These days I've been test driving different cars,as a new second car for my wife. I've tested MB E350, Jaguar S-type, Acura RL. Not one of these cars come near the driving experience of my '06 525i.
Even though all the cars I test drove had higher horse power than my 215hp e60, none of them takes off like my baby. I'm no engineer and I really don't know how BMW acclomplishes this. And the handling? Who can match the Ultimate Driving Machine!!
BTW, I've told my wife that either we get another BMW or a significantly cheaper car. I'm not going to waste my money on a $50000 crap: all non-BMW's. The Jaguar was like driving a donkey!!!!
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| Reply » How does BMW manage this |
I have oft thought about this very thing.
The first car I bought after college was a brand new '95 318i.
No off the line burner for sure, yet on a curvy road it was a blast to drive.
Endless highway miles at 80-90mph no problem.
I almost got a loaded Jetta GLX instead, yet the 318 was much more a drivers car even though BMW's most meager offering at the time.
BTW, I restore vintage BMW motorcycles and they are exactly the same way.
Sure a Ducati 999 is an absolute hoot to ride, yet it is hard to beat a vintage BMW which can run all day at 70-80mph in superb comfort.
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| Reply » How does BMW manage this |
How do they do it? They don't.
At least as far as 0-60 times go. Other than the Jag (which may still be nominally quicker), the other two blow your car away in terms of acceleration.
On the handling side and ride side, which to me is more important, the story maybe totally different.
Alex
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| Reply » How does BMW manage this |
Quote: These days I've been test driving different cars,as a new second car for my wife. I've tested MB E350, Jaguar S-type, Acura RL. Not one of these cars come near the driving experience of my '06 525i.
Even though all the cars I test drove had higher horse power than my 215hp e60, none of them takes off like my baby. I'm no engineer and I really don't know how BMW acclomplishes this. And the handling? Who can match the Ultimate Driving Machine!!
BTW, I've told my wife that either we get another BMW or a significantly cheaper car. I'm not going to waste my money on a $50000 crap: all non-BMW's. The Jaguar was like driving a donkey!!!! |
I have to agree with you. The main difference between BMW cars is general and rest of the world is driving dynamics. Germans put a lot of effort designing these cars down to smallest detail without cutting the corners like many counterparts tend to do when it comes to dynamics. Drive a M35 Infiniti for example you will notice in a heart beat that something is missing, something is not there, the ride is nice but not more that that.
When you drive BMW in general and 5 series in particular you already enter the world of superlatives.
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| Reply » How does BMW manage this |
One trick BMW does seem to use is speccing more aggressive final drive ratios (for the rear differential) than the competition. this can go a long way to making a less powerful car feel as powerful something w/ more torque. The downside is that the engine tends to turn at higher speeds on the highway-- but BMWs smooth engines make this a non issue.
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| Reply » How does BMW manage this |
Quote: I have to agree with you. The main difference between BMW cars is general and rest of the world is driving dynamics. Germans put a lot of effort designing these cars down to smallest detail without cutting the corners like many counterparts tend to do when it comes to dynamics. Drive a M35 Infiniti for example you will notice in a heart beat that something is missing, something is not there, the ride is nice but not more that that.
When you drive BMW in general and 5 series in particular you already enter the world of superlatives. | .........of course, the M35 is plain. I'm a diehard Euro/German car fan.
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How does BMW manage this