Bangles bungles - a moment of severe disappointment
Posted by: Johns Naim on 08 November 2003
Well, I guess it had to happen.
The throne that the BMW 5 series has long occupied in the eyes of many, as being the 'ultimate' medium sized executive saloon looks as if it's about to be vacated, if my recent experience the other afternoon was anything to go by.
Yesterday, a good friend, car nut, BMW owner/fanatic came over with a brand new 5 series - a 530i - which he had on loan for a few hours for a test drive.
During a couple of hours, we both put the vehicle through it's paces, in a variety of different road conditions/circumstances, which were more than enough to judge the ability of the vehicle in many different areas.
In a nutshell, it was a BMW six, driving experience, clothed in the exeterior and interior rags of something more akin to a Toyota Camry, or Peugeot, or your typical Ford/GM product.
The driving experience was exemplary, with the most notable improvement over the runout model being the new active steering. U - turns required no more than a quick twist/flick of the wheel, and ditto tight roundabouts/corners, which could be dismissed with similar levels of low wheel twirling, more straight arms flick, left and right actually, all the while accompanied by high levels of adhesion and a near neutral balance re oversteer understeer etc and an exceptionally flat and stable cornering attitude.
In short, the driving dynamics were superb. The new six speed auto/tip shift gearbox is much like the old, with the exception of now having an extra gear, and the benefits the extra spread of ratios confers upon both performance and flexiblity, as well as undoubtedly economy.
However, both myself and my BMW fanatic friend, were both very disappointed in the interior to say the least. The essential aura, in a car so expensive, of quality, taste, elegance, refinement etc just was not there.
At first, shocked that BMW could get it so seemingly wrong, I thought the finish was about equal to a VW Golf - but for a price difference of AUS$70,000.
Upon reflection, and closer examination, I felt that the BMW interior re quality of materials is actually inferior to a Golf, and closer to something like a 206 Peugeot, Ford Focus, or an Astra. Not that they are bad cars, but when one is being asked to spend AUS$100,000 v's AUS$ 30,000, one expects a lot more in terms of luxury/quality of plastics fittings, and interior presentation in particular.
The new car is both spartan on one hand, featuring a look that is modern and contemporary to be sure, but just does not have that sense of 'class/quality' or being special in any way.
On the other hand, hard edged plastics abound, with a coarse dimpled grain, both looking and feeling hard to the touch, and overall not even coming close to what one would expect given the price and BMW's reputation.
As my friends car was in for a service, he took the new demonstrator back, and was given a runout 2003 E39 530i as a loan vehicle.
So we repeated some aspects of our previous test of the new machine.
I realise it's perhaps somewhat subjective, however both myself and my friend far prefered the outgoing car, in looks, most especially in interior presentation/quality/ambience and that particular 'something' that makes a BMW a very nice place to sit in/be, and apart from the steering, thought that it was much the superior vehicle. Both cars were brand new BTW.
By way of interest, my BMW friend tends to be very one-eyed about the brand, and it was the first time I've ever known him to criticise anything BMW - usually he is completely unfazed by BMW criticism, and scarecly recognises that other brands exist - so you can understand this was a momumental level of disappointment for him.
Worse, even the dealer thought poorly of it! - and he has to sell them..
Doubtless the marketing machine will roll out and trumpet all the 'new' 'virtues' and badge bunnies/victims will buy because it has the right name/reputation/status etc, but I'm of the opinion that it very sadly seems a case of the emperors new clothes, and such people buying the hype and not looking at the car in total compared to other better finished and presented vehicles out there.
I'm not want to 'bash' BMW, because I've always liked them and been a bit of a fan, although my personal choice at that level takes me far more towards Mercedes, but like the recent Mercs for a few years where cost cutting and falling quality standards, particularly in interiors seems to have occured, whilst they at least seem to have recognised the poor public reaction and are doing something about it, BMW seems to be falling into the same trap that Merc seem to be presently extricating themselves from.
It's very sad IMHO.
Oh, and don't start me on the exterior look.
Here in OZ we have this saying 'Eurojap' which is where Japanese designs mimmick those of European manufactures, but 'miss' - the result being an unpleasant/bland/mismatch of shapes/design etc.
If one took the BMW badge off, it could be a Daewoo, Hyundai etc, quite easily.
Anyway, end of rant, but boy, it was sure a dissappointment quite sadly.
But hey, that's just me and my mate - what do you think?
Cheers
John...
Populist thinking exalts the simplistic and the ordinary
The throne that the BMW 5 series has long occupied in the eyes of many, as being the 'ultimate' medium sized executive saloon looks as if it's about to be vacated, if my recent experience the other afternoon was anything to go by.
Yesterday, a good friend, car nut, BMW owner/fanatic came over with a brand new 5 series - a 530i - which he had on loan for a few hours for a test drive.
During a couple of hours, we both put the vehicle through it's paces, in a variety of different road conditions/circumstances, which were more than enough to judge the ability of the vehicle in many different areas.
In a nutshell, it was a BMW six, driving experience, clothed in the exeterior and interior rags of something more akin to a Toyota Camry, or Peugeot, or your typical Ford/GM product.
The driving experience was exemplary, with the most notable improvement over the runout model being the new active steering. U - turns required no more than a quick twist/flick of the wheel, and ditto tight roundabouts/corners, which could be dismissed with similar levels of low wheel twirling, more straight arms flick, left and right actually, all the while accompanied by high levels of adhesion and a near neutral balance re oversteer understeer etc and an exceptionally flat and stable cornering attitude.
In short, the driving dynamics were superb. The new six speed auto/tip shift gearbox is much like the old, with the exception of now having an extra gear, and the benefits the extra spread of ratios confers upon both performance and flexiblity, as well as undoubtedly economy.
However, both myself and my BMW fanatic friend, were both very disappointed in the interior to say the least. The essential aura, in a car so expensive, of quality, taste, elegance, refinement etc just was not there.
At first, shocked that BMW could get it so seemingly wrong, I thought the finish was about equal to a VW Golf - but for a price difference of AUS$70,000.
Upon reflection, and closer examination, I felt that the BMW interior re quality of materials is actually inferior to a Golf, and closer to something like a 206 Peugeot, Ford Focus, or an Astra. Not that they are bad cars, but when one is being asked to spend AUS$100,000 v's AUS$ 30,000, one expects a lot more in terms of luxury/quality of plastics fittings, and interior presentation in particular.
The new car is both spartan on one hand, featuring a look that is modern and contemporary to be sure, but just does not have that sense of 'class/quality' or being special in any way.
On the other hand, hard edged plastics abound, with a coarse dimpled grain, both looking and feeling hard to the touch, and overall not even coming close to what one would expect given the price and BMW's reputation.
As my friends car was in for a service, he took the new demonstrator back, and was given a runout 2003 E39 530i as a loan vehicle.
So we repeated some aspects of our previous test of the new machine.
I realise it's perhaps somewhat subjective, however both myself and my friend far prefered the outgoing car, in looks, most especially in interior presentation/quality/ambience and that particular 'something' that makes a BMW a very nice place to sit in/be, and apart from the steering, thought that it was much the superior vehicle. Both cars were brand new BTW.
By way of interest, my BMW friend tends to be very one-eyed about the brand, and it was the first time I've ever known him to criticise anything BMW - usually he is completely unfazed by BMW criticism, and scarecly recognises that other brands exist - so you can understand this was a momumental level of disappointment for him.
Worse, even the dealer thought poorly of it! - and he has to sell them..
Doubtless the marketing machine will roll out and trumpet all the 'new' 'virtues' and badge bunnies/victims will buy because it has the right name/reputation/status etc, but I'm of the opinion that it very sadly seems a case of the emperors new clothes, and such people buying the hype and not looking at the car in total compared to other better finished and presented vehicles out there.
I'm not want to 'bash' BMW, because I've always liked them and been a bit of a fan, although my personal choice at that level takes me far more towards Mercedes, but like the recent Mercs for a few years where cost cutting and falling quality standards, particularly in interiors seems to have occured, whilst they at least seem to have recognised the poor public reaction and are doing something about it, BMW seems to be falling into the same trap that Merc seem to be presently extricating themselves from.
It's very sad IMHO.
Oh, and don't start me on the exterior look.
Here in OZ we have this saying 'Eurojap' which is where Japanese designs mimmick those of European manufactures, but 'miss' - the result being an unpleasant/bland/mismatch of shapes/design etc.
If one took the BMW badge off, it could be a Daewoo, Hyundai etc, quite easily.
Anyway, end of rant, but boy, it was sure a dissappointment quite sadly.
But hey, that's just me and my mate - what do you think?
Cheers
John...
Populist thinking exalts the simplistic and the ordinary
Well, it's pleasing in a way that at least some do like the look - and perhaps it may be more appealing to a younger, more 'tech' audience than the traditional buyer, however, quality is quality, even if not in ultimate terms of materials, at least in presentation and ambience.
And I wonder, apart from the well heeled 30 something 'tech' buyer, who could afford it in that market/audience segment? - usually it's an older demographic that have the funds to buy/lease that kind of vehicle, and I don't think many will find the exterior or interior look very appealing.
Ikea/airfix presentation at a BMW price indeed.
Cheers
John...
Populist thinking exalts the simplistic and the ordinary
And I wonder, apart from the well heeled 30 something 'tech' buyer, who could afford it in that market/audience segment? - usually it's an older demographic that have the funds to buy/lease that kind of vehicle, and I don't think many will find the exterior or interior look very appealing.
Ikea/airfix presentation at a BMW price indeed.
Cheers
John...
Populist thinking exalts the simplistic and the ordinary