The BMW Question?

saitrix · 24 Jan 2007 at 14:13

[TW]Fox said:
Yea, in my haste to post I forgot how much better the suspension and handling setup is on a 1983 Chevette. It's a wonder people bothered with performance cars in those days when a cheap shopping cart was so MUCH fun.

Driven or been in one? No I thought not. So what it doesn't go round a corner as fast as a 330Ci? This does not automatically mean it will be boring. Unlike the 330 it will feel like the speed you are doing, whereas in the 330 when you are going 60 you feel like you are doing closer to 40.

The thing with a slower car you can have a lot more innocent fun in one. You won't be worrying about the police on a country road as unlike the 330, you won't be doing in the 100mph area.

Fun isn't dictated by the bhp or your max cornering G, just remember that one.

Lashout_UK · 24 Jan 2007 at 14:20

You should have a go in a Triumph 2500 PI with PAS and aircon, or a Rover P6 3500.....remarkably modern handling and dynamics, excellent ride and both will happily cruise at 80mph without feeling like it

The P6 makes almost as much (280NM) torque as your 530 too, the 2500 less so (around 210NM).

The only BMWs that appeal to me are the 7 series (for the grose OTT-ness of them) and the Z4 coupe as it is everything I'd like in a car. The rest are bland, disinteresting and I don't like them much.

TinkerBell · 24 Jan 2007 at 14:20

saitrix said:
Fun isn't dictated by the bhp or your max cornering G, just remember that one.

To some people it is, and to others it isn't, I for one don't feel I would enjoy driving an old car

Jez · 24 Jan 2007 at 14:21

Phate said:
Wrong, insurance companys won't actually insure me.

I mean c'mon, who in their right mind would insure a 18yo with no ncb any more 3 speeding points and a written off 15k car on a 330ci?

Anyone can get insurance on anything, you just have to adjust the premium and find a suitable insurer. Trust me youd insure any BMW with a few phone calls. A good example of this is my friend with his bargain bucket E39 M5, thats in a different league of insurance to a 330CI, and he has a dubious history.

saitrix - I agree in principle, but you are taking things slightly too far with this ridiculous comparison

[TW]Fox · 24 Jan 2007 at 14:24

saitrix said:
Driven or been in one? No I thought not.

BLAH BLAH BANGERS BLAH BLAH

And you've never driven a decent 3 Series either and have rose rinted rubbish old car specs on as your numerous threads about buying various decarying wrecks have shown.

There are many fun, great classics out there. The Chevette isn't one of them.

Honestly, I can see you in 20 years time extolling the fun and virtues of a late 90's 1.2 litre Corsa. If you think thats a stupid thing to say then I'm sure everyone would have said the same about pimping Chevettes in 1989..

Siliconslave · 24 Jan 2007 at 14:24

its very difficult to deny that the beemers do very very well in road tests - there is a painful lack of 4/5 seat rwd cars with decent handeling in the market and bmw fill the gap (well kind of define it) very well - however they do come with a certain stigma and a relatively high initial purchase and running cost.

With other marques catching up rapidly (and in some cases overtakeing) in many areas bwm still do very well at leading by offering a complete package.

I'm afraid however i'm not looking to buy a beemer - if i get one as a company car at some point i wouldn't complain, but there not for me right now (unless someone wants to pay the running costs of a Z3M-Coupe for me

)

[TW]Fox · 24 Jan 2007 at 14:25

Lashout_UK said:
You should have a go in a Triumph 2500 PI with PAS and aircon, or a Rover P6 3500.....remarkably modern handling and dynamics, excellent ride and both will happily cruise at 80mph without feeling like it

The P6 makes almost as much (280NM) torque as your 530 too, the 2500 less so (around 210NM).

But these are properly decent classics, whereas Chevettes are just crap old 80's Corsa equivilants.

saitrix · 24 Jan 2007 at 14:25

Jez said:
saitrix - I agree in principle, but you are taking things slightly too far with this ridiculous comparison

It's what Fox does.

Tinks - I really do struggle to see how someone could have fun in a car that you turn the wheel but you don't feel much but it can take corners fast. You really arn't driving them as much, but more just directing it. I hope you get what I mean by that.

[TW]Fox · 24 Jan 2007 at 14:27

saitrix said:
Tinks - I really do struggle to see how someone could have fun in a car that you turn the wheel but you don't feel much

Go and actually drive one. And I mean drive one not take one around the block in the middle of town then tell OcUK how you caned it but compared to your Fiat Panda, H reg, it sucked.

penski · 24 Jan 2007 at 14:27

[TW]Fox said:
And you've never driven a decent 3 Series either and have rose rinted rubbish old car specs on as your numerous threads about buying various decarying wrecks have shown.

There are many fun, great classics out there. The Chevette isn't one of them.

Honestly, I can see you in 20 years time extolling the fun and virtues of a late 90's 1.2 litre Corsa. If you think thats a stupid thing to say then I'm sure everyone would have said the same about pimping Chevettes in 1989..

Why is it that you always bring up Chevettes in these conversations...? :/

Do you class mkI/II Escorts as 'classics'?

*n

Lashout_UK · 24 Jan 2007 at 14:27

But these are properly decent classics, whereas Chevettes are just crap old 80's Corsa equivilants.

Yea, definitely, sorry I didn't read the rest of the thread it was just an offer. You could do a comparision with a 2500 and your 5 series, would make a great article to read.... a generation gap :cool:

........ones a fuel injected, straight 6, rear-drive, 4 door saloon, the other's a BMW.

I wouldn't like to drive a Chevette, I'd probably find the brakes weak, the steering vague, the suspension fairly indifferent and the engine chronically underpowered. The only instance I would drive one would be if it had an XE and was relatively modernised......or was an HS....

[TW]Fox · 24 Jan 2007 at 14:28

penski said:
Why is it that you always bring up Chevettes in these conversations...? :/

Becuase the Chevette was the car compared to the 330Ci last time we did this.

Do you class mkI/II Escorts as 'classics'?

Only certain variants.

merlin · 24 Jan 2007 at 14:28

I like old cars, just so long as they're not absolute sheds.

saitrix · 24 Jan 2007 at 14:30

[TW]Fox said:
And you've never driven a decent 3 Series either and have rose rinted rubbish old car specs on as your numerous threads about buying various decarying wrecks have shown.

There are many fun, great classics out there. The Chevette isn't one of them.

Honestly, I can see you in 20 years time extolling the fun and virtues of a late 90's 1.2 litre Corsa. If you think thats a stupid thing to say then I'm sure everyone would have said the same about pimping Chevettes in 1989..

No I haven't driven a 3 series, that's fair enough. I have driven an Evo 5 though, most would say it is more 'fun' than a 3 series. As soon as I got use to the extra power and grip I found it starting to get a little boring. It didn't feel that special to drive, not saying it's a bad car, but it just felt too planted to the floor.

Nope I wouldn't be like that with Corsa's. I like the 60's and 70's era, not the distance of time ago it was. So in 20 years I will still be liking the 60's and 70's cars, plus a few select 80's, 90's and 00's cars.

[TW]Fox · 24 Jan 2007 at 14:31

saitrix said:
No I haven't driven a 3 series, that's fair enough. I have driven an Evo 5 though

Completely different car. If you honestly think that your experiences gingerly playing with an Evo 5 can relate to a 3 Series then I really can't be bothered.

saitrix · 24 Jan 2007 at 14:32

[TW]Fox said:
Go and actually drive one. And I mean drive one not take one around the block in the middle of town then tell OcUK how you caned it but compared to your Fiat Panda, H reg, it sucked.

WTF, I have never ever said I like the Panda.

Ok, what sort of BMW do you suggest I can test drive? I'm up for having a good test drive of one, just remember I'm still 19, so that could be an issue.

TinkerBell · 24 Jan 2007 at 14:32

saitrix said:
Tinks - I really do struggle to see how someone could have fun in a car that you turn the wheel but you don't feel much but it can take corners fast. You really arn't driving them as much, but more just directing it. I hope you get what I mean by that.

I can't talk about the corsa as being a "fun car" but I know when mike drives the mr2 at the speed limit around a roundabout and it grips like nothing else, it can be a hell of a lot of fun if you dont get scared easily!

It all depends on personal taste, for me being in a 1989 or whatever car, does not appeal and therefore would not be much fun imo.

saitrix · 24 Jan 2007 at 14:34

[TW]Fox said:
Completely different car. If you honestly think that your experiences gingerly playing with an Evo 5 can relate to a 3 Series then I really can't be bothered.

Gingerly playing? Yeah... so hitting 140mph in one and locking the wheels from trying to brake a little late and over reacting count as going gingerly?

Edit - Thought I better mention this was not on public road.

merlin · 24 Jan 2007 at 14:37

saitrix said:
Edit - Thought I better mention this was not on public road.

Prove it with bread.

saitrix · 24 Jan 2007 at 14:38

merlin said:
Prove it with bread.

LOL! How?

I don't own the car and I'm not near it at all...