How about this one:

Tell me what you drive? I will point out all the wasted space, capability, and added luxuries. I will note the styling cues that are meant to look like something other than what it is. I will also take great pleasure in taking a stab at characterizing YOU in an ugly way based on YOUR choice.

Seriously. It’s great to point out the car is ugly, or that it is a bad mix, or whatever. However, when you go on to characterize the driver or buyer you are just pointing out your own insecurities. Less than 5% of us drive a car that is only adequate to our needs, and fits our use of it perfectly. Fewer than that use that way all the time.

If you are not driving a ten year old, subcompact hatchback which you got for pennies and spent many weekends of your own labor bringing up to reliable condition then you aren’t launching your attacks from firm ground.

Before you use the word “poser”, you might first make sure you can stroke out a check for said poser mobile. And if you can, then still keep your mouth shut and avoid snobbery.

When I had my ‘01 330Ci, my favourite part of it was how it drove. The part I liked the least was… that Roundel on the front. As en enthusiast, I was enamored by the one-ness of the car with the driver; the proper feedback; the balance; the “black-magic” ride/handling trade-off (or lack thereof).

However, I know I was getting the “eye-rolling” judgements from the layperson, as in “oh. He got a BMW. Obnoxious prick.”

Then I understood that yes, indeed, there are a large chunk of BMW buyers who buy it for the name, the prestige.

I was glad when I moved to an Acura TSX, getting 80% of the driving satisfaction of the 330Ci, with no Roundel!

But, let’s face it, high-performance cars are used to the full extent of their abilities about as often as SUVs are.

I don’t really agree with that statement. If you mean driven to the limit, ok. But I push my car to 7/10’s on a regular basis and I bet that is pretty typical of those who own sports/sporty cars.
The x5, x6 trade off the goodwill the cars create. They don’t sell to the enthusiasts. They sell to the guy who buys it “because it’s a BMW”, not because he has any idea what BMW means, other than “automotive Rolex”. The pricing is high, to keep it exclusive at the Middle School pickup circles. To treat is as the same as the cars, or god forbid, the sport oriented BMW offerings, is just confusion.

Absolutely true, and sad.

BMW is becoming a dual brand. You get real meat with the 3 series, 5, 6 or 7 cars. M is still an icon. ditto the sportscars, Banglism be darned.

The x3 began the fall from grace. Drove like a stiff truck, looked like a 3 sorta, but never acted like one. I always think x3 owners missed the boat tragically…they were in the right dealer, spent lots of money, and missed the target by a small amount. I hated all the X3 loaners they gave me when I had work done on my 330i Sport.

The x5, x6 trade off the goodwill the cars create. They don’t sell to the enthusiasts. They sell to the guy who buys it “because it’s a BMW”, not because he has any idea what BMW means, other than “automotive Rolex”. The pricing is high, to keep it exclusive at the Middle School pickup circles. To treat is as the same as the cars, or god forbid, the sport oriented BMW offerings, is just confusion.

But, let’s face it, high-performance cars are used to the full extent of their abilities about as often as SUVs are.

As for the X6, I don’t know why people think it’s somehow a cross between an X5 and a sport sedan. It’s an X5 with a sportier roofline and more powerful engines. For everyone who said, “I’d buy an X5 if it were quicker and had a little less cargo room.”

I don’t see it threatening the FX50 much, as the price is bound to be much higher. They’ll each eke out a thousand or so sales per month.

X5’s only come with all that AWD hardware. FTR I would have preferred a 5′r Wagon but BMW want way too much money for them compared to an X5.

BMW’s biggest problem with X5, X6 products is not brand related. My X5 E70 drives like a BMW, especially if you get Adaptive Drive. If you don’t understand Adaptive Drive in the E70 you don’t understand the car. Their is no equal on the market and Adaptive Drive will make the E71 do amazing things as well. People should not consider buying an E70 or E71 without Adaptive Drive.

BMW’s E70 and E71 problem is that they are not assembled as well as the products in Europe. The quality of my 2000 323i is much better than my 2008 X5. This quality issue may bite BMW in the future.

At least you use your cargo volume capability (note volume not weight as plenty of cars have equal weight carrying capacity). Most of the anti SUV crowd’s biggest beef is that most of these vehicles spend their days as a commuter machine with only a driver aboard and nothing else. If most were used the way you use yours, they wouldn’t have as much to say other than perhaps do you really need all that heavy 4WD hardware. And that is a choice for you to make. When I was down south I noticed plenty of people selecting 2 wheel drive versions.

Word: poseur
Def’n: BMW X6 driver

Are you jurisb?

At tier suppliers. You know, integretaged 4wd systems. Tailored steel blanks. Engine management. Assembly operations. Syracuse. Graz.

Not California focus group marketing BA interns. Or ad agencies. No soft creatives without engineering or sports pedigree.

No hard feelings. Just kill this thing before it kills us.

Thanks for rant opportunity. Cylons rock.

Can’t wait to sample that biturbo V8 in something a little less portly…I would buy a 345xi coupe in a heartbeat!

Also while all BMW’s are becoming disturbingly obese, they are still producing some vehicles that are awesome and true to the brand. There is no denying the 135, 335, and M3 hit the mark. So there is some evidence that BMW has not lost the plot, unlike Porsche who used their profits to buy VW.

Still, I don’t get it.

New to TTAC.

Luv this site!

BMW X6: S-port U-tility C-oupe

Nuff sed

As someone who rarely drives his Land Cruiser off road, or even on soft roads these days, let me spell it out to you folks.

Ride Height: In addition to the nice view, you get in and out easier if you are tall and aren’t spry. When it floods, I don’t get stuck. We lose dozens of people to drowning in cars, or getting lost in floods around here.

Load Carrying: I can easily haul all the stuff I want, and never have to rent a truck. The cost and hassle of renting a truck even a few times a year would quickly overcome fuel savings.

Roominess: Yes, you can comfortably carry several other business people.

Image: Why is it assumed we all care what you think? If we cared about image, we would drive Priora. I like the adventure spirit of SUV’s, not because YOU might be fooled that I am some sort of mountain climber, but because I get fooled into thinking I might be on some nice trip. It’s my fantasy, not yours, that I value.

Durability: Body on Frame SUV’s last a LONG time. Depreciation vs. operating expense makes my crusher one of the cheapest cars I have ever owned. I got buy pretty cheap in my Miata’s because they held value well (I can’t hardly get in one these days though). So far, I estimate that our sedans and CUV’s have been the most costly, even though they get much better mileage than our SUV’s.

So, poke fun if you want, whine about us if you just have to, but now you should at least know better.

The X-Raid team has used an X3 in the past, I hope they use an X6 in the future.

But how long before they decide there’s more profit to be made in sloppily designed and styled SUVs than continually expending R&D trying to get an extra 1/10th second improvement in an M3/911. The shareholders after all are more concerned with profits than ultimate driving machines. We all know what happened once Detroit got a sniff of the profits to be made from SUVs and where it has left the rest of their product portfolio now.

In an exactly similar vein, I’m on board with the X6, X5 and X3. I won’t line up to buy any of them, but if they allow the following, keep ‘em coming:

- 135i: true pocket-rocket (1/4 in 13.3)
- The gorgeous 335i Coupe
- The 911-worthy M3 coupe and sedan
- 1-series convertibles, the only RWD ‘verts at that price-point.
… and all kinds of other wonderful cars