Random musings on F01 730d
- Thread starter Del Lardo
- Start date
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
I think Comfort seats may be a requirement, had a 530 MSport as a hire car a couple of years ago and SWMBO and I both hated the seats.
Test drives in XJ, 5GT & 7 booked over the next week so I'll see what I think when I drive them.
Thanks for the advice (and inevitable bickering
) so far.
Test drives in XJ, 5GT & 7 booked over the next week so I'll see what I think when I drive them.
Thanks for the advice (and inevitable bickering
) so far.The standard seats in a 7 Series are not the same as those found in a 530d M Sport, so you might be ok.
My brother in law had a 530d GT as a courtesy car recently after his Lexus was written off, he got it changed for a C Class of all things as he couldn't stand the looks - and that's on a loan car! 
Hideous looking things, I just can't be doing with them, they make the old e65 7 or indeed Fords bug eye Scorpio look like a thing of beauty!
See plenty of GT's about on the motorways though, so either plenty of style blind or bargain conscious drivers about, I suspect the latter, it's a fine car IF you can get over the looks....
Hideous looking things, I just can't be doing with them, they make the old e65 7 or indeed Fords bug eye Scorpio look like a thing of beauty!
See plenty of GT's about on the motorways though, so either plenty of style blind or bargain conscious drivers about, I suspect the latter, it's a fine car IF you can get over the looks....
My brother in law had a 530d GT as a courtesy car recently after his Lexus was written off, he got it changed for a C Class of all things as he couldn't stand the looks - and that's on a loan car!
He had a courtesy car changed because he 'couldnt stand the looks'.
Yea, I bet it was totally that.
I don't think it's particularly 'insecure' to not purchase a car you do not like the look of.
Demanding a courtesy car is swapped however is something else entirely, so much so I'm having difficulty believing it actually happened for that reason.
Demanding a courtesy car is swapped however is something else entirely, so much so I'm having difficulty believing it actually happened for that reason.
I dunno I've never really understood the emphasis on looks when buying a car anyway. If you're looking for a capable comfortable premium cruiser, to not even consider it because the back is a bit fugly seems baffling to me. A car is a functional object and one you spend most of your time inside and not much time looking at so putting looks above everything else doesn't seem logical.
But the insecure comment was more about the chap supposedly swapping a loan car for a C class, if it's true (which I doubt) then that person must be horribly insecure - if he's so worried about his image that he can't be seen driving an expensive BMW then insecurity is the only thing I can think to explain that!
But the insecure comment was more about the chap supposedly swapping a loan car for a C class, if it's true (which I doubt) then that person must be horribly insecure - if he's so worried about his image that he can't be seen driving an expensive BMW then insecurity is the only thing I can think to explain that!
Just because you won't purchase a certain car because of the way it looks doesn't mean looks were placed above all else when picking an alternative, does it? If the alternatives satisfy the most important requirements just as well then why not allow looks to be a differentiator?
[TW]Fox;28229212 said:
Fair enough - my point wasn't about people who have used it as a differentiator (I suspect that's what you've done hence striking a nerve?), but plenty people wouldn't even consider it. If I was in the market for something like this, id at least want to drive one and before ruling them out especially considering how much more you get for your money on some models
Yes it's what I've done - I could have had a newer, better specified 530d GT for the money I paid for my regular model. I knew this at the time but just preferred the way the F10 looks (and to be fair I've loved the way it looks since it came out) and preferred the fact it's lighter weight makes it quicker and more economical.
I'd wager you have the GT Some proper consideration though!
I don't doubt that the standard 5 is a much better looking car, I just can't relate to how much importance people place on that. I'm probably the other side of average where I couldn't care less, it sounds like you're in a "normal" position of giving it fair weighting - I just don't understand people who are at the opposite end of that spectrum to me.
The 5 vs 5GT Argument is one thing and is more understandable as you're going to be shelling out 20k plus, but you see people with stringent requirements for a 2k car turning down suggestions because they don't like the looks. My car is a perfect case in point, I've had friends tell me I should have bought a golf because they look better.... Overlooking the fact that a Golf GTI as well looked after as my car would have been a whole lot more money
Anyway I digress, don't want to derail any further - would never say anyone is "wrong", just saying I don't get it in some cases
I don't doubt that the standard 5 is a much better looking car, I just can't relate to how much importance people place on that. I'm probably the other side of average where I couldn't care less, it sounds like you're in a "normal" position of giving it fair weighting - I just don't understand people who are at the opposite end of that spectrum to me.
The 5 vs 5GT Argument is one thing and is more understandable as you're going to be shelling out 20k plus, but you see people with stringent requirements for a 2k car turning down suggestions because they don't like the looks. My car is a perfect case in point, I've had friends tell me I should have bought a golf because they look better.... Overlooking the fact that a Golf GTI as well looked after as my car would have been a whole lot more money
Anyway I digress, don't want to derail any further - would never say anyone is "wrong", just saying I don't get it in some cases
[TW]Fox;28229072 said:
[TW]Fox;28229141 said:
It was actually, he mentioned it to me as he knows I'm "into my BMW's" and thought I'd be disappointed that I hadn't had a chance to see it.
He's conscious of image and didn't like the looks of the GT and thought it a bit pretentious, he works for a major banking chain and him visiting customers in such a car wasn't what he wanted.
Although tbh I don't think the new C Class he's got now is much if anything of an improvement visually, it's certainly less pretentious in his opinion, I'm inclined to agree.
Last edited:
There we go, so nothing to do with hating the way it looks at all, but because he thought it was a bit too upmarket for the look he wanted - which presumably a good looking 7 Series or S Class would have been too.
There is always more to your scenarios than the headline story
There is always more to your scenarios than the headline story
[TW]Fox;28229658 said:There we go, so nothing to do with hating the way it looks at all, but because he thought it was a bit too upmarket for the look he wanted - which presumably a good looking 7 Series or S Class would have been too.
There is always more to your scenarios than the headline story
No, he's said to me had they offered him a straight 530d "instead of the hideous GT" he'd have been quite happy with what would have been an upgrade over his damaged Lexus, the looks of the GT put him off and the same look he found pretentious, the 5 saloon isn't ,in his eyes,that.
Had a look around an XJ yesterday. I'd forgotten how big they are, lovely interior which feels 'warm'.
Popped into my local BMW dealer this morning, the 5GT and 7 they had in stock were much newer (and more expensive) that I would be looking at. The 7 left me feeling rather meh! as first impression, nice but but didn't give me the tingle the Jag did. The 5GT was actually a real surprise, it's certainly not a good looking car but looks a lot better in the flesh than it does in photos, nice to sit in (though the 520d interior had a few bits that felt horribly cheap for a car of that price) and felt far more spacious inside compared to the Jag.
Not had a chance to drive any of them yet but will hopefully do that next week.
Popped into my local BMW dealer this morning, the 5GT and 7 they had in stock were much newer (and more expensive) that I would be looking at. The 7 left me feeling rather meh! as first impression, nice but but didn't give me the tingle the Jag did. The 5GT was actually a real surprise, it's certainly not a good looking car but looks a lot better in the flesh than it does in photos, nice to sit in (though the 520d interior had a few bits that felt horribly cheap for a car of that price) and felt far more spacious inside compared to the Jag.
Not had a chance to drive any of them yet but will hopefully do that next week.
I don't get the point of the x20d in a car like the 5GT. It's a heavy car and the whole point of them is to waft along in comfort in a refined manner. The thought of a 2 litre four pot pulling over 2 tons.....
If you are considering a GT, make sure its a 530d at least. I used to hate diesels, but this one made me change my mind.
If you are considering a GT, make sure its a 530d at least. I used to hate diesels, but this one made me change my mind.
Would have to be a 530 or 535. Currently have 345bhp in a 2 ton car and not going to half that!