What did you drive before getting hooked on BMW?

[KevinGS]

I tend to marry my cars, and drive them until they die or are near death, thus way fewer cars than most

In order, and every car was bought used:

1985 Mazda RX& GSL (bought with 35k, sold it with like 60,000 miles, had it for a few years, I really liked it but grew worrisome about high repair bills)

1990 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo (bought with 28k, sold with 330,000 miles, engine finally died with the original turbos, a fellow Z club member replaced the engine and kept driving it )

1995 Mazda Millienia S (bought used, engine issues early @ 80K miles, so sold it after 3 years)

2001 Lexus GS430 (bought with 30k, sold with 355,000 miles, was still running, and it's still running today, I know the guy)

2015 BMW M4 (didn't like the sound, sold it after 10 months, my shortest run in any car, but she sure was purrrrty)

2013 BMW M3 convertible (1st convertible and now I get it, love this car, a total mood changer...bought with 36k in 2017, will drive it until it dies, hope it makes it to 200,000 without much issue, 155k and counting, fingers crossed)

2021 BMW M4 (my first new car ever wooohooo! ...and I ordered it!)

Still own the bottom 2, and they're my only cars at this time. No more daily appliances for me, life's too short. Only fun miles driven now.

[blockhead25]

Don’t remember years at all but here is the list:
Chrysler New Yorker - hand me down
Saab - used with 120,000 on it
GMC Jimmy
Subaru Forester (2000 ish - first car I bought myself)
Subaru Outback - 2013ish hated it
BMW X3 2015 - love it, but tech just got too outdated with 3G cut

Hope I love my incoming 2025 BMW X5 as much as the X3.

[Bezerk]

I can't exactly remember what year i drove them so not exactly the right order, and some were owned at the same time (my wife's car and mine) but here's a list:

Fiat Tipo - First car when i turned 18 (Legal driving age in the Netherlands at the time). Nothing special but it got me from A to B.
Peugeot 205 XS - This model came just under the GTI. So sporty and fun to drive as well as a really decent list of options. Had a lot of fun in this car.
Alfa Romeo 155 Widebody - Great driving car, cool appearance, but not reliable.
Opel (Vauxhall) Vectra A sedan
Ford Mondeo stationwagon - Most spacious car I've ever seen. Echo...echo...cho..o...
Opel (Vauxhall) Vectra B stationwagon
Renault Scenic - Worst car i've ever driven. Electrics were a nightmare and only suitable for senior citizens.
Fiat Punto
Skoda Favorit - Was not buid by VAG, seemed nearly indestructable.
E30 BMW 316 4-door sedan 1987 - First BMW
E36 BMW 316i 4-door sedan 1991 - A lot of modifications of previous owner made it look like a M3. Man, this was a good looking car.
E46 BMW 318i Touring 2001 - Drove this to about 350.000 kilometers with no problems at all. Then some day it suddenly died on the highway. Not worth repairing unfortunately.
E91 BMW 318i Touring 2006
E91 BMW 318i Touring 2008 - Lot more options so i traded in the previous Touring.
F34 BMW 328i Gt 2013 - Best car i've ever driven, hope to keep it for many years!

[MADBMWX5MC]

So many, not sure I remember them all, but here it goes:

1972 Ford Maverick (Learned to drive)
1980 Mazda GLC
1988 Ford Bronco II
1989 Ford Bronco II
1990 Mazda B2200
1993 Ford Windstar
1994 Ford Explorer
1997 Mazda B2200
1999 Ford Ranger
2002 Ford Explorer
2004 Ford Expedition
2005 BMW X3 (First BMW)
2006 Ford Mustang
2011 BMW X1
2017 Ford Expedition
2019 BMW X3 M40i
2021 Maserati Levante GT
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT

[mjj]

The last 10 years..

Still own…
Chevy Colorado Zr2
Jeep Wagoneer
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
Ford Bronco Wildtrak

On order
25 M4 Comp

Gone But not forgotten
Shelby GT500
2004 SVT Cobra
Dodge Challenger Scat Pack 392
Nissan GTR

[BMWCCA1]

Bought my first BMW (1971 R50/5) 53-years ago next week. I was 18.
Bought my second BMW (1969 1600) 6-months later when the first snow hit.

The 1967 VW bug that came before is irrelevant.

[Velvet Fog]

1967 Firebird - multi colored primer
1983 Trans Am
1985 F-150 Supercab
1996 Tacoma extended cab 4x4
2000 F150 Supercap 4x4
2000 Mercedes CLK 430 convertible
2005 Mercedes SL500
2013 F150 Supercab
2019 Sunseeker MBS 2401W
2023 BMW M850i

[Prince Thundernight]

UK — some of these vehicles were in addition to a second car, as I was married at the time.

1978 Ford Fiesta Mk1, 750cc engine. Horrible car; loved it.

Ford Fiesta Mk2. Horrible car, full of rust.

Fiat Uno, old. Awful. Heating didn’t work.

Peugeot 106, nearly new. Cute car, terrible and unsafe at speed.

Vauxhall Vectra. Weird looking sedan, but ok. Barely.

Chrysler Voyager (Dodge Caravan). Had step kids, what can you do? Bought this POS new. So underpowered.

Ford CMAX. Kinda ok, but still a kid wagon.

Toyota MR2 Mk3 Roadster/Spyder. Bought new. Only 140bhp, but it was enough. Looked like a baby Boxter. Loved it. Very cheap interior. Got damaged by a falling roof tile, and repaired badly. So I traded it…

Toyota MR2 Mk3 Roadster/Spyder. Bought new. Fully bodykit, red leather. Absolutely stunning car.

Volvo C70, folding metal roof. Beautiful car, but a wallowy barge.

Vauxhall Corsa. Fun little thing.

Nissan Juke, DIG-T (UK) version. Lots of fun, weird looking. Just got divorced…


US — moved here to marry — BIG mistake, but whatever.

Hyundai Veloster Turbo. Kinda fun, manual six speed.

2013 Mustang GT, manual six speed. Terrible gearbox, plasticy interior. But that engine… and the side pipes that the car had.

BMW X1, leased. Grocery-getter. Was married again.

Jeep Renegade, in Orange. Bronze wheels. A really fun car, if a tad underpowered.

BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe (F44). Kinda had to get this, as the ex (yep, marriage lasted 4.5 years) put $7200 worth of extra miles on X1, and I was in a bind. Despite all the negative press, this car was ok.

BMW M240i (G42). Thundernight Metallic and B58. What’s not to love?

[koopa]

My daily drivers in order have been:

• 1986 Chevy Camaro (first car)
• 2001 Chevy Camaro Z28
• 2008 BMW 335i
• 2017 Chevy Camaro 2SS
• 2015 Chevy SS
• 2016 Chevy Corvette Stingray
• 2021 BMW M340i
• 2023 BMW M240i

I've also had some random secondary vehicles:

• 1992 Ford Explorer (second car, paid $200!)
• 2000 Dodge Durango (inherited)
• 1986 Chevy Camaro IROC-Z

For the most part, my wallet has voted for a BMW inline 6 or a Chevy V8. My first BMW I owned for 5 years and loved it, but it was the most unreliable vehicle I've ever owned and it made me stay away for a little bit. I'm still a fan of both brands and just lots of cars in general.

[DocL]

Too many cars to list and remember. However my 2018 F80 replaced a 2017 NSx that had to be returned to Acura through the Lemon Law. I had a 1994 NSX previously for 15yrs that I should have never sold which was repalced with a 2004 Lotus Esprit. Stupid move that I'll regret for the rest of my life.

[Cobra_X5MC]

2010 Toyota Corolla S - First Car
2011 Toyota Corolla S
2013 Lexus IS350 F-Sport White/Red
2016 Lexus GS-F Blue/Red
2020 Toyota Corolla SE (Daily for the GS-F)
2019 Lamborghini Huracan Performante
2022 X5M Comp MBB/Silverstone - First BMW!
2023 Toyota Corolla XSE - (Daily for the X5MC)

I guess I have an affinity for Corolla's LOL

[pmsteinm]

1989 Oldsmobile 88 (My first car, free from parents, starting driving in 1996)
2001 Cadillac STS (purchased new)
2004 Cadillac CTS-V (purchased new)
2007 BMW E90 335i (ordered new, wife's car, so I barely drove it)
2009 Cadillac CTS-V (ordered new)
2001 Oldsmobile Aurora 4.0 (from parents in 2012 as a beater car until 2019)
2019 BMW G05 X5 xDrive40i (ordered new, wife's car, so I barely drive it)
2023 BMW F90 M5 Competition (ordered new)

[eliphil]

Originally Posted by pmsteinm

1989 Oldsmobile 88 (My first car, free from parents, starting driving in 1996)
2001 Cadillac STS (purchased new)
2004 Cadillac CTS-V (purchased new)
2007 BMW E90 335i (ordered new, wife's car, so I barely drove it)
2009 Cadillac CTS-V (ordered new)
2001 Oldsmobile Aurora 4.0 (from parents in 2012 as a beater car until 2019)
2019 BMW G05 X5 xDrive40i (ordered new, wife's car, so I barely drive it)
2023 BMW F90 M5 Competition (ordered new)

How are you liking the M5? I have an M550 same year

[DanG]

Before I bought my first BMW (a newb1971 2002) I had a 1968 MGB.

I have had BMWs for over 53 years. Too many to count.

[pmsteinm]

Originally Posted by eliphil

How are you liking the M5? I have an M550 same year

The M5 is my favorite car and the best interior and performance of any car I've owned or driven. I still look forward to driving it every day even after a year of ownership and 12k miles. I don't recall feeling that way about any other car I've owned, but it has been 15 years since I had a new car so maybe I just don't remember. But less than 24hrs after getting the M5 I decided to sell the CTS-V even though it was a manual and I thought I'd hang on to it.

[eliphil]

Originally Posted by pmsteinm

The M5 is my favorite car and the best interior and performance of any car I've owned or driven. I still look forward to driving it every day even after a year of ownership and 12k miles. I don't recall feeling that way about any other car I've owned, but it has been 15 years since I had a new car so maybe I just don't remember. But less than 24hrs after getting the M5 I decided to sell the CTS-V even though it was a manual and I thought I'd hang on to it.

I drove several Preowned M5 before I settled on the M550. There was one M5 comp I really loved and didn’t jump on it. The others felt a little to hyper for me which is why I went M550. I know how u feel though when a car works formula, glad your enjoying it. Send a picture

[kev7c7]

Mine is quite short haha:

2015 VW Golf 1.8 TSI (first car)
2023 BMW M3CX

[S EyeLand]

Originally Posted by pmsteinm

The M5 is my favorite car and the best interior and performance of any car I've owned or driven. I still look forward to driving it every day even after a year of ownership and 12k miles. I don't recall feeling that way about any other car I've owned, but it has been 15 years since I had a new car so maybe I just don't remember. But less than 24hrs after getting the M5 I decided to sell the CTS-V even though it was a manual and I thought I'd hang on to it.

Same experience with the F90 Comp. Quite easily the best car I've ever driven. I've driven a lot of cars, a lot of cars that are supposed to be close, similar or even better, pale in comparison. In my humble opinion of course.

[MicheleF20]

Fiat 500 Abarth
Fiat Grande punto Abarth
Fiat bravo
Alfa romeo Giulietta 1750
Ed ora BMW 120 F10 Lci

[fs1977]

You don't even have to look at the profile to guess if someone is US or EU

Lists are so much different.

Before BMW I drove several Alfa Romeo's and a couple of MINI's. Most memorable:

33 QV
147 GTA
Mini Clubman S R55
Giulietta QV 1750 TBI

[///MPhatic]

1984 Mazda RX-7
1986 Toyota MR-2
1987 Mitsubishi Starion ESiR - black
1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
2001 Honda S2000
2003 Honda Civic (1st real daily driver)
1987 Mitsubishi Starion ESiR - silver
1989 Mitsubishi Starion ESiR - red
2005 Subaru WRX
2005 Subaru WRX STi
2006 Lotus Exige (current toy #1)
2006 Acura TL (2nd daily driver)
2018 Lexus IS350 FSport
2018 BMW M2 (current toy #2)
2015 Acura RDX (current daily)

I'm not "hooked" on BMW though, the F87 M2 was just the right combination. At heart I'll always be a JDM guy. If I could have a single one back it'd be a very hard choice.

[DrVenture]

Not sure, I am "hooked", either. But, interesting cars that I previously have owned were a 67 Cougar XRT, 2 66 Mustangs, 69 Ranchero, a 70 'Cuda, a 2003 Mach 1, a 2008 GT500. Like others have mentioned I keep my cars a long time, for the most part. I daily drove the 'Cuda for almost a decade. I daily drove the GT500 (summers only) for 15 years and still have it.

The nice thing about the Fords is I can do my own work and they are very approachable. I did all the suspension, exhaust, cooling, infotainment and engine mods on the GT500 without even a lift. Plus, Ford offers plug-in tuners to increase HP and even MPG on certain FI models. Of course, you can do more with the aftermarket, but these are warranty friendly.

I'd buy a BMW sourced tuner for my M550 in a flash (pun intended), if they offered one.