What the heck happened to BMW?

[BlkGS]

I think FWD will spread a bit more, as it's a boon for manufacturing, and frankly, most people don't care. Being able to install the entire drive line from below on the line as one.piece however yields MASSIVE turn time gains. I would expect to see more vehicles like the XC90 T8 with a FWD ice portion, and EV on the rear for PHEV and hybrid purposes.

That said, has BMW lost it's way? Sure. But so has everyone else. Sports cars aren't built for car people anymore, they're built for people who view their cars as an accessory to their outfit. They want to brag about 0-60 times and lap times despite never having worn a helmet. They don't want a fun to drive and engaging car, they want a conversation piece that maybe will impress the office floozie enough to get a handy after a happy hour event. They don't care about steering feel or dynamics or whatever, they care about being seen in an expensive car

[Neusser]

Originally Posted by MJBO

A lot of EVs are RWD in their single-motor configurations.

Heck, Polestar switched the Polestar 2 from FWD to RWD for its single-motor as part of its mid-life update!

EVs? I thought this was largely a forum for motoring enthusiasts.

[MJBO]

Originally Posted by Neusser

EVs? I thought this was largely a forum for motoring enthusiasts.

EVs have motors

My post was more about calling out nonsense than commenting on the EV driving experience.

[RPM33]

Originally Posted by NickyC

A current BMW I could get behind. I think the Z4s are very nice.

They are supposedly discontinuing the Z4. Unfortunately people hate convertibles. They like stupid SUVs and pickup trucks.

[BlkGS]

Originally Posted by RPM33

They are supposedly discontinuing the Z4. Unfortunately people hate convertibles. They like stupid SUVs and pickup trucks.

They messed up making the Z4 a soft top only. Especially since the last one was a hard top convertible, and the ones before that had hatchback versions. I get that this time they had the Supra to worry about, as it's basically the same car, but going soft top only was a mistake.

It's a shame because it's the best looking Z car by far.

[ekinnee]

Seems to be a lot of old heads in here pining for the "good old days."

That being said, what BMW does is driven by sales figures and multiple governments requirements.

[BlkGS]

Originally Posted by ekinnee

Seems to be a lot of old heads in here pining for the "good old days."

That being said, what BMW does is driven by sales figures and multiple governments requirements.

It's not just here. Car enthusiasts are overall unimpressed by what's on sale now because it's all so watered down. Guys in their 30s like me are nostalgic for the more analog and visceral cars of our youth that were also affordable. The new stuff is all so digital, almost all automatic, and so loaded with tech that gets outdated almost immediately.

People pay big money for nostalgia, hence why stuff like the E39 M5 values are so crazy. I'm a little surprised that manufacturers haven't started to try to cash in on nostalgia for my generation more. A supercharged mustang called the Terminator for instance, though admittedly Ford did do the Mach 1 last gen. But there's a lot of classics from the 00s that are just ripe for the exploiting by the automakers now.

[Kaizer84]

Originally Posted by BlkGS

It's not just here. Car enthusiasts are overall unimpressed by what's on sale now because it's all so watered down. Guys in their 30s like me are nostalgic for the more analog and visceral cars of our youth that were also affordable. The new stuff is all so digital, almost all automatic, and so loaded with tech that gets outdated almost immediately.

People pay big money for nostalgia, hence why stuff like the E39 M5 values are so crazy. I'm a little surprised that manufacturers haven't started to try to cash in on nostalgia for my generation more. A supercharged mustang called the Terminator for instance, though admittedly Ford did do the Mach 1 last gen. But there's a lot of classics from the 00s that are just ripe for the exploiting by the automakers now.

Agreed. It isn’t just limited to cars. It seems as though everything is watered down these days, no real “special” element to anything anymore. It’s just pump things out and look for a profit. I like you am in my mid 30’s, so nowhere close to “old”. Things are just super corny these days

[Neusser]

Originally Posted by MJBO

EVs have motors

My post was more about calling out nonsense than commenting on the EV driving experience.

Well, you didn't succeed there either. The majority of the cars on the market are FWD or front-biased AWD.

Try again?

[Neusser]

Originally Posted by Kaizer84

Agreed. It isn’t just limited to cars. It seems as though everything is watered down these days, no real “special” element to anything anymore. It’s just pump things out and look for a profit. I like you am in my mid 30’s, so nowhere close to “old”. Things are just super corny these days

It is globalization. The corprification of everything means everything will be boiled down to what something costs to produce vs. what it can be sold for.

The United States is long gone in that department, and Europe, which is home to many highly specialized SMEs and family businesses that produce outstanding products is also suffering. Very little is produced in countries like Germany or Italy anymore, as design and production costs for high-quality products mean those products can't compete with cheap mass-produced shit made in sweatshops.

The effects of this go beyond everyday products, however; we even see it in urban planning, architecture, food, etc. Cheap and fast is what matters in the world of global capital. It is amazing a company like BMW is still independent and producing RWD vehicles with interesting and thoughtful design.

[Cpatel]

A 320d isn’t going to give you sports car performance. That’s the entry level 3 series

[RPM33]

Originally Posted by Neusser

It is globalization. The corprification of everything means everything will be boiled down to what something costs to produce vs. what it can be sold for.

The United States is long gone in that department, and Europe, which is home to many highly specialized SMEs and family businesses that produce outstanding products is also suffering. Very little is produced in countries like Germany or Italy anymore, as design and production costs for high-quality products mean those products can't compete with cheap mass-produced shit made in sweatshops.

The effects of this go beyond everyday products, however; we even see it in urban planning, architecture, food, etc. Cheap and fast is what matters in the world of global capital. It is amazing a company like BMW is still independent and producing RWD vehicles with interesting and thoughtful design.

The world is going to hell is what you are saying

[buckybadger]

Buy something else.

[heavyD^2]

I like threads like this as it's an eco chamber for all the old men yelling at clouds to each other while pining for the old days with revisionist history.

[SchmiddyG80]

I’m seeing the same same exact post on Reddit, on Facebook, all over the place… Is this a copy pasta?

[RPM33]

Originally Posted by heavyD^2

I like threads like this as it's an eco chamber for all the old men yelling at clouds to each other while pining for the old days with revisionist history.

Heavy D we are here to entertain you.

[Kiel_G81]

Sounds like you got the wrong engine

[scotthilly]

Originally Posted by BlkGS

I think FWD will spread a bit more, as it's a boon for manufacturing, and frankly, most people don't care. Being able to install the entire drive line from below on the line as one.piece however yields MASSIVE turn time gains. I would expect to see more vehicles like the XC90 T8 with a FWD ice portion, and EV on the rear for PHEV and hybrid purposes.

That said, has BMW lost it's way? Sure. But so has everyone else. Sports cars aren't built for car people anymore, they're built for people who view their cars as an accessory to their outfit. They want to brag about 0-60 times and lap times despite never having worn a helmet. They don't want a fun to drive and engaging car, they want a conversation piece that maybe will impress the office floozie enough to get a handy after a happy hour event. They don't care about steering feel or dynamics or whatever, they care about being seen in an expensive car

Don’t tell Acura (integra type s) Toyota (gr Corolla, Supra), Hyundai (any N), Cadillac (BW) or VW (golf r) this!!! They must’ve missed it somehow

[pbonsalb]

Everyone knows you need roll up windows, rack and pinion steering, rear wheel drive, curb weight under 3000 lbs, and a carburetor for a real performance car.

Lots of entertaining cars out there. Pick the one you like. Your choice simply means your choice is right for you. It does not mean the choices others make are wrong.

I have a modified 1999 M3 and a modified 2018 M5. Which one do I drive most of the time? The M5, even though it is automatic, heavy, AWD and has numb steering.

[BMWCCA1]

Originally Posted by RPM33

They are supposedly discontinuing the Z4. Unfortunately people hate convertibles. They like stupid SUVs and pickup trucks.

Hate is a strong word!
I believe, more correctly, that convertibles appeal only to a niche market. One that companies have determined costs them too much to service.

I own six BMW convertibles and am currently working on one we've owned for over 40-years and itself is nearly 55-years-old. I certainly don't "hate" convertibles, nor do I attempt to make them my daily drivers here in VA.

[M4Tejas]