[Yungsta]

Got a G20 loaner for the day from Buena Park BMW while servicing my F32. I know this topic has been discussed a hundred times already but damn this thing was underwhelming. The exterior and interior were both a disappointment. The front looks really tacky and the back is hideous. BMWs previously all had a distinct look that it kept over generations. Even if u didn't know what specific year the 3 series model was, it was distinctly BMW. The rear of this car has totally lost that. The interior did not seem like a luxury car either. I didn't like the screen placement (too low) or the overall design of the interior. Didn't feel like I was driving a BMW.. if felt really generic like any other Honda. I'm glad im skipping over this generation, hopefully they will come out with a better car in the future.

[deviantspeed]

Sounds like someone is crying for no reason.

Go look at a lexus front end in person. Go look at your loaner again.

Enjoy your life!

[Yungsta]

It's not my car so I could care less. Just giving my opinion of my experience today. Why do I need to look at the front end of a Lexus? I'm not comparing the two. These are my thoughts on the G20 after finally getting to drive it.

[deviantspeed]

Originally Posted by Yungsta

It's not my car so I could care less. Just giving my opinion of my experience today. Why do I need to look at the front end of a Lexus? I'm not comparing the two. These are my thoughts on the G20 after finally getting to drive it.

Because the new BMW grill is tiny compared to other marques.

[eluded]

Meh. No manual so who cares. So Bring on the electric cars.

[MmmmmM2]

I'm about to get my first G20 loaner today when I take my 340i in for 5K service. I'll report back.

[messygarageBMW]

Stopped in to a dealership last week to look at the G20. I too was not impressed. I didn't drive it but the interior and exterior are disappointing in my opinion. I have had E30s, E36, E53, E90 (still have) and F30 (still have) so I am nowhere near a newbie on BMWs.


Now in full disclosure I wasn't wild about the E36 when I first saw it BITD but it quickly grew on me and is one of the best IMHO. I don't see the G20 design winning me over like the E36 did but I could be wrong. Just first impressions was it was not the same BMW feel of previous generations.

[Yungsta]

Originally Posted by messygarageBMW

Stopped in to a dealership last week to look at the G20. I too was not impressed. I didn't drive it but the interior and exterior are disappointing in my opinion. I have had E30s, E36, E53, E90 (still have) and F30 (still have) so I am nowhere near a newbie on BMWs.


Now in full disclosure I wasn't wild about the E36 when I first saw it BITD but it quickly grew on me and is one of the best IMHO. I don't see the G20 design winning me over like the E36 did but I could be wrong. Just first impressions was it was not the same BMW feel of previous generations.

If I were to say one good thing about it, the steering felt a little less floaty even in comparison to my F32 before I got my coilovers.

[MmmmmM2]

Welp, no G20 loaner. They gave me a brand new X5 instead. No complaints here.

[Enabled]

This scenario happens pretty much every time a new chassis version is introduced. And yet people still buy them/lease them by the millions.
It's a shame BMW and most German auto makers choose quantity over quality, but I guess it works from a business sense.

[BMWILUVU]

Originally Posted by Yungsta

Got a G20 loaner for the day from Buena Park BMW while servicing my F32. I know this topic has been discussed a hundred times already but damn this thing was underwhelming. The exterior and interior were both a disappointment. The front looks really tacky and the back is hideous. BMWs previously all had a distinct look that it kept over generations. Even if u didn't know what specific year the 3 series model was, it was distinctly BMW. The rear of this car has totally lost that. The interior did not seem like a luxury car either. I didn't like the screen placement (too low) or the overall design of the interior. Didn't feel like I was driving a BMW.. if felt really generic like any other Honda. I'm glad im skipping over this generation, hopefully they will come out with a better car in the future.

Comparing an inline 6 with a stretched 4-pot. The G handles slightly better than the F and the cylinders put out good power for a 4. I agree I would not put down the money for the G20. Part of what I pay for is the styling and the G is not doing it for me interior nor exterior. Will wait for the new vette or see if the G80 follows the bad styling.

[MmmmmM2]

Oh real quick input on my X5 loaner. It's niiiiice but not very attractive.

[chowser51]

Going to try the M340i whatever in autocross later this month. The one test drive I had was nice.

[Eddien123]

Originally Posted by eluded

Meh. No manual so who cares. So Bring on the electric cars.

I'm inclined to agree. If I can't get a manual then might as well go 100% no soul and go electric

[Antec800]

Whoever thinks the g20 interior isn’t miles better then the f30 interior is on some good stuff.

[Fuller]

Originally Posted by messygarageBMW

Stopped in to a dealership last week to look at the G20. I too was not impressed. I didn't drive it but the interior and exterior are disappointing in my opinion. I have had E30s, E36, E53, E90 (still have) and F30 (still have) so I am nowhere near a newbie on BMWs.


Now in full disclosure I wasn't wild about the E36 when I first saw it BITD but it quickly grew on me and is one of the best IMHO. I don't see the G20 design winning me over like the E36 did but I could be wrong. Just first impressions was it was not the same BMW feel of previous generations.

As an iron clad rule, each new generation of 3 series loses the "bmw feel" of the older generations. Then when the next generation is introduced it replaces the previous generation as not being a "real bmw". It's a rule of life that's as certain as the progression of time.

[Fuller]

Originally Posted by BMWILUVU

Comparing an inline 6 with a stretched 4-pot. The G handles slightly better than the F and the cylinders put out good power for a 4. I agree I would not put down the money for the G20. Part of what I pay for is the styling and the G is not doing it for me interior nor exterior. Will wait for the new vette or see if the G80 follows the bad styling.

Thanks for your take on the g20, but it's interesting that you decline on the g20 due largely to styling and as a consequence are waiting for the c8 vette. Nothing against the vette, but it's a dramatic departure from a 3 series. There's nothing wrong with that, it's just unique.

I do see plenty of people on the m3/4 forums considering the c8 over the g80, but that's usually motivated more by performance to cost ratio than styling.

[BMWILUVU]

Originally Posted by Fuller

Thanks for your take on the g20, but it's interesting that you decline on the g20 due largely to styling and as a consequence are waiting for the c8 vette. Nothing against the vette, but it's a dramatic departure from a 3 series. There's nothing wrong with that, it's just unique.

I do see plenty of people on the m3/4 forums considering the c8 over the g80, but that's usually motivated more by performance to cost ratio than styling.

I am in the same boat as the M3 forum people, when the lease is up I am looking to upgrade. In the G, I would be thinking about the M340i. The styling for the M340i is even worse. So it is between the G80 and vette.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Fuller

As an iron clad rule, each new generation of 3 series loses the "bmw feel" of the older generations. Then when the next generation is introduced it replaces the previous generation as not being a "real bmw". It's a rule of life that's as certain as the progression of time.

As I see it, this applies to most of the motor industry. As manufacturers 'improve' their product, reduce NVH, refine each successive generation of product, we leave the rawness of the past behind. Can it really be built back into a car?

Interesting take by a poster in the AutoCar feedback column.

'Pierre' Autocar column
25 August 2019
If we want driving to be fun, perhaps we need to think about where the fun might come from in the future, rather than simply trying to replicate the fun of the past.

It won’t come from repeating the past. Because the past was never good enough. We always strove for better, and only in retrospect do we recognise that those noisy, shaky old boxes were more fun than each new model that went a bit faster, drove a bit better, cut through the air more smoothly...and so on...

If the fun came from mastering the imperfections, are we seriously contemplating reintroducing imperfections? We’ll fail, because back then, the imperfections were the best we could do and, bringing back those faults would be fakery. And ultimately, fakery is always unsatisfying.

Instead we have to find out what fun can be derived from driving honestly, in contemporary vehicles that use the best of current technology to deliver the fun that most current “sporty” vehicles manage to miss so comprehensively.

A piped in exhaust track, a good example of attempting to address current refinement levels. Unsatisfying fakery? I believe many will agree.

Do we really want 'imperfections' built back into our cars? If so, which ones and who makes the choice? Definitely food for thought.

[messygarageBMW]

Originally Posted by Fuller

As an iron clad rule, each new generation of 3 series loses the "bmw feel" of the older generations. Then when the next generation is introduced it replaces the previous generation as not being a "real bmw". It's a rule of life that's as certain as the progression of time.

And this is what I alluded to as I went from the E30 to the E36 (now one of my favorites). I didn't have the same level of "ugh" when I saw the e46 or even the e90 or f30. Like I said, it may win me over but it is way too soon to say. I really don't like the oversized kidney grills or the departure from the traditional slats in the sport models with their weird triangle or diamond bumpy things or whatever they are. Time will tell I guess.

[Yungsta]

Originally Posted by Antec800

Whoever thinks the g20 interior isn’t miles better then the f30 interior is on some good stuff.

Lol I wish I was on some good stuff. But in my sober state I don't think it looks better, definitely not miles better. But I think people have a point, there's is a lot of progressive changes that are made as tech moves forward and no doubt as all manufacturers reach that pinnacle, they will prob lose alot of their distinctive design language. Interior design is mostly subjective except for the ergonomics. I particularly didn't like that the screen seemed a little lower moving your line of sight off the road more.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Yungsta

I particularly didn't like that the screen seemed a little lower moving your line of sight off the road more.

Don't take my comment personally, but what you say is typical of how we 'seesaw' in opinion.

When the F30 came out, we were reading comments on the forums about the iDrive screen, "too high", "in your face", "ought to retract", "not integrated like the E90", etc. Now we are reading comments how the G20's screen is "too low", "not as well placed".

Who'd want to design a BMW for today's customers, without getting lots of criticism?