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#11
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Considering a BMW - A Few Questions
Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
> In article .com>, > > wrote: > >>I'd X out BMW as an option. > > > Why bother reading this group, then? Or are you wistful about what you're > missing? > > Lexus make fine cars. Pity they're just so boring to drive. > IMO, life is too short to drive (even luxurious) boring cars. -- -Fred W |
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#12
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Considering a BMW - A Few Questions
My 2 cents/pennies worth...
If you want a cosseting limousine like silky ride and lots of toys and gadgets in your car don't buy a BMW 3 series; a Mercedes C class (over priced)) or the new Lexus IS probably are better bets. If a classy luxurious interior is the priority the Audi A4 is probably the best bet. If reliability is the priority Lexus again, though any problems on BMW's are generally minor and few (according to various consumer surveys in the UK). Volvo and Saab win for seat and long distance driving comfort, the Saab 9-3 has the most comfortable car seat I've ever sat in. The Jaguar X-Type manages to be a great all rounder that sits somewhere in the middle of this lot and has one of the quietest diesel engines... which is meaningless in the USA If you want everything else a luxury/executive/premium sports car can offer in a practical package (seats for passengers, trunk for luggage) then it's the 3 series. BMW beats Audi/Mercedes/Jaguar/Saab/Volvo on refinement (it's quiet), performance vs. fuel economy (comparing 5/6 cyclinder engines and diesels if you are in Europe), space (more leg room than the others and equal best trunk/boot space) and of coarse handling and steering responses. The build quality and quality of materials is higher than Toyota/Honda/Subaru. I was able to get the additional equipment I wanted from the options list without spending too much extra, lumbar support essential option for me as seats not quite comfortable enough without it. The 3 series highlights are the engine and the drive, you have to want great handling as the ride is a touch on the firm side (hence the "limousine like silky ride" comment above) but for me never uncomfortable. There are some that hate the firm ride, so you need to drive it yourself. BMW is not exactly exclusive but still very desirable and in demand used which still makes them a good buy despite higher prices as they hold their value well... at least in Europe. There are few horror stories around on the internet about exploding engines etc., but just as many if not more similar problems with Honda / Toyotas etc. No machine is perfect. |
#13
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Considering a BMW - A Few Questions
Dave Plowman (News) wrote: > In article .com>, > > wrote: > > I'd X out BMW as an option. > > Why bother reading this group, then? Because I still *own* one. And the main reason I still own it is because I feel I've invested too much into it to let it go at its current market value. -- Cliff |
#14
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Considering a BMW - A Few Questions
On 20 Dec 2005 06:35:12 -0800, "AGH!" > wrote:
>Volvo and Saab win for seat and long distance driving comfort, the Saab >9-3 has the most comfortable car seat I've ever sat in. Hmmm -- haven't sat in one. Does it have the extended thigh support of the BMW sport seats? My wife's 325i has the leather sport seats with 12-way adjustment, etc.. For me, at 6'3+", the extendable thigh support makes all the difference in the world. -- Larry |
#15
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Considering a BMW - A Few Questions
BRH wrote:
>After driving Subarus, Toyotas, Hondas and yes - a Chevy, all my life, >I'm finally at the point that I can afford (and want) to step up to a >new "luxury" car. However, I still want to find the best overall deal >(ie - bang for the buck). That's just my nature, I guess. > >I'm just getting started looking at BMW's, Audis, Acuras, Infinitis, >Lexuses (Lexi?) etc, so I'm far from finalizing a decision. > >I have a few general questions about BMW's: > >1. Does BMW ever run "specials" on new car purchases - ie - rebates, >etc? Is there any "better" time to buy? Any buying tips? >No, They don't have to. Anyone that is think about buying a BMW, will have to have money. The reagular upkeep alone is quite more than a normal car. For example BMW requmendes full synthetic oil and you can’t go just any where to have the oil changed(reset the oil light). Call around a check you will be highly surprised at how hard it is to find people that will even touch a BMW. I found three places here that would change the oil, the prices was 120-100 just for an oil change. >2. Do BMW's generally require Premium gas? If so, what are the >practical consequences of running mid-grade or regular? Engine Damage >or just less-than-optimal performance? (By less-than optimal, I mean >just normal tooling ariound town - no redlining). >I run mid-grade and have never had any problems. I would not reccomend running lower than that. >3. I don't have a garage, but parking is off-street, so how well do BMW >bodies hold up? (I live in Central Virginia). Pretty good, I have a black/black which has no show of age and is in factory condition. > >Can't think of anything else to ask right now. Any help with these >questions would be appreciated. BMW's are awsome cars, they are luxury and sports cars all rolled into one. In a well maintained BMW you will get well over 300,000 miles. But, they are not cars you can just beat on like a Lexuses. If you know alittle bit about cars and buy your self a reset tool so you can change your own oil and do your own dignostics, and maintance, you wont be able to beat a BMW. Good luck! ! -- Message posted via http://www.carkb.com |
#16
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Considering a BMW - A Few Questions
> Hmmm -- haven't sat in one. Does it have the extended thigh support of the BMW
sport seats? I don't think so, just a long seat base as standard, no need for extensions. 3 series plus sports seats a better option for the enthusiast as the Saab is a bit soggy compared to 3 series and Volvo even more soggy. Also engines though good, not as good. |
#17
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Considering a BMW - A Few Questions
The other day a colleague and I hired a Saab 9-3 (in western Europe), both
driving it. Our journeys were not long enough to comment on the seats but we both found it tinny and a great disappointment (his comments are not printable in a family newsgroup, even though this is not a familiy NG...). "GM penny-pinching" is another comment. I had not been in a Saab for many years, having driven one once with a view to getting one as a company car. Tinny then, tinny now. Just did not feel solid, not at all like the Volvo S60 I rented a few weeks before. Now that was a revelation. If you're wondering, he drives a VW Touareg, having had a BMW X5. We have a Merc CLK Cab and a 190E. Even the 190E feels more solid than the 9-3... DAS -- For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling --- "AGH!" > wrote in message oups.com... [...] > > I don't think so, just a long seat base as standard, no need for > extensions. 3 series plus sports seats a better option for the > enthusiast as the Saab is a bit soggy compared to 3 series and Volvo > even more soggy. Also engines though good, not as good. > |
#18
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Considering a BMW - A Few Questions
Depends on what you mean by luxury. Smaller BMWs are ceratinly not "luxury"
in European eyes (nor are similar cars from other brands such as Audi and Merc). All depends on options selected as well. See another part of this thread. DAS For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling --- "Jesse via CarKB.com" <u16215@uwe> wrote in message news:592038d34345d@uwe... [...] > BMW's are awsome cars, they are luxury and sports cars all rolled into > one. [...] |
#19
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Considering a BMW - A Few Questions
PS. Cf the Saab 9-3, IMO we would probably have been better off sticking
with the originally-reserved (European) Ford Mondeo... DAS For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling --- "Dori A Schmetterling" > wrote in message ... > The other day a colleague and I hired a Saab 9-3 (in western Europe), both > driving it. > > Our journeys were not long enough to comment on the seats but we both > found it tinny and a great disappointment (his comments are not printable > in a family newsgroup, even though this is not a familiy NG...). "GM > penny-pinching" is another comment. > > I had not been in a Saab for many years, having driven one once with a > view to getting one as a company car. Tinny then, tinny now. Just did > not feel solid, not at all like the Volvo S60 I rented a few weeks before. > Now that was a revelation. > > If you're wondering, he drives a VW Touareg, having had a BMW X5. We have > a Merc CLK Cab and a 190E. Even the 190E feels more solid than the 9-3... > > DAS > -- > For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling > --- > > "AGH!" > wrote in message > oups.com... > [...] >> >> I don't think so, just a long seat base as standard, no need for >> extensions. 3 series plus sports seats a better option for the >> enthusiast as the Saab is a bit soggy compared to 3 series and Volvo >> even more soggy. Also engines though good, not as good. >> > > |
#20
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Considering a BMW - A Few Questions
Jesse via CarKB.com wrote:
> BRH wrote: > >>After driving Subarus, Toyotas, Hondas and yes - a Chevy, all my life, >>I'm finally at the point that I can afford (and want) to step up to a >>new "luxury" car. However, I still want to find the best overall deal >>(ie - bang for the buck). That's just my nature, I guess. >> >>I'm just getting started looking at BMW's, Audis, Acuras, Infinitis, >>Lexuses (Lexi?) etc, so I'm far from finalizing a decision. >> >>I have a few general questions about BMW's: >> >>1. Does BMW ever run "specials" on new car purchases - ie - rebates, >>etc? Is there any "better" time to buy? Any buying tips? >>No, They don't have to. Anyone that is think about buying a BMW, will have to have money. The reagular upkeep alone is quite more than a normal car. For example BMW requmendes full synthetic oil and you can’t go just any where to have the oil changed(reset the oil light). Call around a check you will be highly surprised at how hard it is to find people that will even touch a BMW. I found three places here that would change the oil, the prices was 120-100 just for an oil change. >>2. Do BMW's generally require Premium gas? If so, what are the >>practical consequences of running mid-grade or regular? Engine Damage >>or just less-than-optimal performance? (By less-than optimal, I mean >>just normal tooling ariound town - no redlining). >>I run mid-grade and have never had any problems. I would not reccomend running lower than that. >>3. I don't have a garage, but parking is off-street, so how well do BMW >>bodies hold up? (I live in Central Virginia). > > Pretty good, I have a black/black which has no show of age and is in factory > condition. > >>Can't think of anything else to ask right now. Any help with these >>questions would be appreciated. > > BMW's are awsome cars, they are luxury and sports cars all rolled into one. > In a well maintained BMW you will get well over 300,000 miles. But, they are > not cars you can just beat on like a Lexuses. If you know alittle bit about > cars and buy your self a reset tool so you can change your own oil and do > your own dignostics, and maintance, you wont be able to beat a BMW. Good luck! > ! > Thanks to all for your responses. Wow! Lots of responses! Luxury and Sports car rolled into one sounds good! I'm sure that other lines/mfrs are considered more luxurious than BMW, but remember -- my experience has been Toyota, Honda, Subaru, Chevy and Ford (forgot about that last one in my original post). One question -- I frequently hear about "performance", "well-engineered" etc, when it comes to BMW. Would anyone care to elaborate on exactly what that means to them? Note: I haven't test-driven a BMW yet, but plan to. Thanks! |
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