[Park828]

Man... I WISH i can be happy with what accord/TL/altima/G35 offer.. their prices are awesome for the amount of content.. but ever since my first bmw.. e36 M3 Im doomed for life! After i was done with my e90 option list i paid 52k usd out the door and even that i thought was a good deal at 750 over inv. yup we're all doomed.. i even test drove an rs4 wanting to try something diff from bmw but yes as fast as that thing was.. the handling dynamics were lacking to say the least. oh well opps better go back to work.. gotta save up for my next car in 3-4 years....

[ejazbmw]

if I'm not mistaken wasn't their a thread on this already, and everyone yelled at the OP lol

[STE92VE]

Originally Posted by ejazbmw

if I'm not mistaken wasn't their a thread on this already, and everyone yelled at the OP lol

That's right, where are the equal opportunity offenders when you need them?

[LEDZEP]

Originally Posted by STE92VE

That's right, where are the equal opportunity offenders when you need them?

Leo must be taking a nap.

[phazedkid]

did you say 335i is over priced??
hmmm what about 32k nissan altima?


i think ledzep put it the best.

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

The consensus of responses is that BMW puts the money into over-engineering the overall quality of the car. Most standard features of BMW are things that go forgotten or unnoticed, such as the great breaking system (including auto-drying brakes and brake panic mode), the marvelous suspension, weight balance, etc. Overall fit and finish is very very good... these all cost money to develop and manufacture. For those who want more bells and whistles, they are available as options.

It is also clear to see that there is a contingient of "just give me a steering wheel" owners. Some of these folks would actually see tons of free bells and whistles as a negative, not a plus.

Bottom line - you can't please everyone.

[ChadE]

Originally Posted by Shadyg

I think that depends on which Trump Tower you are referring to.

I think theres only one "trump tower"

[lyndon_h]

I understand what you guys are saying, and agree to a point. But there is one question that goes unanswered: How is it that BMW is (like) the 2nd most profitable mass production car company?
There are two answers to this question:
1. BMW builds their cars much more effeciently than other cars companies and eliminates many expenses by doing this.
2. They offer nice cars, but sells them at a comparitively higher profit margin.

I really think the answer is #2.

[forrestpilot]

What is a Datsun? Remember the old Z's, 240 260? How about BMWs?

[vAnt826]

Last time I checked, the Altima didn't have RWD standard.

[danimal]

Originally Posted by SunnyvaleCA

The rear-wheel-drive option for the Altima costs something like $5000 (Infinity G37); that's a standard feature on the BMW.

The Altima's "sport suspension" doesn't come with staggered wheels or other BMW goodies. In fact, their sport suspension isn't really any more sporty than the standard BMW one.

I think the lack of rear-wheel drive option is the reason for the lack of staggered wheels! Unless you think the car should have wider wheels in the front than the back

-Dan

[Revlis]

Good place for one of my favorites....

[LEDZEP]

Also a classic:

[Revlis]

ROTFL Never have seen the frog.

[jrod1014]

BMW has employed what must be marketing geniuses... Love the frog/hare posters...

[danimal]

Originally Posted by Revlis

Over priced? I don't think so... Maybe you spent too much for you, but when you get behind the wheel, I know where BMW has spent their money. It's up to each of us and the market to determine if a car is overpriced. Based on the demand, the driving performance, and feel I'd say the car is priced perfectly. Sure I'd love it to cost $10k less, but I feel I am getting my monies worth and more every time I hit a long winding road...

RU kididng? BMWs are definitely overpriced. As lyndon_h pointed out, BMW is making more profit per unit than anyone but Porsche. I still bought one because the competition all has flaws I don't wish to live with, but I don't kid myself. A significant chunk of the money I spent went towards something other than material or labor.

Originally Posted by Revlis

The Japanese have been trying for decades to copy the performance and feel of the BMWs. They can work out the performance to a point, but they still have no clue about "FEEL". About communicating to the driver what is going on nor have they worked out ergonomics that are correct. This is where the money goes, I can feel each tire individually, and it's worth every penny.

Actually, Infiniti does have a clue about feel. The Infiniti M45 has pretty much clean swept the 5 Series in every comparison I've seen, including serious enthusiast publications. Honda also has a clue about feel--they're just very reluctant to make anything rear-wheel drive (but when they do--NSX, S2000--feel is not the issue).

Originally Posted by Revlis

As for long term durability, BMWs may not have the near 100% trouble free that some of the Japanese vehicles have, but long term the BMW is going to be a MUCH MUCH tighter, rattle/shimmy free car, still handling better, and still looking fresher. What I am talking about is the car itself will be tighter and still feel better going down the road than a comparable Japanese car. The BMW may have more odd little niggles and such, but will remain a tighter more rewarding car to drive and own. Or you can simply commute in a Camry reveling in it's AMAZING lack of problems.

That's an interesting theory but I don't buy it. If you compare apples to apples, I doubt very much a 5 or 7 Series would be any tighter than an LS400 of the same age (and, sure, it would handle better, but that's only because it always did). If you compare an old Honda Accord to an old 3 Series, yeah, the 3 will probably be in better shape, but that's because it's a more expensive vehicle built on a more expensive platform, not because BMW's engineering is inherently superior to Honda's.

Bottom line: The Japanese are better at quality control than anyone, and, when they build a premium automobile, it remains durable and tight just as long as a BMW, yet costs less to buy. As for "feel", the Japanese are getting ever closer to matching the feel of a BMW (and in a couple instances, they're already there). That premium BMW charges for its vaunted roundel is not sustainable.

-Dan

[phazedkid]

Originally Posted by danimal

That premium BMW charges for its vaunted roundel is not sustainable.

-Dan

it certainly has sustained and with the 1 series, new M3, 6 series facelist and supposed TT 7 series coming, i don't think the primium they are charing is going away any time soon. That roundel isn't gonna start losing its value just b/c there are some serious competition now. In fact, the competition will only force BMW to offer better cars, and as long as their cars are "better" that premiun isn't going anywhere. Especially when people who already think it's overpriced still buy it anyways. (btw, if you REALLY thought it was overpriced, you wouldn't buy it. the fact that you bought it says that whatever amount you paid for, you think it's worth the car or whatever else pleasure/experience you get out of it. if you think it's not worth 50k and yet still paid 50k for it... well i rest my case. )


BTW, thos anti-front wheel drive pictures are HILARIOUS. hahaha.

[NaTuReB0Y]

[wj4]

Because it aims at two completely different audiences.

And if you want to talk about options, go look at Lexus. Nothing comes free on those cars!

[ejazbmw]

is it just me or is this thread pointless?......the rabbit and frog pictures are the only things that are worthwhile on this thread....

[BMW F22]

No offense to the original poster but I am so tired of all these pointless threads. If you want more standard bells and whistles in your car and think BMW is overpriced then just go buy whatever the hell it is you want.

[phazedkid]

Originally Posted by ejazbmw

is it just me or is this thread pointless?......the rabbit and frog pictures are the only things that are worthwhile on this thread....

+1

[its]

the variety and ability to choose the options is just part of the "luxury" market. Theres a ton of options and choices when buying a porsches and lamborghinis for example. and charging for the options is where they can raise the most profit margins .