[pkimM3r]

Originally Posted by Whostheboss

In a way its not good, everyone and their mom will be driving a BMW soon.
Then it looses that unique taste. But from a business point of view, its great.

Should we be driving the buick then?? Lol

[bmwluvr24]

Originally Posted by shicobico

My dad never drove BMW's.


I have personally been around BMW's for a while. This is the first time I feel this threat to the brand-culture integrity. Did not feel it with the e90. Did not feel it with the e46.


Sure, I'm sure brands like Kia, Hyundai and even Subaru have enthusiasts too. BMW will be the next one. Commercial enthusiasts, ricing up cars and talking about how low they can drop the car, how awesome the sound system is, and how many subwoofers they can fit in the trunk.


I'd rather not be one of them.


Sales will likely be up AGAIN, next year. I never questioned that BMW will continue to sell cars. Actually, they will sell a lot of them! Just not likely to same people/demograph is has been attracting and selling to for the past 20 years.


Again, it's great for BMW ... bad for enthusiasts. The brand has a lot of pressure to appeal to more people. To become more bland. More "safe". Which probably means less people buying sport packages. Less people ordering Manual Transmissions. More 'user friendly' driving experiences (electronic steering). More 'ready-out-of-the-box', and less confusing options to pick from (aka, Sport, Modern and Luxury lines) and less customizations.


Oh SNAP, it's already happening! The future is here! Bring on the sales numbers!

I find this quite disappointing because I finally have purchased the car I have always wanted. I did not feel like this for the e90. I have been a BMW enthusiast since the early 80s as lot of other non owners. It just seems to me that some of you are judging the popularity of this car by saying that jokers are buying them and "pimping" them out. I really don't think this is the case. I simply think that it has to do with the fact that there is a newly redesigned icon vehicle and a lot of people are in love with the new looks. This reminds me a lot of when the Ducati Monster changed drastically after over a decade of no change at all. All of the so-called loyalists absolutely hated it, but it proved to be the vastly superior Monster model that has strengthened Ducati's foothold on the motorcycle industry. I feel that this is the SAME situation. This car is gorgeous and even though some of the "traditional" features have given way to more modern components, it still excites me in a way that I was hoping it would. This is just my humble opinion.

[MoeM3Power]

3 series FTW!!!

[Elk]

Originally Posted by phishhead24

This reminds me a lot of when the Ducati Monster changed drastically after over a decade of no change at all. All of the so-called loyalists absolutely hated it, but it proved to be the vastly superior Monster model that has strengthened Ducati's foothold on the motorcycle industry.

And then came the Diavel.

(I ride a 1098S Tricolore)

[bmwluvr24]

Originally Posted by Elk

And then came the Diavel.

(I ride a 1098S Tricolore)

Nice bike!!!! I love the Tricolor VERY much! I had a Monster and an 848, but I got rid of them for a 2008 Aprilia Tuono. I absolutely loved that bike. Now I guess I am messing up the world for the "enthusiasts" that thrive in the elite world of BMW. Whatever. I say that I am more of an enthusiast than someone who buys a car just for a status symbol. Pompous asshats exist in every sect of the gear head world.

[RichReg]

Kind of off-topic but, can someone please explain how the F30 is still considered a COMPACT car?
Isn't the F30 now even larger than was the E39 5 Series (which was off course, a mid-size sedan)?
Or have the qualifications changed for these categories?

[Elk]

"Compact" is merely nomenclature, a categorical definition. There are numerous definitions. The EPA defines car sizes by interior volume.

[tony20009]

Originally Posted by aajami

These cars are considered compacts now?

That's what they've been for over 20 years.

[tony20009]

Originally Posted by Fraggy

...I kinda see it like this... If we think of a company's mission statement, either BMW changed theirs, or is simply not following it anymore. ...

BMW's Mission Statement:
"The BMW Group is the world's leading provider of premium products and premium services for individual mobility."

What do you see that's inconsistent with that statement? It's been that for quite some time now, and BMW appear to be achieving it.

[sean10mm]

What are the F30 haters even doing in this forum? Don't you have your own forums to circle-jerk in? You really think anybody here wants to hear you talk about the F30 puts sand in your vaginas?



Pro tip: The 3er has been seen as an entry level badge whore car in the US since the E30 so I don't think we need to worry much about "brand dilution." The main "status" it confers in America is that of "poser" or even just plain "asshole." The 3er never got you much as a status symbol.

If you don't care about that they're nice cars, and a F30 328i sport line on all-seasons will put up cornering and acceleration numbers like an E46 330i ZHP on staggered summer tires according to Car & Driver's test numbers. Then of course the "enthusiasts" will move the goal posts away from measurable performance to "soul" or some other fluff like that.

[bmwluvr24]

Originally Posted by sean10mm

What are the F30 haters even doing in this forum? Don't you have your own forums to circle-jerk in? You really think anybody here wants to hear you talk about the F30 puts sand in your vaginas?



Pro tip: The 3er has been seen as an entry level badge whore car in the US since the E30 so I don't think we need to worry much about "brand dilution." The main "status" it confers in America is that of "poser" or even just plain "asshole." The 3er never got you much as a status symbol.

If you don't care about that they're nice cars, and a F30 328i sport line on all-seasons will put up cornering and acceleration numbers like an E46 330i ZHP on staggered summer tires according to Car & Driver's test numbers. Then of course the "enthusiasts" will move the goal posts away from measurable performance to "soul" or some other fluff like that.

We are now buddies. I was pretty annoyed myself with the arrogance I was reading on this forum. I am amazed at the fact that ONLY previous owners have any right to this brand. I had a choice of literally every compact luxury on the market and I picked BMW because I have always loved the way that these cars drove, looked, and just oozed sexy mechanical goodness. I do understand the attitude to uphold certain standards, but $45,000 is not cheap in any market today. I truly don't think hooligan, stereo thumping, rice burning children are going to be purchasing these cars. That is what the Hyundai Veloster line was meant for! Anyways.......you made my day brother! Cheers!!

[BMWinGE]

^ +1

BMW forums are really frustrating. There is always an old BMW vs new, series vs series, 335i vs 328i, AWD vs RWD, etc discussion going on. I just don't get it.

[aajami]

Originally Posted by tony20009

That's what they've been for over 20 years.

My point exactly. 20 years ago these cars weren't 182 inches in length. Is that the new standard for "compact" cars?

[sean10mm]

Originally Posted by aajami

My point exactly. 20 years ago these cars weren't 182 inches in length. Is that the new standard for "compact" cars?

Ask the EPA I guess? They classify them by internal volume and the 3er is a "compact" by their definition.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bycla...lassList.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_cla...cation_methods

[RichReg]

Originally Posted by sean10mm

They classify them by internal volume
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bycla...lassList.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_cla...cation_methods

There's the right answer.....thank you.

So it would follow that the 3 Series' interior space really hasn't grown as much as one would think over the past 15 years,
despite BMW's continued claims of increased roominess.

Not that the F30 isn't new & improved, just sayin' it seems weird that people consider it compact.
To look at it, it doesn't give me the impression of a small car at all.

[aajami]

Originally Posted by sean10mm

Ask the EPA I guess? They classify them by internal volume and the 3er is a "compact" by their definition.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bycla...lassList.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_cla...cation_methods

By the HLDI's definition in your link, the F30 should be a Midsize car.

Midsize: Length 457.3–495.3 cm (180–195 in) and wheelbase 266.8–279.4 cm (105–110 in)

F30
Length = 182 inches
Wheelbase = 110.6 inches

In terms of wheelbase alone, it would classify as a Large car by that same definition.

Point being, it seems a little silly referring to a car that large as a compact.

[RichReg]

I don't know about the F30 being large (or full-size?), but certainly a bit bigger than compact.