type of set up they're using. Column mounted motor, or rack mounted motor.
10-22-2015, 12:18 PM
#16
10-22-2015, 04:11 PM
#17
I wouldn't say they peaked in the 90s. Their most iconic decade is the 80s, no? The E30 M3 and E28 M5 were awesome, first-of-their-kind cars, and rightfully iconic today. When since then have they produced a new model that had that much of an impact?
They were certainly still very GOOD in the 90s and 00s. The E46 M3 is a truly great car. And I loved my E90 335i - still the best car I've ever owned, all-around, wish I hadn't gotten rid of it. But then at some point they fell into the trap of making their cars overly complex, and then compounded that by numbing their steering and "road feel." Hopefully they're fixing this with the refreshes and new-generation models.
They were certainly still very GOOD in the 90s and 00s. The E46 M3 is a truly great car. And I loved my E90 335i - still the best car I've ever owned, all-around, wish I hadn't gotten rid of it. But then at some point they fell into the trap of making their cars overly complex, and then compounded that by numbing their steering and "road feel." Hopefully they're fixing this with the refreshes and new-generation models.
10-25-2015, 04:50 AM
#19
10-26-2015, 06:39 AM
#20
Nah that's BS. There have always been plenty of customers for BMW. But they've gotten greedy (no real crime there, they are a business) and in the name of increased sales have sacrificed what made them special. Now they'd rather push more volume than Mercedes, instead of building consistently engaging cars.