WHAT are you talking about!!

Beekbmwm3 · Apr 28, 2005

I was listening to the local STL radio the other day and some car website had a poll on the ugliest cars on the road. I found it VERY dissapointing that coming in #10 was the BMW 5 Series!! I have loved cars everyday since I could reach the pedal and there is no way, not even close, that the new 5'er is one of the ugliest cars on the road. Just in case you want to know, the Pontiac Aztek came in first. (No surprise there)

Honestly, do you think the BMW community will get over the look of the new 3 and 5's or do you think sales will plummit. I doubt the latter but I do like my E46 M better then the new one coming out. However, I am starting to fall in love with the new M5!

[bmwdance]

BMW M PWR

MrElussive · Apr 28, 2005

I like the new 5-Series. What's funny about the Aztek is that everybody hates it, but all the people who OWN one absolutely love it. GM reported RIDICULOUSLY high customer satisfaction for the few people that own one and that is why Pontiac still makes the ugly thing!!

deutsch100 · Apr 28, 2005

Funny thing... I actually really, really like the new 5er now (still HATE the interior completely), but when I see one drive by...I think it is super hot. Of course [;)]

I like the 545i the best. The wheels and the power makes it even more appealing. I think the new M5 is going to be an enormous hit, for those who can afford one. If they could put the 2003 5 Series interior in the 2004/2005 5 Series....it would be a near perfect car!!! I would seriously consider buying one. Would make a nice addition to our fleet. Hey..we don't have a 4 door Sedan.....Weekend goal [fake]

I personally think the Aztec is the most ghastly, horrendous car on the road [xx(]

aNoodle · Apr 28, 2005

They aren't all that bad in their own right....it's just cuz BMW design has taken such a nose dive. Was that Car Talk? I think I caught the tail end of that poll.

tool fan · Apr 28, 2005

BMW sales are super high from what I read.........ugly or not, the new 5er is a hit. About a month ago I was bored driving from Mannheim to Bamberg so I decided to count new 5ers, sedans and wagons. This drive is about 200k (120 Miles) I quit counting after 100. The numbers of new 5ers here in Germany is ridiculous. Ask Adrean or Wadula......it is INSANE.

Wadula · Apr 28, 2005

mike´s right. it is amazing how many of them are on the roads. i also think i saw a new M5 by now...super niiiiiice if you ask me. and those who know, know that i don´t like the styling of the 5er. but this M5 rocks, definetly rocks!!!

SKycity_BMW · Apr 29, 2005

Here's that link . .

http://www.cartalk.com/content/features/uglycar/winners.html

Average Jae · Apr 29, 2005

just looking at pick number 10, and 9, i was sold: these idiots don't know what they are talking about. i didn't like the m300 at first, but it's straight up retro gansta.

of course they picked the Aztek, because that's a safe bet. it looks like they just picked out "radical" designs and marked them as ugly. Magnum should've been higher, i mean, its the new hearse for the 21st century! and don't they know that the xB is just plain cool?

Beekbmwm3 · Apr 29, 2005

SKycity_BMW said:

Good find, that's it!!

Also, Tool Fan, I had my M3 in the shop today for the regularly scheduled 12000 mile oil change, etc., and my loaner car was an X3, I must say, I like it a lot. Also, good choice on the color! I had a silver grey one but the red one in the lot not only stood out but looked great!

MrElussive · Apr 29, 2005

Average Jae said:

Yeah, I don't really agree with anything CarTalk ever has to say, especially on their radio show. They are just ridiculously opinionated and they don't completely know what they're talking about.

bmw555 · Apr 30, 2005

haha, you start liking it now? sales are up? lol, Honda's sales are pretty good too. New 5 can drive like a dream but it's still ugly, it has that cheap Honda-like look to it. In fact, without BMW badge on it I'd confuse it with Honda. People just buy it because of BMW badge on it, status, shit like that, many people are just easily manipulated and will buy any shit they are given. And of course, more women buying BMWs now cos they womanized the design, it's not bad-ass looking cars as they used to be. Chris Bangle should take job in GM or Ford and make some ugly bastards for them, not for BMW.

Wallie05 · Apr 30, 2005

tool fan said:

I don't know, dude, last I read sales for 2004 were down, and 2005 is not looking so hot either. See attached article. 2004 sales were lower than 2003's over the same period. Pretty uncharacteristic for BMW, the article says.

I agree with most of the guys on this thread. I've warmed up to the exterior, but not totally, and it's not as much of a looker as the previous gen. And similarly, I hate the interior, both looks and feel. I can't wait to see what kind of refresh BMW puts on the 5er. If they go the 7er route and tame the front with a more convential headlight, it might look even better. It needs a lot more work on the inside, in my opinion.

Also, tool fan, America is BMW's biggest market now, so while the E60 may be a big hit in Germany and Europe, if it doesn't do well or as well as the previous version, BMW's going to take a look at it. Just look at the 2006 M5. I read in Car and Driver (sorry, can't find the article online) that BMW is releasing a full, three-pedal 6spd just for the American market to appease American drivers. Now that's what I call market power.... [headbang]

http://www.freep.com/money/autonews/bmw14e_20041014.htm

Montana · Apr 30, 2005

I think I have the winner for you. Of course we have to wait until next year for it...

http://www.rsportscars.com/eng/cars/charger_srt8.asp

Looks like a Mustang and a Magnum got it on, then they put a Hyundai hood on it. Should call it the Magstang.

epj3 · May 1, 2005

Wallie05 said:

I don't like your information

Read the rest http://www.bmwchannel.com/a_news/pdfs/Press Release.pdf

Average Jae · May 1, 2005

thanks for the press release Eric,

putting together the both articles, NA 5er sales doesn't account for much of the overall 5er production.

Mark, as for the US bound M5s having 6 speeds, i would say it wouldn't be too hard for them to fit the off the shelf 6 speed into the m5. esp since the m5 isn't really a mass market product, and you'll mostly likely have to order the sucker to begin with. so i'm not sure how much of that speaks of NA's market power. i just hope enough of the "purist" m5 buyers will opt for the 3 pedals, only if to keep the option alive later on, so i'll have a choice when i can finally afford one.

MrElussive · May 2, 2005

Very well Jae, and I very much agree. [:)]

Kirby · May 2, 2005

I don't think that they can take an off the shelf 6 speed and put in the M5. Would it fit - yes. But with 500 hp, my guess is that the off the shelf 6 speed would get ripped apart. The M5 probably gets a "hardened" version of the standard 6 speed.

Average Jae · May 2, 2005

i guess it won't be an everyday off the shelf part, like the one you'd see on a 3er. but they did have a manual for the e39 m5 and such, so i don't think it'll be too much work for BMW to put in a "hardened" version of the 6 speed. so they won't have to go back to the drawing board to come up w/ the 6 speed, unlike highly technical 7 speed SMG iii.

but you are right Kirby. the off the shelf 6 speed would prolly get killed after couple hard launches. ^^

Kirby · May 2, 2005

Yeah, typically they beef up the shafts, bearings, mounts, etc. to handle the extra stresses. In the US Muscle Car market, a very popular 6 speed manual tranny is the Tremec T56. There are many versions of it, from "stock" to Dodge Viper specific.

jrt67ss350 · May 2, 2005

Kirby said:

Yep - the T56 - the holy grail of domestic manual transmissions.

I also have read that the M5 will be available with a conventional manual - in fact it was posted on BMW's website with interior pictures for a day before it was taken back down.

WHAT are you talking about!!

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