[wdeerfield]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Its the perfect family solution for those that cannot stretch financially to a Seven-Seat X5.

just keep drinking that german koolaid. if they cant afford the x5, they wont be affording this. im sure this with tech, leather, awd, and navi will be around 55k

its a minivan.... just look at the interior AND exterior.. why is it a 2er with 7 seats..

didnt realize bmw was now in the business of ripping off a 2005 mazda 5.

[jadnashuanh]

It's inevitable, people bashing a vehicle because it doesn't conform to their idea of what is good. Every profit dollar can go into making neater things.

One thing that separates most of the rest of the world from the USA, is the marketing of a 'brand'. One reason we don't see as many model options in the USA is because companies like Audi, BMW, M-B, etc. opted to only sell their fully optioned, versions of vehicles here and to maintain that premium image, have not up to now, been bringing in their strippers that work just fine. Take a 5-series as sold in say Germany verses the USA...a basic one with fabric seats, small engine, and few options could be $10's of thousands of dollars less than the same version as we see it (BTW, we tend to get a great deal compared to most of the world because of our low import duties that can account for 15% or more - sometimes lots more to the price). So, you an have two vehicles sitting side-by-side that a vastly different in price as delivered...in the USA, people have expectations - leather, power windows, sunroof, a/c, auto this, auto that...if it doesn't, it can't be a premium and the image gets tarnished. Most of the time, people in the rest of the world understand you don't get something for nothing, and you can choose your level of luxury. We are so spoiled, and narrow-minded - on reason why the rest of the world considers us the ugly Americans.

IOW, get off it. Nobody is twisting your arm to buy one of these. If it doesn't sell, they'll stop, but won't because of what you think, it's because of what happens in the marketplace...if it's a decent product compared to its competition, it will sell...if it isn't, it won't.

[ThEnder]

fuck ugly does not even come close

[boramkiv]

[Mr.SugarSkulls]

I don't know any other way to put this....


This sucks.

[dmboone25]

Yo, I'm getting the M Sport !

Which reminds me of this:

[bobloblaw]

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

As it says in the article, it is longer and has three rows of seating.

What it doesn't say is that it's heavier, uglier (somehow) and likely handles worse than the smaller, still ugly, still heavy, and overall still shitty sibling.

[Vector Pilot]

I was hoping this would not be so but as I post this comment, wife at the dealership making arrangements for a Euro Delivery.

[advantage20]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Have you seen the Espace in person ? Its more like a French Range Rover and way out of the same league as the Gran Tourer.
I was in an Espace recently in Paris and was impressed by the quality.

I understand BMW's need to vulgarize its lineup with minivans, superminis, FWD and what not... in order to reduce CO2 emissions, allow independence, inject more funds into R&D and more extreme M models...

But by expanding onto every possible market segment, BMW is inevitably encroaching upon mainstream manufacters territory which are much more experienced in their own field of specialty. Renault invented the family van segment (Espace ) and the compact family minivan segment (Scénic) 20-30 years ago, BMW is a newbie following.

Secondly, since BMW comes into these new segments with the intent of capturing the mainstream manufacturers clientele with the pretense of bringing a "premium feel", BMW will naturally charge a premium to the equivalent mainstream models at similar characteristics.

From then on, BMW must accept the rules of its gamble : either customers will fall under the charm of the BMW badge (and indeed some extra refinement) and invest the extra cash required compared to an equivalent mainstream alternative, or customers might choose to invest that extra cash in a higher end mainstream model with all the benefits implied plus the experience of a manufacturer specialized in that segment. Meaning buyers of the Grand Scénic might be lured into upgrading to a 2er Gran Tourer or investing about the same premium in a new Espace, which indeed is an amazing achievement from a design and quality standpoint and I appreciate that you acknowledge that

PS : French prices :
* 218d Active Tourer 150ps (base trim...) : 32500 € ---> Gran Tourer about 34000 €?
* Espace dCi 130 (base trim = full-LED lights, 8.3 inch touch screen 3D GPS, front/rear/lateral parking sensors...) : 34200 €
Certainly more in the Gran Tourer's league price-wise than in the Range Rover's

[jaehshim]

LOL

[scrape1]

A BMW minivan.

Well, why not, I guess.

[M3_WC]

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by dmboone25

What it doesn't say is that it's heavier, uglier (somehow) and likely handles worse than the smaller, still ugly, still heavy, and overall still shitty sibling.

Because the author has class?

[todd hollander]

Originally Posted by jadnashuanh

It's inevitable, people bashing a vehicle because it doesn't conform to their idea of what is good. Every profit dollar can go into making neater things.

One thing that separates most of the rest of the world from the USA, is the marketing of a 'brand'. One reason we don't see as many model options in the USA is because companies like Audi, BMW, M-B, etc. opted to only sell their fully optioned, versions of vehicles here and to maintain that premium image, have not up to now, been bringing in their strippers that work just fine. Take a 5-series as sold in say Germany verses the USA...a basic one with fabric seats, small engine, and few options could be $10's of thousands of dollars less than the same version as we see it (BTW, we tend to get a great deal compared to most of the world because of our low import duties that can account for 15% or more - sometimes lots more to the price). So, you an have two vehicles sitting side-by-side that a vastly different in price as delivered...in the USA, people have expectations - leather, power windows, sunroof, a/c, auto this, auto that...if it doesn't, it can't be a premium and the image gets tarnished. Most of the time, people in the rest of the world understand you don't get something for nothing, and you can choose your level of luxury. We are so spoiled, and narrow-minded - on reason why the rest of the world considers us the ugly Americans.

IOW, get off it. Nobody is twisting your arm to buy one of these. If it doesn't sell, they'll stop, but won't because of what you think, it's because of what happens in the marketplace...if it's a decent product compared to its competition, it will sell...if it isn't, it won't.

THIS,
I would love to have the CHOICE if i needed a small minivan to test drive and decide for myself if this vehicle was right for me. The European reviews are quite good on the smaller version.

[R3DL1N3]

It's not even good looking... a FWD pile of crap that will still be overpriced, not named properly (it is not a 2 series), and frankly looks as others have stated in this thread... Gross.

[Mavus]

guys you are so funny!! It's a sad day we are discussing pampers mover instead of an "awesome new 3".

Somebody please ps eye lashes on this thing.

What a turd!! Total waste of resources and funding!

[Racer20]

Originally Posted by wdeerfield

just keep drinking that german koolaid. if they cant afford the x5, they wont be affording this. I'm sure this with tech, leather, awd, and navi will be around 55k.

Uh . . . SCOTT26 works for BMW AG. I think he knows the price points and market segments.

[emathis]

OMG....did the world really need this?
To Munich: concentrate on your core business pls, and don't try to compete with those specialized in such uggly things.....there are enough around the world.
I keep on saying that an F31 M3 for example would have been much more part of your core business than this, even if some ridiculous market researches try to tell you the contrary.
Remember: a car sells more by views on the streets.....and this candidate for the title "uggliest car of the year" will definitely not sell. An F31 M3 would sell.....and being back clients to you guys!

[boramkiv]

.

[GFK007]

Holy hell this thing is hideous.

Thank god it's not coming state side.

Arguably as bad as the GT cars. Maybe worse.

[boramkiv]

Originally Posted by GFK007

Holy hell this thing is hideous.

Thank god it's not coming state side.

Arguably as bad as the GT cars. Maybe worse.

"While BMW currently denies a US-market launch, we expect to see it on these shores within two year's time."