[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Neusser

Yeah, the only part I am not sure I agree on is calling the listed cars econoboxes. I mean, there were "economy" versions, but RWD platforms are more costly to produce, and these cars were available with leather upholstery and more.

https://www.classic-sterne.de/de/fah...-2002-tii.html

Right, and RWD provides way better driving dynamics (until the advent of computer controlled driving), which is why BMWs were "The Ultimate Driving Machine". I remember when the Mini-based FWD 1-series debuted and BMW touted the roominess the FWD chassis layout provided for the customer. No shit Sherlock, Sir Alec Issigonis figured that out 60 some years ago.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Neusser

BMW has always been a pioneer in design. There are many questionable designs from past eras, and some have aged quite well. Many hated the Bangle designs, and some of them have gone on to be celebrated.

Challenging designs are good, as they force you out of your box. Nothing worse than running with the crowd, taking no risks, etc.

Ofc, the above also describes about 90% of the population.

I do have to admit I was one of the Bangle detractors. When the E85 Z4 Roadster debuted in 2003, I thought it was completely hideous. Yet here I sit some 20 years later with an E86 in my fleet (since 2014). Still not a great fan of the front-end styling, but the Coupe for some reason makes the whole car look better.

[Chihuahua]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

I do have to admit I was one of the Bangle detractors.

I was too. Then I bought an E60, followed by an E82, followed by an E90, followed by an E65 which I still have. There isn't a single Bangle era car I don't like now.

I'm one of those people that doesn't think BMW has lost its way in terms of design. I don't pay much attention to the SUVs/FWD cars, but the current crop of core cars (3,5,7) are all cars I'd own today. They're very color and trim sensitive, but if you do it right they're badass.

[Neusser]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

I do have to admit I was one of the Bangle detractors. When the E85 Z4 Roadster debuted in 2003, I thought it was completely hideous. Yet here I sit some 20 years later with an E86 in my fleet (since 2014). Still not a great fan of the front-end styling, but the Coupe for some reason makes the whole car look better.

So was I. Some of the designs have aged quite well though.

I think one reason for this is that despite the sometimes jarring lines and odd surfacing, the core proportions are almost always spot on.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Chihuahua

I was too. Then I bought an E60, followed by an E82, followed by an E90, followed by an E65 which I still have. There isn't a single Bangle era car I don't like now.

I'm one of those people that doesn't think BMW has lost its way in terms of design. I don't pay much attention to the SUVs/FWD cars, but the current crop of core cars (3,5,7) are all cars I'd own today. They're very color and trim sensitive, but if you do it right they're badass.

I'm also going to admit the ginormous Beaver Tooth grille is growing on me. On a black car it is quite tolerable to me now (I only buy black BTW). The Neue Klasse electrics that debuted awhile back I really like because the greenhouses hark back to the '70s and '80s. Whether the design survives to production we will have to wait to see. If I HAD to go electric, I'd gladly buy the Neue Klasse 3-series over anything current in the EV market.

[yousefnjr]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

I'm also going to admit the ginormous Beaver Tooth grille is growing on me. On a black car it is quite tolerable to me now (I only buy black BTW). The Neue Klasse electrics that debuted awhile back I really like because the greenhouses hark back to the '70s and '80s. Whether the design survives to production we will have to wait to see. If I HAD to go electric, I'd gladly buy the Neue Klasse 3-series over anything current in the EV market.

Earlier this year during Monterey Car Week we stopped by the BMW Villa for the M5 event they were hosting. All throughout the house they had artwork, models, and other neat BMW things including this book on BMW designs. Flipping through it I couldn’t help but notice something that looked a little familiar apparently they’ve been chewing on this shape for nearly 30 years

[surbrar]

Even BMW's boxy sedans in the 1970s looked great.