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View Poll Results: Would you rather a 328i/335i/ActiveHybrid 3 Touring to a Sedan?
Yes, I'll take the equivalent F31 14 21.88%
No, I'll stick with the F30 50 78.13%
Voters: 64. You may not vote on this poll

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      02-10-2013, 10:39 AM   #1
SomeRandomer123
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Another poll for the Yanks

The previous poll here regarding the F31 330d Touring brought back some interesting results and conversation, even though the large majority was off-topic.

But that poll was quite focused and although interesting, it doesn't fully gauge whether those who didn't chose the 330d Touring were put off by the diesel engine or wagon/estate body style.
I mean wagon, being a poll for the "Yanks".

So I've created this poll to ascertain how popular the Touring body style is with the American's on this forum compared to the saloon.
I mean sedan...
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      02-10-2013, 02:02 PM   #2
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In the US, the touring body style is typically associated with the 1970s and 1980s "station wagons", that were ugly with terrible performance. The group of people who need the extra cargo room that these cars did/do provide easily moved onto more stylish SUVs.

Of course you will run across a small sub-segment (mainly folks here!) who still appreciate the touring, but overall the design falls flat in the US.

Personally, I think the F31 looks decent enough, but I don't think I could bring myself to actually buy one. I actually think the 3er GT is a bit more stylish, while retaining all the functionality of a touring, plus giving you a substantial increase in rear legroom.

Remember, we will only get the xDrive F31 here. The xDrive is useless to 100 million+ people in the US who never see snow or ice.

An ActiveHybrid version is somewhat appealing, but not combined with xDrive. I'm starting to think an F34 Hybrid, or F34 in 325d guise might be just the sweet spot for a car with more room than an standard F30, but not the bulk of an X3/X4.
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      02-10-2013, 03:17 PM   #3
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To me, wagons are just hideous compared to a sedan. All I can think about when I see them is this http://cdn1.hark.com/images/000/007/...7/original.jpg
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      02-10-2013, 03:56 PM   #4
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Wagons as a whole are not popular in the USA. I think because of the selection of smaller fuel efficient SUVs that are available (think RAV4 or CRV).

I think if you put an X1 35i and a F31 335i in the same room in the USA with similar features more people would pick the X1.

Just my opinion.

Its not like the BMW market research doesn’t know what they are doing. They probably have done analysis and polls which show the majority of buyers aren’t interested so they won’t waste their time.
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      02-10-2013, 04:37 PM   #5
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I'm beginning to see why there were high hopes for the 5GT in the US... perhaps the 3GT will do better.

All I can say, IMO 3 & 5-series tourings (sorry wagons) are some of the best BMW vehicles made.

We love them over here in Europe and are big sellers in the UK.

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      02-10-2013, 05:37 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by SamS View Post

Remember, we will only get the xDrive F31 here. The xDrive is useless to 100 million+ people in the US who never see snow or ice.
This is the deal killer for me. I don't want or need X drive, otherwise I'd love to have an F31 touring even over my sedan. I love wagons. It's one of those things where if you have to ask "why?" you'll never understand. A 335i F31 6MT would be awesome!
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      02-10-2013, 06:17 PM   #7
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I wanted one for the utility of it up until I bought my wife a new Honda CR-V. Now I don't need it and I'll stick with the F30. I love a good Touring/Avant/Sport Wagon/Hatch. I think they're cool.
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      02-10-2013, 07:22 PM   #8
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I had every intention of buying an F31 until I learned we could only get the xDrive with an automatic. The second I confirmed this (there WAS a chance we'd get RWD), I ordered my 335i sedan.

Wagons were incredibly popular and useful back in the day. There was one in just about every driveway of families with kids. Then the MINIVAN came along and the wagons all but disappeared.

Minivans were never really "cool" but they did a good job of hauling lots of people and a limited amount of stuff. When Ford introduced the Explorer which WAS considered cool as an alternative to the minivan the SUV craze took off.

So what's the point of all of this? Well, wagons aren't popular because they haven't been available. Ford was the last holdout with the Taurus wagon (they sold milllions by the way). Now even that is gone.

But, I predict a renewed interest in the coming years. Gas near $4 a gallon has quite a few folks thinking twice about their big empty trucks. If BMW does a good job MARKETING the F31, they'll sell it. They just need to convince everyone it's cool to own one.

As an aside, during my ED trip in November, I think I saw more F11 5 Series wagons on the road in Germany and Austria than any other contemporary BMW - by a fair margin. They were literally everywhere. I still can't comprehend why BMW doesn't bring them over. They just need to be smart about it and bring over models that will actually stir some interest, like the M550d for example and RWD models. But alas, when we live in a world where they push xDrive 650i droptops I know we're doomed.
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      02-10-2013, 07:23 PM   #9
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I've got a wife, 2 kids and 2 dogs. That means taking a trip in the F30 means leaving somebody behind....so we have an MDX for that

But the MDX is huge, gets crap gas mileage, and isn't nearly as fun as the 335 to drive

I see the F31 as a way to get what I need, while driving what I love - and it doesn't hurt that it'll be unpopular amongst the unwashed masses - I never minded standing out in a crowd
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      02-10-2013, 11:10 PM   #10
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Sedan driving dynamics/gas mileage + SUV utility? Yes the touring is the best all-around vehicle. One day Americans will understand... hopefully.
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      02-11-2013, 12:29 AM   #11
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I am a minimalist when it comes to the size/type of car I need. At this point in my life I only need a sedan (actually I wish I had gotten a coupe), but later on down the road when I have a family, we will have a wagon. Not an SUV. So I am going to choose F30 over F31 only because I don't need the extra space right now.

That and the fact its X-Drive only is a 100% turn off for me with a BMW wagon. That (RWD) was its biggest draw for me. Oh well, I guess a E90 manual 328iT is in my distant future.
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      02-11-2013, 12:31 AM   #12
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I have never been into wagons (or even hatch backs for that matter), but the F31 is a beautiful car. It's an estate/touring/rally car combined, and it just screams ROAD TRIP!

Great lines, great stance.
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      02-11-2013, 04:02 AM   #13
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Interesting responses so far! I didn't know that the F31 was actually LIMITED to xDrive in the US, I thought you had the RWD alternative too. That's crap isn't it, that would be the deal-breaker for me too. I don't want the extra weight, worse fuel consumption, higher ride height and no ability to unstick the rears on a damp Sunday morning roundabout!
It's great they offer xDrive on the Series models, they're really pushing xDrive on the 3 Series here in the UK but RWD should be as standard as it is on all 3 Series varients here in the UK.

Planning far ahead now but it's likely my next car in 2015 could be the 4 Series GranCoupe in 435d form. Or F30 LCI 335d depending on prices. But if, as rumoured, the 335d is ONLY available with xDrive, I'm gonna be in a RWD 30d.

Aside from far better styling and model distinguishment, one of BMW's greatest USP's to Audi is a proper setup. Engine in the front. Drive at the back. That's what you want!
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      02-11-2013, 09:28 AM   #14
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Any way you slice it, you can do as many polls as you want but people in the US just don't like wagons! It looks horrible and you have to be more than 60 to appreciate them.
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      02-11-2013, 10:42 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Itgb View Post
Sedan driving dynamics/gas mileage + SUV utility? Yes the touring is the best all-around vehicle. One day Americans will understand... hopefully.
I agree that they are a more versatile car, and that in many senses it is 'better' than my F30. The reason I don't buy one isn't because I like being inconvenienced, it's because I think they are ugly...
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      02-11-2013, 10:44 AM   #16
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I didn't vote, because I don't have a strong preference. As a single guy, I don't really need the space, so I'd go with the F30 based strictly on the aesthetics of the classic 3-box shape (i.e. saloon/sedan). Having said that, I find the F31 handsome and far preferable to any of the X-car and GT equivalents. If I needed the space/utility, I'd buy the F31.
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      02-11-2013, 10:59 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ZMM_OMG View Post
I didn't vote, because I don't have a strong preference. As a single guy, I don't really need the space, so I'd go with the F30 based strictly on the aesthetics of the classic 3-box shape (i.e. saloon/sedan). Having said that, I find the F31 handsome and far preferable to any of the X-car and GT equivalents. If I needed the space/utility, I'd buy the F31.
Until I had kids, I would have shared your same opinions. Now that I have two kids, I really appreciate the extra legroom that an F34 could provide. This means it is much easier to remove/put in a rear-facing child carrier, and a toddler sitting behind you in a forward facing seat won't be able to kick the back of the seat in front of them.

Weird priorities to acknowledge if you don't have kids. But definitely something to consider if you're hauling around more than just yourself.
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      02-11-2013, 11:33 AM   #18
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I believe your question and poll is fundamentally flawed because unless someone is married with kids, they wouldn't need the extra room in a wagon. If I was married with kids and forced to choose between a SUV and wagon, then I'd give the wagon a consideration. Otherwise, it's either sedan or coupe for me.
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      02-11-2013, 11:38 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tsuvoi View Post
Any way you slice it, you can do as many polls as you want but people in the US just don't like wagons! It looks horrible and you have to be more than 60 to appreciate them.
Hey, I'm nowhere near 60. I think the F31 looks damn good as a wagon. Wagons often do look awkward in comparison to their cousins, but this one doesn't. It looks like it was penned as a touring right out of the gate.

I'm an individual and as such gravitate towards things that will be a bit more unique. I'm not big on pulling at a light and looking over at a mirror image of myself. I also get great enjoyment from building/configuring things that aren't as they appear on the surface. Were we to actually have the option, I'm pretty sure Average Joe would be quite surprised if you took him for a ride in your 335iT.

No offense, but broad generalizations are very small minded. I'll never say that I don't like "X" across the board. You never know what might come along that's way more than you anticipated and could potentially change your mind.
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      02-11-2013, 12:01 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BavarianFanatic View Post
Hey, I'm nowhere near 60. I think the F31 looks damn good as a wagon. Wagons often do look awkward in comparison to their cousins, but this one doesn't. It looks like it was penned as a touring right out of the gate.

I'm an individual and as such gravitate towards things that will be a bit more unique. I'm not big on pulling at a light and looking over at a mirror image of myself. I also get great enjoyment from building/configuring things that aren't as they appear on the surface. Were we to actually have the option, I'm pretty sure Average Joe would be quite surprised if you took him for a ride in your 335iT.

No offense, but broad generalizations are very small minded. I'll never say that I don't like "X" across the board. You never know what might come along that's way more than you anticipated and could potentially change your mind.
I'm not generalizing, just saying that wagons are ugly is a statement of my opinion.
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      02-11-2013, 12:14 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tsuvoi View Post
I'm not generalizing, just saying that wagons are ugly is a statement of my opinion.
same here, i personally don't like wagons.. BUT, i do like some hatchbacks, especially the new euro spec audi a3's and volvo c30's
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      02-11-2013, 12:48 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alex2364 View Post
I believe your question and poll is fundamentally flawed because unless someone is married with kids, they wouldn't need the extra room in a wagon. If I was married with kids and forced to choose between a SUV and wagon, then I'd give the wagon a consideration. Otherwise, it's either sedan or coupe for me.
You don't need to have kids to use the extra room in a wagon. You can fit surfboards, snowboards/skis, bikes, chairs/furniture, car parts, 55" tv, wheels/tires, christmas tree, etc. in your car. It makes life much simpler since you don't have to pay for delivery/rental trucks when you buy things or have to worry about leaving your valuables strapped to your roof for anyone to steal. I guess if you live in a small apartment and have no hobbies then, a wagon wouldn't be a benefit.
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