No, no, a thousand times no.
BMWs are built much better than Mercedes-Benzes and Audis. They’re built about as well as Toyotas or Mazdas. The engineering that goes into them is superb. The driving experience is what a car should be - great body control, plenty of grip, and tight, accurate steering.
There is no other mainstream manufacturer that relies on enthusiasts more or supports them better. BMW parts prices for pre-E39 5ers and pre-E46 3ers are among the lowest in the industry. They are or at least were straightforward and easy to work on - designed so they could actually be fixed by the owner. They’re as durable and abuse-tolerant as a Honda. There is a toolkit in the trunk lid of every BMW for a good reason; you can actually fix the car with it when it breaks. Even the jack is decent and a decent factory jack is rarer than rocking horse manure.
Just because the average BMW buyer is a know-nothing wanker doesn’t mean that’s who the cars are designed for.
Well, I don’t think you’re an asshole, but that’s only because you helped me with my Omaha game. However, I think I speak fairly when I opine that all poker players are assholes.
Amen. I have no idea what some of these people are smoking. BMW’s are some well engineered machines.
I didn’t even know I was interested in a BMW until I test drove one on a whim. I had just test driven a Mercedes and the difference was night and day in the BMW’s favor. I was sold on BMW by its merits on that test drive.
I can’t tell. Whenever you see a Mini around here, it’s usually been crushed under the wheels of a semi.
Just kidding. Mini drivers are, IME, very considerate. Mostly because they know that, if they aren’t, they probably will end up crushed under the wheels of a semi
I’d say that most Beemer drivers are assholes no matter what they drive. It’s just that they tend to be attracted to high-end European cars like BMW, Audi, and Mercedes. Our manager at work drives an Audi. He would be a raging asshole even if he drove a Yugo.
Well, TheSpark.com used to have a Jerk Test, a Bitch Test, and a Bastard Test, so I suppose you could take an average of the three if you’re curious (I’m 72% bastard).
Anyway, as for the OP, the biggest assholes I’ve met all drove Jeep Cherokees. Camaro/Trans Am also ranks up there, but that’s a different price range.
BMW’s handle very well, they do know how to build a suspension, that is for sure. Other than that, they are pretty much junk, everything that can break will (I found out how hush-hush the beamer crowd is about this subject too). I spent many a long hour in the dealership with other assholes trying to get their beamers fixed too.
If anyone asks me if I think they should buy a beamer, I tell them to buy 2, and a tow bar.
There is some truth to that. The car needed an alignment, so I take it to the usual place (IE where we usually take our other cars) and they tell me that they can’t align BMWs because “something with counter weights or something”. They tell me that the only place that can align it is the dealership. Fine. I call the dealership and leave a message. And another message. And another message. Two weeks later I finally spoke to someone (after being all bitchy and speaking to a manager) and they say, “We can’t align cars.” :smack: :rolleyes: :mad:
Turns out there is ONE place in town (not the dealership) that can align BMWs. Ther service was awful (they had my car for 10 hours FOR AN ALIGNMENT!) and I had to pay $95 for a two wheel alignment.
Oh and don’t even get me started on when the breaks went out… as soon as the warranty ended. $2000 later… yeah.
It’s a bit similar, but it is diluted because there are only two and a half premium brands. Traditionally pretty much every premium car was either a Mercedes or a BMW (ignoring sports cars.) In recent years Audi has been moving in that direction as well. Those are the brands for both wealthy buyers of the top-of-the-line models and status-conscious buyers of the entry-level models. There are also some Volvos, Jaguars and Lexuses (Lexus?) but not in comparable numbers.
So, yes, they have a bad reputation, but because there are so many of them in certain market segments, it doesn’t really mean that much.
I had a former co-worker turn into an asshole (or perhaps it was a prick or a jerkoff he became… it’s sometimes hard to tell the difference) once he purchased a (used) Porsche.
After a few days, I went into the parking lot to see it.
It was a 914.
From then on, I always used the quotations-marks-with-the-fingers-motion whenever I referred to his “Porsche”.
