The Motor Forum

"him" · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:54 pm Post subject: A FWD BMW?

Excepting the MINI, how do you feel about a FWD BMW?

http://jalopnik.com/5375496/bmw-to-build-mini+platformed-0+class
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TimR · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:57 pm Post subject:

No feelings at all.

They're all overpriced, overimaged cars mainly driven by 'wannabees' who always head for the lowest spec model and get the badges deleted*.
Nothing they do at the moment has any appeal to me at all.

*Forum owners excepted of course

Blarno · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 11:06 pm Post subject:

Massive indifference.
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"him" · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 11:08 pm Post subject:

Much the same as me then...
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Matt · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 11:27 pm Post subject:

Even I couldn't care less. When M make a pair of SUVs and a bloody Rover 800 on stilts, what little credibility they have is waning anyway.
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Nice Guy Eddie · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 11:44 pm Post subject:

woof woof · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 12:48 am Post subject:

We keep seeing wheels like that on design drawings and they always look unreal and shit IMVHO but they just keep drawing 'em.

FWD BMW, what's the old saying? Put a BMW badge on a dog turd and people will buy it, especially the British.
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Matt · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:07 am Post subject:

I have to admit that I do prefer the feel of being pushed through a corner, but I'd say the 306 and now the Astra are still worthwhile drives and the typical modern BMW buyer wants a sports saloon no more than I want a bullet in the head.
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Small car, big heart.

Frank Bullitt · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 7:04 am Post subject:

Dr. Hfuhruhurr · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:26 am Post subject:

It's OK as long as they keep making a small RWD car as well (1 series or equivalent), and as long as they give it the same chassis capability as the MINI.

It does make sense for smaller cars, as you can maintain reasonable interior space by packaging the mechanicals in a smaller space - my objection is when manufacturers insist on using it on ALL their cars, even big-engined executive saloons.

That said, given pedestrian impact regulations and aerodynamic requirements, a rear-engine might be a better solution.

Nice Guy Eddie · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 10:26 am Post subject:

Dr. Hfuhruhurr · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 10:32 am Post subject:

It might be all they're allowed on a company car list. I once had a 116i as a hire car for a weekend, and sweet and uncorrupted were very good words indeed to describe its steering. Very useful when you don't have a lot of power and want to get round roundabouts as quickly as possible.

TimR · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:55 am Post subject:

Bob Sacramento · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 2:29 pm Post subject:

Will they do a M version? The M0?
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Dr. Hfuhruhurr · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 2:33 pm Post subject:

And will the entry level version have a 700cc engine?

DradusContact · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 2:45 pm Post subject:

Surely the mini serves this function perfectly well though? Its been one of THE great sales stories of the decade? The BMW badge is incredibly strong, but not in that area of the market.
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TimR · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 2:49 pm Post subject:

Twelfth Monkey · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 2:49 pm Post subject:

Agree with the general gist that other things that it has produced dilute its 'ultimate driving machine' strapline by far more.
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Frank Bullitt · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:30 pm Post subject:

Mark · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:45 pm Post subject:

DB · Running In Joined: 06 Jan 2007 Posts: 71

It will be interesting to see what happens with MINI long term. It seems to me that you can only go retro for so long. Unlike most others, MINI is as much a product as it is a brand, which means the opportunities to re-invent are limited.

Perhaps BMW recognise this and want to take a slice of the super-mini market via other means.

Big TC · Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 11:27 am Post subject:

I'll give any fwd BMW with the same level of thought I afford the other vehicles in its range, most probably.
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PG · Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 7:58 pm Post subject:

BMW could by now have had a full range of front wheel drive BMW's called Rovers and MG's. But they decided to fu** the company over.

DarthBalls · Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 10:41 am Post subject:

If BMW do go FWD they'd better learn how to package cars properly. The MINI and the 1 series both have the interior space of cars from the segment below. The 1 series felt cramped even compared to our Fabia.

Any FWD BMW will sell well in the UK at least.
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Martin · Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 9:24 pm Post subject:

Roadrunner · Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 10:00 pm Post subject: