Is it just me?

[Douggefreshvt]

Am I the only one that upon seeing a fellow motorist in a BMW thinks to themselves 'you, sir (or madam) have excellent taste. Hats off to you' or something similar?

I have had Land Rover, Audi, MB, Acura....BMW is like no other vehicle I've owned. I know an enthusiast typically drives it and it makes me proud they are also a discriminating consumer.

Anyway...random Sunday post

[740I_yeye]

Originally Posted by Douggefreshvt

Am I the only one that upon seeing a fellow motorist in a BMW thinks to themselves 'you, sir (or madam) have excellent taste. Hats off to you' or something similar?

I have had Land Rover, Audi, MB, Acura....BMW is like no other vehicle I've owned. I know an enthusiast typically drives it and it makes me proud they are also a discriminating consumer.

Anyway...random Sunday post

Couldn’t be more accurate! I have to say I really don’t like land/range rovers. Mainly due to the owners just using them as a status symbol and they’re just so overrated it’s quite annoying!

[Douggefreshvt]

Originally Posted by 740I_yeye

Couldn’t be more accurate! I have to say I really don’t like land/range rovers. Mainly due to the owners just using them as a status symbol and they’re just so overrated it’s quite annoying!

We have had two LR3s ( 2005 & 2008) and a Range Rover (2003). The Range was flat out unreliable. The LR3s were expensive to maintain but very reliable if maintained properly. They were super utilitarian vehicles that we made maximum use of relative to cargo space with two Great Danes. I have a different view of LR than Range Rover. They are tremendously capable vehicles. I do think that buying it as a status symbol is common but it also is common to have an affinity for the brand which we still do. I will probably own another one in my lifetime. But I still don't want to give a wink and a nod to another LR owner like i would another BMW owner.

[740I_yeye]

Originally Posted by Douggefreshvt

We have had two LR3s ( 2005 & 2008) and a Range Rover (2003). The Range was flat out unreliable. The LR3s were expensive to maintain but very reliable if maintained properly. They were super utilitarian vehicles that we made maximum use of relative to cargo space with two Great Danes. I have a different view of LR than Range Rover. They are tremendously capable vehicles. I do think that buying it as a status symbol is common but it also is common to have an affinity for the brand which we still do. I will probably own another one in my lifetime. But I still don't want to give a wink and a nod to another LR owner like i would another BMW owner.

Yeah I get where you’re coming from... BMW’s are elite if I’m being honest. In terms of build quality and just driving feel they are on another level to any other “normal” car brand.

[RaptorStrike]

I wouldn't necessarily say BMW are elite as it purely depends on the model.

I've had Audi, Skoda, Ford etc. My last two cars were Mercedes (still have the E-Class estate as the boot is hoooge and we have two dogs).

I've been in Audi A8's, S Class Mercs, have friends with Tesla's etc. I would say the high end German cars (A8, S Class, 7 Series) are generally in a league of their own. When I got my 740Ld I was torn between the A8, S Class and 7 Series.

Ultimately it came down to what I felt would be the nice car to own. The A8 had the nicest look exterior wise, the S Class was the quietest. But the BMW was the nicest to drive, the most comfortable and (to my eyes) had the nicest interior.

I often get strange looks where I live as there are 2 other 7 series owners and they are both in their 60's. Whereas I'm 42 this year.

Being a bit of a car nut I can appreciate cars from most makes. I don't think I would say someone does/doesn't have taste just because of a particular car they drive. We all have different needs and wants. Plus life would be pretty boring if we all thought the same.

[AlteBMW]

I am solidly in the BMW camp. Just bought a MB E class wagon for my wife because we need the loading ease and capacity (c'mon BMW bring the G31 to the US!) and my wife simply does not like SUVs or SAVs. The Mercedes is a nice car, but my G12 and G1 are better thought out, especially the driver ergonomics and electronics. The MB screens are nice (the 2020 G12 screens are equal; the X3's screens are not as big or sharp) but there is no touch screen, just finicky touch pads, too many buttons, lousy voice recognition, and wireless charging but no wireless Carplay, which makes no sense. The seats are ok, with massage but the massage turns off after 15 minutes and there is no way for the passenger to turn theirs on without going into the main screen. The music system runs off of a SD card -- you can't download to a HD like BMW. With buttons all over, there are no numbered presets for radio stations or functions (like tire pressure). BMW's iDrive may not be perfect but I will never complain about it again after spending the last week trying to decipher the MB system.

[740I_yeye]

Originally Posted by AlteBMW

I am solidly in the BMW camp. Just bought a MB E class wagon for my wife because we need the loading ease and capacity (c'mon BMW bring the G31 to the US!) and my wife simply does not like SUVs or SAVs. The Mercedes is a nice car, but my G12 and G1 are better thought out, especially the driver ergonomics and electronics. The MB screens are nice (the 2020 G12 screens are equal; the X3's screens are not as big or sharp) but there is no touch screen, just finicky touch pads, too many buttons, lousy voice recognition, and wireless charging but no wireless Carplay, which makes no sense. The seats are ok, with massage but the massage turns off after 15 minutes and there is no way for the passenger to turn theirs on without going into the main screen. The music system runs off of a SD card -- you can't download to a HD like BMW. With buttons all over, there are no numbered presets for radio stations or functions (like tire pressure). BMW's iDrive may not be perfect but I will never complain about it again after spending the last week trying to decipher the MB system.

They ruined it by removing the scroll wheel! It was so useful and the best way to use the system

[Douggefreshvt]

Originally Posted by RaptorStrike

I wouldn't necessarily say BMW are elite as it purely depends on the model.

I've had Audi, Skoda, Ford etc. My last two cars were Mercedes (still have the E-Class estate as the boot is hoooge and we have two dogs).

I've been in Audi A8's, S Class Mercs, have friends with Tesla's etc. I would say the high end German cars (A8, S Class, 7 Series) are generally in a league of their own. When I got my 740Ld I was torn between the A8, S Class and 7 Series.

Ultimately it came down to what I felt would be the nice car to own. The A8 had the nicest look exterior wise, the S Class was the quietest. But the BMW was the nicest to drive, the most comfortable and (to my eyes) had the nicest interior.

I often get strange looks where I live as there are 2 other 7 series owners and they are both in their 60's. Whereas I'm 42 this year.

Being a bit of a car nut I can appreciate cars from most makes. I don't think I would say someone does/doesn't have taste just because of a particular car they drive. We all have different needs and wants. Plus life would be pretty boring if we all thought the same.

I feel you relative to age. I'm 36 this month and driving a 750. What I like about it other than it being a phenomenal vehicle is that I rarely ever see another person driving one. There is a single white one, also an M Sport, that I see around town and that is it. And when I see it I think hey (s)he's a smart fella.

[Pelo Cat]

The 7's aren't as popular or evident when driving around and I always wave a hello to fellow 7 owners when I see one (outside of London obviously as they are a dime a dozen within the M25). I've also enjoyed travelling along with a fellow 7 when the occasion allows on the motorway and adjusting speed to suit as one rarely gets to see what one's own car looks like they are so rare...

I'd have certainly bought one much earlier if I could have afforded one but it wasn't until I was mid-forties that I bought my first 7...and I'll hopefully not drive anything but the luxury car segment now until I stop driving.

Unfortunately my wife hates the 7, as she finds it much to large to drive herself and is intimidated by them...so rather heated discussions when it comes time to buy new cars...

[RaptorStrike]

Originally Posted by Pelo Cat

Unfortunately my wife hates the 7, as she finds it much to large to drive herself and is intimidated by them...so rather heated discussions when it comes time to buy new cars...

Mine complains at how big mine is (and the 7 Series fnar fnar )

But I won't let her drive it. She's only on the insurance for emergency purposes.

She drives my E-Class estate however, which is also a big car.

When it comes to cars though it's the only thing I ever have my own way on. We have the "why does it need to be so big, why do you need the fancy tech, why does it have to be so fast" etc. I just tell her if she want's to buy herself a car she can. But it means she does everything for it (wash, services, maintenance, tyre changes etc).

Funnily enough she hasn't bought herself a car since she sold her Golf in 2008.

[KoenG]

No, I don't have this feeling at all. 95% just drive the BMW whether it's a random car with some prestige. When I was young I thought that BMW owners bought it because it was THE better car to drive. Nonsense, doesn't matter, and even BMW has used this as an argument to start FWD production.

Besides, in comparison with the Panamera or the S-Class, is the 7 serie the better car you believe?

[740I_yeye]

Originally Posted by KoenG

No, I don't have this feeling at all. 95% just drive the BMW whether it's a random car with some prestige. When I was young I thought that BMW owners bought it because it was THE better car to drive. Nonsense, doesn't matter, and even BMW has used this as an argument to start FWD production.

Besides, in comparison with the Panamera or the S-Class, is the 7 serie the better car you believe?

Can’t really compare with the panamera but the 7 is much more rewarding to drive and to use as a daily driver than the s class

[Douggefreshvt]

Originally Posted by 740I_yeye

Can’t really compare with the panamera but the 7 is much more rewarding to drive and to use as a daily driver than the s class

Panamera is smaller than 7. I don't think it is a fair comparison.