[Prissy]

Originally Posted by joewalton

We've spent three years watching people drop and flare their F30's to make them look 2" lower at the roof and .5" lower at the ground and wider and meaner which is what you get out of the box with an F36. That's what I'm referring to.



Saying the GC is "ugly" is ludicrous since it looks better than the rest of the F3X line right out of the box with the exception of the F32 which only looks slightly better due to the shorter roofline. It's not a hatchback. 'Hatchback' is a derogatory word for trunkless econocars. There is nothing entry-level about a 4 Series. We've got a 3 Series and a 2 Series for entry-level now, I count about a dozen BMW's that are cheaper, more commonplace, and less desirable than the 4 Series Gran Coupe.

Sorry to hear that you are not into car modding like the most of us. I've seen many people putting on M badges on their cars when they don't drive a M, maybe to them that's modding!

To each of their own, but to most people, the GC is still a sedan with a hatchback. Nothing wrong with that, not sure why you are so against the sedan and the hatchback.

[Mike_L]

Originally Posted by joewalton

It's not about the doors. It's about the other attributes that distinguish a Coupe from a Sedan. Lower. Wider. Sportier. Fewer of them on the roads. That's what we had in our 20s and early 30s, that's what we lost in our late 30s and 40s.

Without a Gran Coupe and it's four doors, I'd have been unable to get the look and feel of a Coupe for another 10 years due to my kids ages, just couldn't ask them to climb back there. The F36 puts me back in a Coupe and still allows kids reasonable access.

If the definition of "vain" is the willingness to spend more and compromise egress for the sake of a more attractive profile then, yes, Gran Coupe owners are quite vain. Looks matter.

Giving up useability for the sake of looks is the very definition of vanity. Plus, you aren't paying more or having more exclusivity. Both the GT and Vert are more exclusive and both cost more if you match up the options.

[joewalton]

Originally Posted by Prissy

Sorry to hear that you are not into car modding like the most of us. I've seen many people putting on M badges on their cars when they don't drive a M, maybe to them that's modding!

To each of their own, but to most people, the GC is still a sedan with a hatchback. Nothing wrong with that, not sure why you are so against the sedan and the hatchback.

It's not that I am not into modding. That's not my point. I respect those who care passionately enough about their cars to make them sportier, that's awesome, when I was in my 20s I did the same. My point is that the F36 straight out of the box is lower and wider with tighter ground clearance, all things that E90 and F30 owners who do mod are trying to accomplish to the tune of thousands of dollars.

My M badges are factory-standard in Europe, Asia, South America, everywhere other than the USA and I put them back on to be true to what BMW's designers originally intended. I drive an M-Sport. M-Sport's come with fender badges from the factory. Same for my painted reflectors and my painted Bimmerangs. And the last thing I want is to be associated with an M4, the Corvette midlife crisis car of the BMW range.

I am not against the Sedan or the GT at all. I owned an F30 for three years and I understand why people with dogs would want a GT. What I am against are people who pretend that the Gran Coupe doesn't exist and that their 3 Series Sedan's are still the most exciting and sporty four-door's in the range. That's just silly. Clearly being done just to annoy us.

If I just purchased a new 3 Sedan thinking I was bulletproof for 5 years against irrelevance only to find out that BMW was releasing a 4 Series with four-doors I'd be pissed too, especially it happened the very moment as the F30 is going massively CPO, but I wouldn't take it out on those who were fortunate enough to get one. Be happy for us. We'd be happy for you.

[joewalton]

Originally Posted by Mike_L

Giving up useability for the sake of looks is the very definition of vanity. Plus, you aren't paying more or having more exclusivity. Both the GT and Vert are more exclusive and both cost more if you match up the options.

I don't disagree with any of this.

Going from a 3 Sedan to a 4 Gran Coupe makes no sense from a useability standpoint unless you frequently put bags of mulch in your trunk and find the liftgate a major factor in the buying decision. For the non-mulch crowd, the liftback is a pleasant surprise, we're in it for the looks, I don't think anyone is denying that, in fact I think we're actually proud of that.

The GT and the Convertible are more exclusive for different reasons, but neither can be confused for the 3 Series Sedan of which there are 5,000,000 on the road. For those of us who loved our F30's and still need four-doors but are bored of the slight E90/F30 evolution since 2006 the 4 Series Gran Coupe is a Godsend. Think of the F36 as a sportier special edition of the F30 and it makes a whole lot of sense. That's what its owners think of it.

[Prissy]

Originally Posted by joewalton

It's not that I am not into modding. That's not my point. I respect those who care passionately enough about their cars to make them sportier, that's awesome, when I was in my 20s I did the same. My point is that the F36 straight out of the box is lower and wider with tighter ground clearance, all things that E90 and F30 owners who do mod are trying to accomplish to the tune of thousands of dollars.

My M badges are factory-standard in Europe, Asia, South America, everywhere other than the USA and I put them back on to be true to what BMW's designers originally intended. I drive an M-Sport. M-Sport's come with fender badges from the factory. Same for my painted reflectors and my painted Bimmerangs. And the last thing I want is to be associated with an M4, the Corvette midlife crisis car of the BMW range.

I am not against the Sedan or the GT at all. I owned an F30 for three years and I understand why people with dogs would want a GT. What I am against are people who pretend that the Gran Coupe doesn't exist and that their 3 Series Sedan's are still the most exciting and sporty four-door's in the range. That's just silly. Clearly being done just to annoy us.

If I just purchased a new 3 Sedan thinking I was bulletproof for 5 years against irrelevance only to find out that BMW was releasing a 4 Series with four-doors I'd be pissed too, especially it happened the very moment as the F30 is going massively CPO, but I wouldn't take it out on those who were fortunate enough to get one. Be happy for us. We'd be happy for you.

Not true, all stock cars comes with that nasty stock height, the f36 being just a tiny bit lower than the f30 doesn't mean that that wheel gap isn't there lol. Anyone that mods would make their car lower than the F36 stock height, not trying look like a 36 lol. Why do people buy a F32 and tries to change the look to a F82? With all that modding money he may be able to buy a M already. It's a hobby.

but united states doesn't get the M badge, but again... to each of their own, if you like to spend money on M badges, good! But I can assure you that most people won't do that here.

Not going to debate anymore, if you like mass M badges on your car, do it! If you don't like to drop your car, then don't, in your eye that gap may look super sexy to ya. I am sure a lot of F30 owners are happy with their purchases and not looking to buy a hatchback

[335BOY]

Originally Posted by Prissy

Sorry to hear that you are not into car modding like the most of us. I've seen many people putting on M badges on their cars when they don't drive a M, maybe to them that's modding!

To each of their own, but to most people, the GC is still a sedan with a hatchback. Nothing wrong with that, not sure why you are so against the sedan and the hatchback.

Agreed. Its a hatchback sedan. Whats wrong with that?

[Prissy]

Originally Posted by 335BOY

Agreed. Its a hatchback sedan. Whats wrong with that?

Agreed! Hatchback, sedan, 2 door coupe. They all look nice!

[jonkarn]

Ok then, liftgate

liftgate
noun lift·gate \ˈlift-ˌgāt\
Definition of LIFTGATE

: a rear panel (as on a station wagon) that opens upward

Sorry, it seems you have a station wagon!!

Originally Posted by joewalton

NOOOOOOOO!



MAKE IT STOP!!!!!!



AHHHHHHHH!



As you're likely aware, a "Hatchback" was a moniker describing a disgusting econobox from the 1980s that set automotive design back a decade. I wouldn't be caught dead in a "Hatchback".

It's a "liftgate". BMW themselves refer to it as a WALC (Wide Access Luggage Compartment). It has a trunk; it just opens in a really special way.

[atg4]

After 5 pages, who cares. Seriously just buy the one you want and do what you want to it. Nobody needs anyone else's approval on how to spend their hard earned money.

[335BOY]

Originally Posted by joewalton

That is correct, sideways. But my point is that without the liftgate the Gran Coupe would be roundly criticized for having such a tiny trunk opening that one couldn't even squeeze a set of clubs through it, would have made the car completely frustrating.

The way BMW solved the problem is to make the trunk opening through the rear glass which was brilliant- it preserves the sleek look of the Coupe while actually enhancing the very trunk access it was once crippled by.

Without the hatch clubs DO fit sideways (435). Its wider than the 3 remember.
The hatch mechanism takes up a ton of useable space.

[335BOY]

Originally Posted by alexandertg21

After 5 pages, who cares. Seriously just buy the one you want and do what you want to it. Nobody needs anyone else's approval on how to spend their hard earned money.

+1. Getting annoying............

[joewalton]

Originally Posted by alexandertg21

After 5 pages, who cares. Seriously just buy the one you want and do what you want to it. Nobody needs anyone else's approval on how to spend their hard earned money.

Nah, we need another day of Gran Coupe haters trying to convince very happy owners of the sleekest and sportiest BMW in the range that we are driving a 1983 Buick Century.

I'm not sure what it is about BMW forums that bring out other BMW owners venom towards other models. When I got my E90, all I heard is that "BMW has lost its way, the E46 is so much better!". Then when I got my F30, all I heard is that "BMW has lost its way, the E90 has better interior materials and handling!" And now in my F36, all I'm hearing is "it's a Hatchback!".

Are these Audi owners or something? I see a BMW on the road, I'm happy, I'm checking it out, I'm happy for that driver. Should be the same here.

[Prissy]

Originally Posted by joewalton

Nah, we need another day of Gran Coupe haters trying to convince very happy owners of the sleekest and sportiest BMW in the range that we are driving a 1983 Buick Century.

I'm not sure what it is about BMW forums that bring out other BMW owners venom towards other models. When I got my E90, all I heard is that "BMW has lost its way, the E46 is so much better!". Then when I got my F30, all I heard is that "BMW has lost its way, the E90 has better interior materials and handling!" And now in my F36, all I'm hearing is "it's a Hatchback!".

Are these Audi owners or something? I see a BMW on the road, I'm happy, I'm checking it out, I'm happy for that driver. Should be the same here.

No one is hating on a GC lmao, why do you make a big fuss about it in every single thread? No one ever said the GC is ugly, yes it's sexy but it's a hatchback!

You should go to e46fanatic or e90post and tell tell how sexy your M badged F36 is over there no?

[335BOY]

Originally Posted by joewalton

Nah, we need another day of Gran Coupe haters trying to convince very happy owners of the sleekest and sportiest BMW in the range that we are driving a 1983 Buick Century.

I'm not sure what it is about BMW forums that bring out other BMW owners venom towards other models. When I got my E90, all I heard is that "BMW has lost its way, the E46 is so much better!". Then when I got my F30, all I heard is that "BMW has lost its way, the E90 has better interior materials and handling!" And now in my F36, all I'm hearing is "it's a Hatchback!".

Are these Audi owners or something? I see a BMW on the road, I'm happy, I'm checking it out, I'm happy for that driver. Should be the same here.

What are you on Joe? Nobody has said that they hate that car. Nobody. YOU don't like the words "hatchback" or "sedan". I bet Ferrari FF and Porsche Panamera owners don't care . Man youre insecure. It was funny for a while...just annoying now. BTW....love that Buick.

[Prissy]

Originally Posted by 335BOY

What are you on Joe? Nobody has said that they hate that car. Nobody. YOU don't like the words "hatchback" or "sedan". I bet Ferrari FF and Porsche Panamera owners don't care . Man youre insecure. It was funny for a while...just annoying now. BTW....love that Buick.

+1 just move on...

[Billfitz]

Needs lowering.

[joewalton]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Needs lowering.

LOL. Perfect. Well done.

[jamesbolt]

Originally Posted by joewalton

LOL. Perfect. Well done.

Needs a fake "M" badge

[sr5959]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Needs lowering.

You just made me spit out my tea all over my keyboard you bastard!

[bee-em-win]

Originally Posted by jamesbolt

Needs a fake "M" badge

The M badges are real...

[335BOY]

Originally Posted by bee-em-win

The M badges are real...

...they arent for North American market............ah, put them on anyway. Some people might be impressed........

[markbridge]

Ok, I know the original question was "Gran Coupe or X4?" but I've got to throw my support to the GT. After all, the GT and X4 aren't that dissimilar in looks. For what it's worth, I've done a specification table that might help the OP in his decision making process. I've tried my best to come up with accurate info, so if anyone see's discrepancy, let me know. First a couple of caveats: the GC ground clearance is a estimate. I couldn't find the actual ground clearance for the GC, so I went with the 4 Series Coupe ground clearance. The M-Sport GT ground clearance is 6.1", the other lines/no line is 6.5" (I assume this would probably affect the height dimension as well).

435x GC
MSRP (w/destination): $48,750.00
Width: 71.9
Height: 55.3
Length: 182.6
Wheel base: 110.6
Front headroom: 39.8
Front legroom: 42.2
Front shoulder room: 54.8
Rear headroom: 37.2
Rear legroom: 33.7
Rear shoulder room: 54.3
Ground clearance: 5.1
Cargo capacity (seats up): 17.0
Maximum cargo capacity: 45.9
Turning circle: 38.7
Drag coefficient: .30 Cd

335GT
MSRP (w/destination): $48,200.00
Width: 72.0
Height: 59.4
Length: 189.9
Wheel base: 115.0
Front headroom: 41.3
Front legroom: 42.0
Front shoulder room: 55.2
Rear headroom: 38.3
Rear legroom: 39.2
Rear shoulder room: 55.1
Ground clearance: 6.5
Cargo capacity (seats up): 18.3
Maximum cargo capacity: 56.5
Turning circle: 38.7
Drag coefficient: .30 Cd

X4 35
MSRP (w/destination): $48,950.00
Width: 74.1
Height: 63.9
Length: 184.3
Wheel base: 110.6
Front headroom: 40.0
Front legroom: 40.4
Front shoulder room: 57.2
Rear headroom: 37.4
Rear legroom: 34.8
Rear shoulder room: 56.0
Ground clearance: 8.0
Cargo capacity (seats up): 17.7
Maximum cargo capacity: 49.4
Turning circle: 39.0
Drag coefficient: .34 Cd

FWIW, to further plug the GT, it also comes standard with the following:
Panoramic sunroof
Seat back releases in trunk
Cargo cover storage in trunk