Originally posted by Rave E55 who will hold our money for 5 years?
Good question!
I just don't see them ditching their current direction, definately not within 5 years. You actually think that with the 7 just two years old (or is it 3 now?), the 5 just a few months, the 6 months away, that they will go back and drastically redesign them? BMW has followed a 7 year cycle for many years now. Even the drawings of the upcoming 3 and 4 have plenty of hints of the current designs. The 7 facelift comes out this year or next, and the changes are pretty minor from the shots I have seen.
I think with all of that, and BMW's support of the design team, it would take a drastic change in sales (for the negative) for them to change things. I don't know about you, but I don't see alot of 5s or 7s sitting on the lots. Most all I have seen (especially 5s) are all spoken for.
As for "owned a 01 M5, I hated to make the switch, but had no choice, I hate the new designs and refuse to drive something I don't like.owned a 01 M5". Did you not like the 01 M5? You didn't HAVE to trade it just because you don't like the E60. There were 02 and 03 M5s as well.. they were all e39s. Why not get one of them, or keep your 01?
Thanks for the great article. What I liked is that they didn't so much present opposing viewpoints as viewpoints on different aspects of the styling.
The most interesting part for me: But seriously, for inspiration on how to "see" new BMWs look at shoes. The foot is relatively a constant set of dimensions and design parameters. Walking is an integral part of the function of mobility, yet some of the best dressed wear very progressive and sometimes painful shoes. In shoes we see subtle or radical design (or none). You can easily spot a design conscious person by looking at their shoes.
Form follows function, guys...
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I have spent six plus of the last eight weeks in London, mostly in Hampstead, St. John's Wood plus the West End and this is my very unscientific observation as it relates to the middle and high end luxury car markets there, in particular BMW v. MB.
Middle market: BMW 3 and 5 series quantity is very significant and seems to exceed MB C and E, but the MB's generally look newer. Lots and lots of very new looking silver C and E series. I have meanwhile seen a total of two of the new 5 on the road.
Upper market: totally dominated by MB S series and SL. I must have seen 100 + of the gorgeous looking new SL including AMGs and several hundred of the current model S series including AMG.
One certainly sees old series 7's around, though not that many, but I have seen a total of just two new 7's in the past 3-4 weeks.
The contrast is absolutely incredible. literally in the range of 100:1. If BMW is selling their new 7 in the UK, I wonder where? Hampstead and St john's Wood are very upscale, key markets for luxury cars.
The the new 7 frankly looks to my eye just out of scale for London: too buxom when people seem to want sleek and sexy.
I see relatively very few new 7 series in NYC or in New Jersey where I live and tons of new S series also, but London has us beat on SL's.
Mostly 500, 600 and 55. Amazing with gas prices what they are in the UK. 2-3 in a row at a traffic light sometimes. Also a decent number of Porche including turbo.
But just absolutely no new 7 or 5 for that matter I know it is early days for the 5, but even so. But these areas seem money-no-object car crazy. They seem definitely MB focused.
In NYC, Im seeing more and more 7s but not to the level of the S class. As to seeing M5s- most of the cars you see in NYC like a 7 or S are chuffer driven vehicles- so the M5 doesnt quite fit the bill.
The money no object crowd will always go with MB because "its the best". I know several people who fall into this mode of thinking and I think from a purchasing decision standpoint its unfortunate. Just look at Tiff Nedell's review of the CL65- he says its for the money no object crowd and despite being very fast was a dissapointment from a drivers car standpoint. Why have over 600bhp if it isnt going to be a drivers car?!
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Jerry 00 Z8 Jet Black/Red Sport / some others
My dealer told me that a surprising few e39 owners/lessees are "upgrading" to the e60. This was apparently not the way it went for the e34 > e39 changeover some years ago. What he is seeing is lots of buyers crossing over from other brands such as MB, etc and picking up a new e60. Very interesting observation.
I told him that there will always be "early adaptors" - the people who must have the newest thing out there. Next year, we will see how well the e60 does.
Quote:
Originally posted by MEnthusiast ......I often wonder if BMW knew it would alienate its traditional customers as much as it seems. But the first thing to do is to find out if my statement preceeding is correct- has BMW actually alienated its traditional customers? If we ask here, I am sure the answer will be yes....
Originally posted by 03E39M5 I told him that there will always be "early adaptors" - the people who must have the newest thing out there. Next year, we will see how well the e60 does.
I totally agree- I think we will know how well the E60 will do commercially once we get into year 2 and beyond of sales.
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Jerry 00 Z8 Jet Black/Red Sport / some others
Originally posted by vndkshn
There were 02 and 03 M5s as well.. they were all e39s. Why not get one of them, or keep your 01?
Just don't follow why you HAD to get the e55.
I loved my 01 M5 drove it for almost three year's and it was time for a change, getting another E39 M5 was not an option (I wanted something different), other than the RS6, the E55 was the only car that met my requierments (Fast 4 door car)
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