Cars and Other Driving Machines
 

Coming this Fall, to your local BMW dealer, for better or for worse, the new 5 series:

http://membres.lycos.fr/zoooz/other/...rs/e60_012.jpg

More pics

Personally, BMW seems to be going in the wrong direction.

New BMW 5 series
 

I disagree. Although Bangle gets slammed by much of the automotive press (and on many car-related boards) I LOVE his designs. the Z4 and the new 7er are brilliant and daring, and I think the new 5er continues that tradition.

Can't wait to see what he does with the 3er.

edit: fixed code

New BMW 5 series
 

Great post! I've always been a big fan of the 540i/M5, and was curious to see what they'd do to it. I'm not a fan of the redesigned 740i (750?), so I was a little concerned. But it's not as bad as it could be. It's a little sleeker, more aggressive, but again, what is with the Bangle back ends. I'm not sure what's going on there. But if you want to buy me one, I'll take it.

More on BMW
 

I'm not all the way there like AdL, but I don't hate the new body. I do hate parts of it, specifically the lights, front and rear.. If they didn't curve around to the sides so damn much, the body would be a lot more attractive in my mind. As it is, I expect the next version of this car to have one continuous string of lights all the way around, running up along the roof line and back down to the tail.

Anyway, the bottom line for me is that BMWs still hold special appeal for me. That said, Audis are drawing me too . . . we'll just have to see where I end up.

More on BMW
 

It's an addiction. Mr. Cheif Justice, be careful. Here's a selection of a few of my favorites:

The S3:
http://www.audiworld.com/model/s3/pix/header_s3.jpg

The RS4:
http://www.audiworld.com/model/rs4/pix/header_rs4.jpg

the Silver Arrow:
http://www.drivewerks.com/catalog/im...ters/r1499.jpg

For a better pic, click here.


Edit: found a smaller pic.

a few more
 

The TT:
http://www.audiworld.com/model/tt/pix/header_tt.jpg

Mid-80's coupe quattro:
http://www.audiworld.com/model/histo...86/pix/urq.jpg

80's Group B Rallye Car:
http://www.adesmith.ukonline.co.uk/....20B%5Caudi.jpg

the invincible R8:
http://www.pirro.com/images/0112/audi-r8-6.jpg

That group B rallye car must have been the fucker coming at me the other night that blinded the shit out of me. :cussing:

Damn, what is it with headlights these days? (Of course, that car's going through sandstorms and what not . . . )

Anyway, is Audi planning any updates for the 6 platform? (Other than the RS6, which has really limited production)

We get a new A8 this year:
http://www.audiworld.com/news/02/a8long/a8l_005.jpg

We're probably a year or 2 away from a new A6.

I like it, except for those wheels. Is the "L" a long-wheelbase designation, as with BMW and Mercedes?

Yes.

Audi's turn?
 

No sooner than BMW introduces a new model to be met with complaints from the enthusiasts, a picture of the new A6 (of course, not final, nor, probably, even accurate) appears:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...b/fc65e860.jpg

Yikes.

Audi's turn?
 

Yike indeed. That's a bad p-chop that's been around for a while. They used the lights from the new A3:

http://www.audiworld.com/news/03/a32/a3l006.jpg

New BMW 5 series: The UGLY GERMAN DUCKLING
 

MY GOD! What a dreadful vehicle!

I guess instead of getting the next-gen M5, I'm going to have to go with the Mercedes. As for BMW, their new design reminds me of that song "Who let the dogs out?"

Seven



(edited for codes -- Mmmm, Burger)

New BMW 5 series: The UGLY GERMAN DUCKLING
 

May I offer you something in a 2002, perhaps?

http://www.barons-auctions.com/cars/bmw-2002.jpg

New BMW 5 series: The UGLY GERMAN DUCKLING
 

Be careful. I'm not sure that the mid-80s coupe/quattro you posted above compares favorably to that one. :box:

(Although you're missing the Audi 5000 up there, which was a revolutionary design, subsequently copied and made revolutionary, in a non-accidental-acceleration way, by the Ford Taurus)

At least both Audi and BMW produce something that mercedes does not (in the U.S.): cars with a stick shift. Fuckin' chrysler.:bang:

New BMW 5 series: The UGLY GERMAN DUCKLING
 

I prefer the quattro design, what can I say? Still, the 2002 is hot, even with that body kit.

I don't much like the sedan:

http://www.audiworld.com/model/histo...84/pix/5ks.jpg

Though I do like the wagon:

http://www.audiworld.com/model/histo...84/pix/5ka.jpg

I believe you can now get the entire C-class with a stick, save for the M32 AMG.

New BMW 5 series: The UGLY GERMAN DUCKLING
 

My teenage dream car was a 2002 tii. I got to drive one once, sadly, out of my price range. But what a great car....anyone else remember these?

http://home.earthlink.net/~phillidc/2002tii-2.jpg

New BMW 5 series: The UGLY GERMAN DUCKLING
 

New BMW 5 series: The UGLY GERMAN DUCKLING
 

What good is 500 bhp if the door handles come off in your hand and the car rattles a maraca after 5000 miles?

No thanks. I know the more recent Corvettes are a big step forward for GM, but their build quality still leaves much to be desired.

edit: spelling

New BMW 5 series: The UGLY GERMAN DUCKLING
 

Ah, yes, the "I've got to buy my spoiled kid a Mercedes, because I promised it to him/her if he/she got into Harvard/Northwestern/Tulane law/business/medical school" C class. And what's with the AMG being unavailable in a stick? I like BMW's method of selling M-cars with only stick shifts, although I guess you can get the E46 M3 with the clutchless SMG, but it's still a real manual, I think without a fully automatic mode.

I can't stand the way Mercedes are generally sold/driven/admired by the image oriented. I'll bet most Mercedes drivers don't know anything about their cars except how much they cost and how they turn heads. Pathetic.

I don't really get people buying a $30,000-$35,000 Mercedes/BMW/Jaguar anyway. Just spend the same money and get a nicer car with 10-20,000 miles on it. Of course, buying a nicer car and saving money by letting someone else take the depreciation hit doesn't fit into the "image" sometimes.

New BMW 5 series: The UGLY GERMAN DUCKLING
 

cute cars
 

am i the only one who thinks that the audi tt kind of looks like a squashed new beetle???

and speaking of new beetles, does anyone have an opinion on what would be a better cute little car to run around town in - a new beetle cabriolet or a new mini? looking cute and quality of build are more important to me than performance.

ms. naughty diplomat

cute cars
 

That is a tough choice. I think that the mini is cuter. However until there is a convertible mini, I would go with the Beetle as being a more fun cruise around car (depending on the climate that you are discussing, of course). Both should have ggod quality of build...

I've been thinking of getting a fun little car (by that I mean fun for weekends, as compared to my "fun" weekday audi A4). It would have to be cheaper than a new car though and it would have to be convertible, as it is purely for entertainment. Has anyone bought a restored classic convertible? I'm thinking along the lines of a VW (beetle/kharmangia) or alfa romeo (circa 1980s).

Probably will never do it, but its nice to think about...

n(almost bought a classic bug convertible in the early 90s, but my VW guru told me that it had been restored for shit, which was kind of funny because the owner who restored it stood there and argued with the guy)cs

cute cars
 

A convertible Mini...


http://www.thecarconnection.com/imag...6669_image.jpg

cute cars
 

I don't know how they did it, but somehow that looks even smaller than the coupe version.

cute cars
 

Is that really a problem, though? There are scores of small cars available in Europe that I would seriously consider if sold here (the S3 being on the top of that list). I will never understand the "bigger is better" dynamic driving auto sales and design in this country.

I think the drop-top mini looks hot, though I hope it doesn't carry much of a weight penalty.

New BMW 5 series
 

I never post on this board and know little about cars except what I like to look at and drive, but anyway, we just got a Z4. It's sweet to drive.

New BMW 5 series
 

Which engine? Color (if not outable)? Sweet car, GWINKY.

New BMW 5 series
 

I don't think it's outable. It's silver. It's the Z4 3.0i, which I think has the same engine as the 330i sedan. It's six speed manual transmission (and the gears shift as if you were moving a hot knife through butter - it really feels good). We got the sport package, which makes it very responsive - I am still getting used to that.

(we drove a shitbox for a long time, so any upgrade would have been nice, but this one is very nice).

New BMW 5 series
 

Wow, terrific car. You're right, silver is in no way outable... Enjoy!

New BMW 5 series: The UGLY GERMAN DUCKLING
 

My mom had one when she met my dad. At kid number two they had to sell it to get something bigger. I think she's still a little resentful of that.

BTW, if anyone has any stories to tell about their 2002, there's a documentary in the works on that car http://www.02video.com/

New BMW 5 series: The UGLY GERMAN DUCKLING
 

Well, I'm sure she could pick one up now, if she wanted...I still see them on ebay motors sometimes...

My only other 2002 story is that when I was little, I puked in the back of my uncle's 2002. I don't think they'd want me to share that story. My poor uncle.

Flinty

cute cars
 

don't like the color, but that is one cute car. it kind of reminds me of the volkswagen cabrios in the rear half, but the front half is way more attractive and way cuter.

can you find a photograph with the roof down that wasn't taken next to a snowbank :exclaim:

somehow a picture of a convertible in snow just doesn't seem right. and the color is all wrong for that car.

ms. naughty diplomat

New BMW 5 series: The UGLY GERMAN DUCKLING
 

Holy shit! You're my SP. Sort of. The very same day my dad got his little 2002 in 1974, I threw up in the back seat. My dad's never forgiven me.

Of course, he waited until 1976 to upgrade to a 530i, so the smell couldn't have been too bad . . .

cute cars
 

So far, the only spy pics to emerge are from cold-weather testing in Scandinavia. My bet is that the guys testing the car have been sacked.

I couldn't find a top-down pic, but here's another one that shows the lines a bit better (unfortunately, there's another snow bank).

http://www.autoweek.com/images_conte...0n-minica1.jpg

cute cars
 

http://www.autoweek.com/images_conte...0n-minica1.jpg

Judging from the absence of the scoop on the hood, it looks like the car is not a modified Cooper S. Which means the drop-top will be underpowered (or, more accurately, even more underpowered than the Cooper S).

Color me surprised. Unless they're trying to poach buyers from the convertible Beetle, they should have gone directly to the S.

New BMW 5 series: The UGLY GERMAN DUCKLING
 

Heh, in my 4 year old mind, I thought it was the combination of OJ and bacon that I had that morning that caused me to ralph. For some period of time, I tried to avoid eating those things together, which is pretty hard if you're a 4 year old and your family starts everyday with a full breakfast. Now that I'm older, I'm inclined to think it was my uncle's swervy driving that got me carsick. I don't feel bad anymore, in fact, next time I see my uncle (who to this day, still drives BMW's), I'm going to find his car and puke in the backseat. I suggest you visit your dad too.

Flinty

New BMW 5 series: The UGLY GERMAN DUCKLING
 

Sadly, my father's BMW stage was limited to the glorious decade of the 70s, when the dollar was strong, the Deutschmark was very weak, and BMW made entry-level cars with vinyl seats and few amenities, when even a solo practitioner with a general practice heavily weighted to criminal defense and municipal law could afford one. I can still spot a 1976 BMW from a distance because of the oxidation of that cheap-ass topcoat. He kept that 1976 530i for 18 years. For the latter part of that timeframe, he kept it in the driveway and drove a 1970 Volvo wagon to work.

Now he drives an 12-year-old Lexus, which would be considerably less satisfying in which to vomit. Nothing will ever overcome the nostalgia he feels about the 2002. Or that Volvo, which was really the only wise investment decision my parents ever made. And I'm including my education in the pool of comparables.

New BMW 5 series: The UGLY GERMAN DUCKLING
 

Damn, I'm beginning to think you're my SP.

VW
 

The VW Phaeton finally gets an English language website. Between the Phaeton and the Touralouraloureg, VW's gonna have a problem with branding based on name pronounceability.