Simply awesome

Garrett · 9 Jun 2006 at 00:46

Saw a gorgeous chevette on the vauxhall stand at Thruxton, will have to dig up the pics

PardonTheWait · 9 Jun 2006 at 00:56

[TW]Fox said:
You mean you can't remember your numberplate or where you parked?

THAT is the problem.

You shouldn't need to use the numberplate to find your car in amongst the other drug dealer mobiles in the carpark.

[TW]Fox · 9 Jun 2006 at 00:58

Mohinder said:
THAT is the problem.

You shouldn't need to use the numberplate to find your car in amongst the other drug dealer mobiles in the carpark.

I don't think I've ever seen a carpark with so many of one type of car that finding your own would be a problem.

But then Plymouth isn't exactly an affluent area and I don't work for an IT company so I guess it might be different elsewhere

PardonTheWait · 9 Jun 2006 at 01:01

[TW]Fox said:
I don't think I've ever seen a carpark with so many of one type of car that finding your own would be a problem.

But then Plymouth isn't exactly an affluent area and I don't work for an IT company so I guess it might be different elsewhere

I live in Essex. Bimmers everywhere. I've nothing against them, it's just they're literally everywhere. If you took Golfs, BMWs and Focusesesesesesses off the roads, there'd be barely any cars about.

I like Golfs, but in stock trim they're dull as ditchwater, imo. I only like them smoothed out with silly wheels.

Luseac · 9 Jun 2006 at 01:02

Maybe theres so many of them about because their damn good cars and people don't feel the need to stand out?

PardonTheWait · 9 Jun 2006 at 01:04

lucasade1 said:
Maybe theres so many of them about because their damn good cars and people don't feel the need to stand out?

They are bloody good cars, yes. You really can't deny it, and I'm not.

It's partly that they're good, partly that they are a status symbol, and A LOT to do with the fact they're not cheap.

The frustrating thing about BMWs is that they're excellent drivers' cars, some of the best (well I say that, but I can't drive for toffee so I wouldn't actually know), but the vast majority of them are driven by people who couldn't give a **** about cars.

[TW]Fox · 9 Jun 2006 at 01:06

lucasade1 said:
Maybe theres so many of them about because their damn good cars and people don't feel the need to stand out?

Unfortunately for every person who buys/selects a BMW becuase they feel they are excellent cars, offer excellent quality and are great to drive, there will be two who bought one almost entirely for one or more of the following reasons:

a) They want everyone to think they are loaded
b) They think having a BMW makes them special
c) They think BMW ownership makes them above everyone else
d) They are complete badge snobs

This ratio of 1:2 increases to 1:10 when we are talking 318's.

In a way, I'm dissapointed the 5 Series doesn't have a Kia badge - nobody else would buy it, I'd still get to enjoy the car for what it is (ignore the fact it'd have Kia quality, lets just talk about badge) and people wouldn't think I was a git for buying one./

JRS · 9 Jun 2006 at 01:07

Deleted. Going to start an argument if I go down that route

Garrett · 9 Jun 2006 at 01:07

Mohinder said:
The frustrating thing about BMWs is that they're excellent drivers' cars, some of the best (well I say that, but I can't drive for toffee so I wouldn't actually know), but the vast majority of them are driven by people who couldn't give a **** about cars.

Not sure that argument stands up to tell you the truth - Fords are good drivers cars in my opinion.

And again mostly driven by people who don't know how to drive.

GSXRMovistar · 9 Jun 2006 at 01:08

Mohinder said:
The frustrating thing about BMWs is that they're excellent drivers' cars, some of the best (well I say that, but I can't drive for toffee so I wouldn't actually know), but the vast majority of them are driven by people who couldn't give a **** about cars.

Too true, I see so many people buy them because they think they have too rather than the fact that it's actually a good car.

Luseac · 9 Jun 2006 at 01:15

[TW]Fox said:
Unfortunately for every person who buys/selects a BMW becuase they feel they are excellent cars, offer excellent quality and are great to drive, there will be two who bought one almost entirely for one or more of the following reasons:

a) They want everyone to think they are loaded
b) They think having a BMW makes them special
c) They think BMW ownership makes them above everyone else
d) They are complete badge snobs

This ratio of 1:2 increases to 1:10 when we are talking 318's.

Couldn't agree more. I'm sure your posting with specific reference to my father who owns a 318. Fact of the matter is that since the late nineties the BMW 3 series has seen a huge rise in sales. Mostly due to typical people like my father, sales reps who have never owned a BMW before and see one within their budget and despite been able to get a Golf GTI, Focus ST, Mondeo or an Accord. They buy a BMW... for the very fact that 90% of Joe public regards them as upmarket posh cars. Only today my dad stopped by the police at an airport who were doing random checks on mini cabs, they simply said "oh your car's far too posh to be a mini cab... have a good day". People like my dad like being told their car is posh, and I’m sure he’s not alone.

[TW]Fox · 9 Jun 2006 at 01:18

I tried to tell you that a year ago and you wouldn't have it

I like many BMW's, as most guys on this forum well know, but only for their merits as a car. There is no way I would buy an inferior car when something better was available for the same money simply becuase one had a BMW badge.

Luseac · 9 Jun 2006 at 01:23

[TW]Fox said:
I tried to tell you that a year ago and you wouldn't have it

Trust me, I let your suggestions be known.

Once a badge snob, always a badge snob.

Would it make you cry if I told you he once owned a compact?

[TW]Fox · 9 Jun 2006 at 01:24

Yes, lots

Luseac · 9 Jun 2006 at 01:24

He did

This was family man in his forties driving around in a compact.

Luckly times have changed.

Sagalout · 9 Jun 2006 at 02:01

I can see both points of view in theis 'fun' thing. I do agree with the guy who said new drivers these days are cossetted with modern cars. I've driven loads of different cars and theres no doubt modern cars are infinitely better in all respects, apart from the ability to actually do anything yourself, but when I think back the most fun I've had has been a mini, an MG Midget and an VW beetle 1300. All basic cars that you wouldn't want to do 12k miles a year in these days, but undoubtably fun to drive. The mini in particular was so much more fun than the new ones.

From a fun factor, the problem with modern cars is they are too good. You only explore the limits of the cars at license losing speeds, especially cars like an M3, whereas you could blast a mini round town at well under 30 and still have a big smile on your face.

Would I run an old car now? Nah - I like my PAS, ABS, Aircon etc etc, but I'm glad I drove in time when you could feel some connection to the road, and lift the bonnet and actually work out how to fix stuff with just a standard tool kit and a haynes manual.

Garrett · 9 Jun 2006 at 02:34

Sagalout said:
I can see both points of view in theis 'fun' thing. I do agree with the guy who said new drivers these days are cossetted with modern cars. I've driven loads of different cars and theres no doubt modern cars are infinitely better in all respects, apart from the ability to actually do anything yourself, but when I think back the most fun I've had has been a mini, an MG Midget and an VW beetle 1300. All basic cars that you wouldn't want to do 12k miles a year in these days, but undoubtably fun to drive. The mini in particular was so much more fun than the new ones.

From a fun factor, the problem with modern cars is they are too good. You only explore the limits of the cars at license losing speeds, especially cars like an M3, whereas you could blast a mini round town at well under 30 and still have a big smile on your face.

Would I run an old car now? Nah - I like my PAS, ABS, Aircon etc etc, but I'm glad I drove in time when you could feel some connection to the road, and lift the bonnet and actually work out how to fix stuff with just a standard tool kit and a haynes manual.

I agree with that a car is what you make of it

Tax Evader · 9 Jun 2006 at 06:25

Sagalout said:
From a fun factor, the problem with modern cars is they are too good. You only explore the limits of the cars at license losing speeds, especially cars like an M3, whereas you could blast a mini round town at well under 30 and still have a big smile on your face.

That's wrong, you can explore and exceed the limits well below "license losing speeds", and an M3 is an excellent tool in which to do it

I get no kicks out of driving fast these days (I used to a lot on track), and believe me, in my M3CSL I can have more Fun driving @~40mph than I'm sure you'd ever expect.

Barry Smalley · 9 Jun 2006 at 07:17

[TW]Fox said:
Suprising that, as it should be noticeably quicker than a 182 - the 530i I drove was, and that's a heavier, slower car.

Oh and penski, that 635 is awesome.

The BM was a better and faster car for the A roads, but when it was showed some corners and short stretches, it really struggled to keep up. We didn't compare this on a a like for like ( ie. someones opinion on all three cars) basis - it was a real life situation where all three cars were present. (330/182/P1)

DreXeL · 9 Jun 2006 at 09:17

[TW]Fox said:
Driver aids? Didn't know you can just press a button and turn them off?

Oh look, no driver aids. And whats this, yes an actually half decent chassis and some power to go with that RWD drivetrain...

Guys I know that everyone has different ideas of fun but come on, to seriously suggesting that a 1.2 litre Vauxhall shopping car from the early 1980's is more fun in every way bar speed than a modern, rear drive, 3 litre BMW with plenty of power is just lunacy, really it is, and those who actually believe have their glasses tinted even more towards crap old junk from the 80's than I do towards BMW's

In all honesty my original comment was slightly tongue-in-cheek, and I wasn't saying that I would find his shuv more fun than the BMW, but my point was if you are that way inclined, Penski's Shuv will provide more fun.

As others have said, fun is subjective. And yes, some people might find a 1.2 litre Corsa more fun than an RX7. Mine however is very raw, it has no driver aids, with a semi-stripped interior, suspension that feels like it has concrete-filled dampers, it's noisy and it's unrefined. So in that respect it is closer to Penski's Shuv than it is a 330.

Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike the 330 (or any of the quicker BMWs), they are great cars. I just don't think they could ever be described as awesome looking, or automotive pron. They look dull.

Simply awesome

Man of Honour