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      11-18-2013, 01:20 PM   #1
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Post Jeremy Clarkson: BMW 435i M Sport is Proof That Less Can Be More

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Jeremy Clarkson: BMW 435i M Sport is Proof That Less Can Be More
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Jeremy Clarkson's review of the 435i M Sport in the The Sunday Times certainly starts off rather dour.

Quote:
So I was surprised and, yes, a little bit disappointed when I put my foot down for the first time in BMW’s new 435i coupé. This is the sporty two-door version of the 3-series. In the past it would have been called the 3-series coupé but BMW has decided to give it a name of its own, which has allowed the stylists to have a freer hand. A much freer hand, as it turns out, because the only panel this car shares with its four-door stablemate is the bonnet.

The rest is all different and all new and nowhere near as dramatic as I’d been expecting. Yes, it’s lower and wider than the saloon — the rear wheels are about 3in further apart — but it lacks visual presence. And on the face of it, that doesn’t sound such a good idea.

When someone buys the two-door version of a four-door car, they are spending more money and getting less practicality. And the only reason they would want to do this is: they want more style. And with the 4-series I’m not sure they’re getting it.

Which brings me back to the noise. Floor the throttle and all you get is a gentle hum, the sound of an engine that is doing a spot of gardening or maybe popping down the road for a pint of milk. It doesn’t really sound as though it’s making much of an effort at all.

All is not lost however, as Clarkson goes on to say that the 4 Series is proof that less can be more, with a final verdict of: Name:  Screen Shot 2013-11-18 at 11.23.09 AM.jpg
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A BMW accepts that you are not a nincompoop. It accepts that you may be a very good driver, and that you may want to have some fun before the electronic nanny tells you to come inside and wash your hands before dinner.

Let me put it this way. If you have an Audi or a Mercedes or a Jaguar, you are telling the world that life is treating you well. If you have a BMW these days you’re not really saying much of anything at all. You’re like the quiet, grey man on the bus. Nobody notices you. And certainly nobody would guess that under your dignified, grown-up clothes, you’re wearing a lime-green mankini.

In the 435i you really are, thanks to a little button that changes the characteristics of everything. Most of the time it’ll be set to Comfort, but you can go to Sport+, which sharpens up all the important stuff. It’s nice. I loved driving this car. I loved being in it as well.

As with all BMWs, there’s no unnecessary detailing, no silly fuss and no superfluous gadgetry. You have a little readout at the bottom of the rev counter that is unintelligible and has something to do with polar bears, but everything else is A* common sense. I even found myself thinking that the optional head-up display was a good idea.

Let’s be in no doubt. The 435i is not for everyone. It is not good value and it is no use for showing-off. But if you miss the way Knightsbridge was. Or if you want a getaway car that no one will notice. Or if you are a grown-up. I can’t really think of any car that is better.
Read the rest of the review at The Sunday Times.


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      11-18-2013, 01:50 PM   #2
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If I were a passive aggressive guy, this is exactly how I would write a bad review. A big "meh". Knowing Jeremy Clarkson, I can only wonder.


Criticizing the styling, engine, noise and value but finishing off with a 4 star verdict.



"Which brings me back to the noise. Floor the throttle and all you get is a gentle hum, the sound of an engine that is doing a spot of gardening or maybe popping down the road for a pint of milk. It doesn’t really sound as though it’s making much of an effort at all.

...

Let’s be in no doubt. The 435i is not for everyone. It is not good value and it is no use for showing-off. But if you miss the way Knightsbridge was. Or if you want a getaway car that no one will notice. Or if you are a grown-up.
I can’t really think of any car that is better. "
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      11-18-2013, 02:08 PM   #3
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I read that review as being a dig at the braggadocio car culture that is thriving in central London and as subtle high praise for the 435 -- subtle exactly in keeping with why Clarkson liked the car: because it's a car for people who are grown up and want something fast but also want to avoid looking like an idiot on either end of the car-cost spectrum (i.e., to distance themselves both from the low-end looks over performance crew as well as the more up-market types who would wonder why you're paying $60k for a 435 when you could get a 'vet or a G37 or a Cayman).


To me, the 435 (and the S5) are the $60k versions of a 911 Carrera -- not saying they're equivalent, saying that they share the same outlook on driving and the purpose of a car and the goals of the particular model. And some people will take that comment as high praise; and some people will take that comment as a reason to never step foot in a 435. And I suspect -- of course -- that the 4 Series is targeted to the people who would take it as praise, meaning the same people who don't need loud pipes to announce a fast car or necessarily want to have everyone looking at them while driving to the grocery but, at the same time, enjoy knowing how capable their car is in a twisty or from a red light.

Last edited by ArthurKing1220; 11-18-2013 at 02:49 PM..
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      11-18-2013, 02:38 PM   #4
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Did anyone else read this in Jeremy Clarkson's voice?
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      11-18-2013, 02:51 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gitte View Post
Did anyone else read this in Jeremy Clarkson's voice?
Can't. Help. Myself.
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      11-18-2013, 02:52 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gitte
Did anyone else read this in Jeremy Clarkson's voice?
It's definitely more entertaining when you do, well pointed out!
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      11-18-2013, 02:52 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gitte View Post
Did anyone else read this in Jeremy Clarkson's voice?
hahahaha +1
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      11-18-2013, 02:53 PM   #8
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If anyone has watched Jeremy's review of the last M5 w/ v10, it will sound familiar to this new review of the 435i. It's actually funny how Jeremy says the old M5 was the worst car on the planet at the beginning and then says once you press the M button it becomes the best car in the world. LOL
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      11-18-2013, 03:04 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gitte
Did anyone else read this in Jeremy Clarkson's voice?
Lol totally did. Can't help it, it's so soothing
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      11-18-2013, 03:09 PM   #10
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Lol...BMW's aren't anything, but a jag and merc or Audi are...must be nice in the UK!
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      11-18-2013, 03:09 PM   #11
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The 435i is hitting $64k here at our Seattle dealership (fully loaded of course), but one has to think that the outgoing M3 had a base price of $64k. How is it that the coupe 335i and the sedan 335i were about the same in price but the 435i is 7% higher?

I agree with Jeremy on this one.
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      11-18-2013, 03:11 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mge.92 View Post
If anyone has watched Jeremy's review of the last M5 w/ v10, it will sound familiar to this new review of the 435i. It's actually funny how Jeremy says the old M5 was the worst car on the planet at the beginning and then says once you press the M button it becomes the best car in the world. LOL
That review was awesome -- classic Clarkson. Keep in mind that review came out when the E60 M5 was just being released -- there were a lot of doubters who questioned whether anything could ever replace the (justifiably) beloved E39 M5. I have a feeling Clarkson's review of the E60 helped convince a lot of people who were on the fence to take the plunge -- he practically giggles with delight during the "and then you press this button" portion of the video.
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      11-18-2013, 03:12 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gastoys View Post
The 435i is hitting $64k here at our Seattle dealership (fully loaded of course), but one has to think that the outgoing M3 had a base price of $64k. How is it that the coupe 335i and the sedan 335i were about the same in price but the 435i is 7% higher?

I agree with Jeremy on this one.
Base price of the E9X wasn't $64k. I paid about that for my E92 with navigation, Bluetooth, EDC, ZCP, Convenience package, etc. Base price was about $54-55k!
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      11-18-2013, 03:22 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan View Post
Base price of the E9X wasn't $64k. I paid about that for my E92 with navigation, Bluetooth, EDC, ZCP, Convenience package, etc. Base price was about $54-55k!
Correct. Strong stating facts which are BLATANTLY FALSE. Please please I love when people post false facts as truth
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      11-18-2013, 03:52 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gastoys View Post
The 435i is hitting $64k here at our Seattle dealership (fully loaded of course), but one has to think that the outgoing M3 had a base price of $64k. How is it that the coupe 335i and the sedan 335i were about the same in price but the 435i is 7% higher?

I agree with Jeremy on this one.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 325rider View Post
Correct. Strong stating facts which are BLATANTLY FALSE. Please please I love when people post false facts as truth
wait wait, I think I have to agree with 325rider here, 335i coupe and 335i sedan are the same price? They certainly are not, coupes always stickered for and sold for more money. around 7-9% in fact. You can check this on the historical MSRP stickers and invoice prices on this site.

Coupes will always cost more because they are fancier than sedans at least the way BMW are designing them, be it the more sleek design, different materials, or the higher line/positioning of the 4 vs 3... and always cost more to be "one better" than average

Last edited by cultr3; 11-18-2013 at 03:58 PM..
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      11-18-2013, 03:53 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cultr3 View Post
wait wait, I think I have to agree with 325rider here, 335i couple and 335i sedan are the same price? They certainly are not, coupes always stickered for and sold for more money. around 7-9% in fact. You can check this on the historical MSRP stickers and invoice prices on this site.
He was talking out of his other hole.
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      11-18-2013, 04:23 PM   #17
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Clarkson is pretty spot on. I actually enjoy the F30 sedan w/ M-Sport far more, visually. I'm really hoping I can get into a new F80 M3 sedan for ED for end of March by the end of this year.
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      11-18-2013, 04:35 PM   #18
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Jeremy Mies van der Rohe says... Well if this is a less is more car, than am M235i is even more of a less is more car. If any of that makes sense...
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      11-18-2013, 04:42 PM   #19
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Clarkson clearly made the distinction the BMW brand more about under-stated sport/luxury rather than the, "look at me now, i made it" brands like Audi, Mercedes or Jaguar.
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      11-18-2013, 04:44 PM   #20
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I also wish they had done more with the 4 series styling, but then it would probably cost more than the $2K difference. Most people were hoping for 6 series styling and I think that is what he was saying in this review.

I am just happy the M3 is sticking around, when the new F30/32 were being developed there was a lot of talk of no more M sedan! My guess is because they were considering the M4 gran coupe to replace it. For a family man with two toddlers the extra 2 doors are really nice to have and I can use that $2K savings to get the "enhanced sound". I love my F30 M Sport, and hopefully the M3 will have enough changes to make it feel like a new car compared to the F30 (besides just the engine), nicer leather seats on the inside, carbon fiber roof and quad exhausts on the outside are a start!
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      11-18-2013, 04:46 PM   #21
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Lol clarksons voice was a must, I even thought while reading, why am I doing this LOL, glad I'm not the only one...I just saw my first 4 on the road...AW looked loaded on 19's...looked really nice at night.
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      11-18-2013, 04:49 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gastoys View Post
The 435i is hitting $64k here at our Seattle dealership (fully loaded of course), but one has to think that the outgoing M3 had a base price of $64k. How is it that the coupe 335i and the sedan 335i were about the same in price but the 435i is 7% higher?

I agree with Jeremy on this one.
When were the 3 sedan and 3 coupe ever about the same in price. If I recall E90 vs. E92 had about a $4000 difference or so? Historically its always been about 5-7%
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