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Read the WELCOME ALL BMWFANATICS post.
BMW to go Front wheel drive!!!
- Thread starter Coisman
- Start date
Skwinty
New member
Quite frankly I fail to understand all the disappointment expressed about BMW making a FWD.
Who was disappointed when BMW redesigned and marketed the MINI?
All the hoo haa about FWD in general makes me think that the people who don't like FWD should just buy a RWD and get on with their lives instead of casting aspersions on people who buy FWD.
Why make it a pissing contest.
My MINI eats a lot of BMW dust, but on the other hand, a lot of BMWS eat my MINIS dust. No one can claim to have the best characteristics.
No matter what car you have, there will always be something better and something worse.
The MINI works for me because it is a hot go kart and I don't need a huge gas guzzler nor do I want one.
These one's? http://benjaminsbaby.net/
Oh well to each his own.
Who was disappointed when BMW redesigned and marketed the MINI?
All the hoo haa about FWD in general makes me think that the people who don't like FWD should just buy a RWD and get on with their lives instead of casting aspersions on people who buy FWD.
Why make it a pissing contest.
My MINI eats a lot of BMW dust, but on the other hand, a lot of BMWS eat my MINIS dust. No one can claim to have the best characteristics.
No matter what car you have, there will always be something better and something worse.
The MINI works for me because it is a hot go kart and I don't need a huge gas guzzler nor do I want one.
tcal69 said:Is all about the benjamins baby
These one's? http://benjaminsbaby.net/
Oh well to each his own.
IMO, BMW has sold out ages ago. I realized that my love for the brand was based on their passion they put into their cars. The 3 series range started dying from the e36 and died with the e90. It's now just money and mass production. take a look at the e36 and e46 inherent issues, its all cost savings and high margins. I think everyones issue with the whole FWD move, is we are all drivers and BMW makes drivers cars. BMW is one of the few manufacturers who stuck to their roots (RWD, STRAIGHT 6) but this image and feel is slowly dissolving, as BMW starts to place more focus on other markets and FWD signifies BMWs shift in it's core values, this includes the discussions to switch to V6.
No one complained about MINIs, because it is a different product line. On that point, BMW also has a partnership with PSA who are contracted to create the Mini engine. Here we are seeing combined technologies between BMW and PSA. Now how would we all feel if PSA was involved in creating our wonderful fours, sixes and V8s Yet no one really cares about the partnership, because they are not involved in creating BMW engines
*Not flaming mini, great car. I was just making a point.
No one complained about MINIs, because it is a different product line. On that point, BMW also has a partnership with PSA who are contracted to create the Mini engine. Here we are seeing combined technologies between BMW and PSA. Now how would we all feel if PSA was involved in creating our wonderful fours, sixes and V8s Yet no one really cares about the partnership, because they are not involved in creating BMW engines
*Not flaming mini, great car. I was just making a point.
JustNN
New member
No one can give a bad comment to a Mini, its a great car and is a real joy to drive. I think the guys here are more concered about the sigma attached to a Bmw(real wheel drive track bred car). Bmw's have always been made with this rwd confirguration(far as i can remember) and change is hard on anyone especially a Fanatic.
Im also not for the Fwd Bmw:thinking:
Im also not for the Fwd Bmw:thinking:
ahmed e bhamjee
Member
Skwinty said:
"You can't stay young forever but you can remain immature for as long as you want."
I'm Pretty sure that the above is part of Skwinty's Sig..............
frikkieh
///Member
IMO it's all about pros and cons - RWD has less space at the back and inside the car.
With FWD a car can be smaller and have more space inside.
The fuel economy issue is debatable. If it can be smaller it can be lighter. That is most probably another reason for the performance car changes - not economy per say but the emissions issues.
In desperate times companies will require desperate measures to stay on top.
With more diversity there is more choice which means there is a bigger piece of the pie.
What about Audi's Quatro? BMW never considered an AWD 3-series?
With FWD a car can be smaller and have more space inside.
The fuel economy issue is debatable. If it can be smaller it can be lighter. That is most probably another reason for the performance car changes - not economy per say but the emissions issues.
In desperate times companies will require desperate measures to stay on top.
With more diversity there is more choice which means there is a bigger piece of the pie.
What about Audi's Quatro? BMW never considered an AWD 3-series?
Skwinty
New member
JustNN said:
If BMW making FWD cars makes you guys angry, how are you going to react when some one keys your car as some one did to my Toyota Conquest RSi. (It's a FWD if you didn't know)
Just even saying something as vindictive as that makes me angry.
Any way enough this crap for me.
I will say no more.
You miss my point completely bmw is mini so if they want to make a cheaper car why not a cheaper mini?
A cheap bmw will probably be more expensive than a mini so who exactly would want that when you could have a mini? Only one or two idiots... So why bother
The A class works because its essentially a mom van and it works within the merc brand because mercs are supposed to be comfortable and safe so why not a mom van?
BMW however is supposed to be fun also so how is this Fwd thing going to add anything to the brand?
As for my maturity... It does not really matter what you think because one day when I take power I will make sure BMW only make Rwd again
A cheap bmw will probably be more expensive than a mini so who exactly would want that when you could have a mini? Only one or two idiots... So why bother
The A class works because its essentially a mom van and it works within the merc brand because mercs are supposed to be comfortable and safe so why not a mom van?
BMW however is supposed to be fun also so how is this Fwd thing going to add anything to the brand?
As for my maturity... It does not really matter what you think because one day when I take power I will make sure BMW only make Rwd again
M
Mike1
Guest
Sigh....
I have tried to stay out of this thread but I cannot as some of the opinions being expressed here and info being expressed here is absolute nosh.
1. BMW owns MINI. Like Volkswagen owns Lamborghini. They may share parts but how can you compare the two cars? People here seem to be insinuating that by owning a Polo you infact own a Bugatti. Wrong, You own a Polo.
2. BMW initiates the build for MINI. MINI is still built in Oxford - And imported to SA. The build is simply facilitated by BMW using their equipment. This does not mean that MINI is BMW much like Ssanyong is not Mercedes.
3. MINI and BMW are very separate divisions. Both have different financials, targets, design teams, marketers, sales people, buildings... - Need I go on?!
It really annoys me when people say that MINI is the front wheel drive division of BMW. Utter Crap. Utter utter nonsense.
We are a separate brand with a complete different market with different needs and prices. We may be built by BMW but much like an Audi isnt a Buggatti - MINI isnt BMW. We are not here to be the underdog for BMW when they want more profit and are scared to upset their loyal and rear wheel drive loving clients...
So lets stop with this rubbish and accept that at the end of the day the gods at BMW do not care what you want but rather what their Bean Counters want. Front wheel drive it is... And guess what. You might enjoy it.
And as for this "BMW has MINI for front wheel drive" nonsense... Please boys and girls... MINI. BMW. separate brands.
Rant Over.
Mike
I have tried to stay out of this thread but I cannot as some of the opinions being expressed here and info being expressed here is absolute nosh.
1. BMW owns MINI. Like Volkswagen owns Lamborghini. They may share parts but how can you compare the two cars? People here seem to be insinuating that by owning a Polo you infact own a Bugatti. Wrong, You own a Polo.
2. BMW initiates the build for MINI. MINI is still built in Oxford - And imported to SA. The build is simply facilitated by BMW using their equipment. This does not mean that MINI is BMW much like Ssanyong is not Mercedes.
3. MINI and BMW are very separate divisions. Both have different financials, targets, design teams, marketers, sales people, buildings... - Need I go on?!
It really annoys me when people say that MINI is the front wheel drive division of BMW. Utter Crap. Utter utter nonsense.
We are a separate brand with a complete different market with different needs and prices. We may be built by BMW but much like an Audi isnt a Buggatti - MINI isnt BMW. We are not here to be the underdog for BMW when they want more profit and are scared to upset their loyal and rear wheel drive loving clients...
So lets stop with this rubbish and accept that at the end of the day the gods at BMW do not care what you want but rather what their Bean Counters want. Front wheel drive it is... And guess what. You might enjoy it.
And as for this "BMW has MINI for front wheel drive" nonsense... Please boys and girls... MINI. BMW. separate brands.
Rant Over.
Mike
"MINI is still built in Oxford" so if a bmw is based on the mini platform then where would it be built?
so what you are saying is that if mini sells more cars than bmw and makes more money then mini is unable to support bmw so they can continue? if people want small economical cars i feel mini is more suited to provide that because they are already Fwd... why not let the brands do what they are good at? it would be like mini suddenly deciding to make a big comfy saloon like the 7 series yes it might sell but... WTF
"Audi isnt a Buggatti" are you saying mini is that much worse than bmw
so what you are saying is that if mini sells more cars than bmw and makes more money then mini is unable to support bmw so they can continue? if people want small economical cars i feel mini is more suited to provide that because they are already Fwd... why not let the brands do what they are good at? it would be like mini suddenly deciding to make a big comfy saloon like the 7 series yes it might sell but... WTF
"Audi isnt a Buggatti" are you saying mini is that much worse than bmw
M
Mike1
Guest
Uhmm...
- We just launched a 4x4 MINI. And its knocking the socks off the X3 and X1. We have an electric scooter coming, a Coupe 4x4 (oooh X6), a hardtop roadster (oops Z4) and guess what? We are now using MINI in the Dakar instead of the X3. Intergration? Nope... Separate brand with a separate identity and market with our own cars...
- Much like none of MINI's cars are based on BMW platforms, BMW does not base any of its vehicles on MINI. The Countryman is its own chassis. It only shares XDrive with BMW. And gearbox's. If anything MINI shares a platform with Peugeot. The 308, 207 GTI's and normal 1.6's are the identical engines taken from MINI and apparently some of the chassis is too.
- Once again. MINI is its own range. We are not the underdog to BMW when they want to make more off you lot with a FWD car.
If BMW wants to open itself to the FWD market then it needs to give the market something special, something unique and different. By admission of many on this very forum - BMW aint doing that. The X1 is horrible to look at, X3 overpriced and the X6... Well yes. Until then everyone will continue to buy from MINI, Citroen, Peugeot, Fiat etc.
And at the end of the day... BMW does score cos they build our cars... Be it in Oxford for the hatch, clubman or convertible or Austria for the Countryman.
Mike
- We just launched a 4x4 MINI. And its knocking the socks off the X3 and X1. We have an electric scooter coming, a Coupe 4x4 (oooh X6), a hardtop roadster (oops Z4) and guess what? We are now using MINI in the Dakar instead of the X3. Intergration? Nope... Separate brand with a separate identity and market with our own cars...
- Much like none of MINI's cars are based on BMW platforms, BMW does not base any of its vehicles on MINI. The Countryman is its own chassis. It only shares XDrive with BMW. And gearbox's. If anything MINI shares a platform with Peugeot. The 308, 207 GTI's and normal 1.6's are the identical engines taken from MINI and apparently some of the chassis is too.
- Once again. MINI is its own range. We are not the underdog to BMW when they want to make more off you lot with a FWD car.
If BMW wants to open itself to the FWD market then it needs to give the market something special, something unique and different. By admission of many on this very forum - BMW aint doing that. The X1 is horrible to look at, X3 overpriced and the X6... Well yes. Until then everyone will continue to buy from MINI, Citroen, Peugeot, Fiat etc.
And at the end of the day... BMW does score cos they build our cars... Be it in Oxford for the hatch, clubman or convertible or Austria for the Countryman.
Mike
