I almost responded to this thread:
http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=49098
But, decided that rather than derail it further, I would rather just post a new thread.
I have noticed that lots of people are great fans of the slightly older BMW’s, especially those with more than 4 cylinders, and find the newer deigns somehow inferior. I suppose from their frame of reference, they are entirely correct. These members lament the fact that BMW no longer build cars this way. I understand. Truly, I do. Their arguments certainly have merit. What most of them say, is certainly true.
But......
Before one starts insulting the brand of car you used to love, let us take a step back, see the whole picture, and be fair:
Cars are consumables, always have been always will be. I sort of agree with Gizmo that there is a trend to design cars to last 5-10 years these days, and less regard for the fate of the owner thereafter. But it is not universally true in all things. It is well known that the quality of turbos in diesels, for instance have actually improved. The E90 & F30 turbo being more reliable than earlier versions. This actually improves the out of motor plan situation.
That said, there are definite trends in car design over the last decade that cannot be disputed:
1. Cars are designed in such a way as to be increasingly difficult for a layman to maintain with his own technical skill. As a 20 year old I had no difficulty changing the clutch on my Ford Cortina 30S. It would take a very knowledgeable 20 year old to do the same to a modern 3 litre sedan today.
2. Cars are increasingly designed to not be undergoing major repairs. The exact conditions en specifications of the factory assembled machines are getting harder and harder to duplicate. Of course it can still be done (has to), but it is getting harder and harder....
3. Downsizing. Engines are becoming smaller, lighter and en more efficient. Small turbo petrol engines have arrived, and I believe they are here to stay. They will be hard to beat for efficiency. Diesels are also just getting better and better.
4. Electronics are becoming more sophisticated, but also cheaper. Some small cars now has SATNAV as standard, with no significant increase in price.
So, in general cars are becoming even more of a ”consumable” than ever before. But also, they are getting more efficient. On the other hand, build quality seems to have suffered. Cars feel less solid, tinny almost.
Before we rant and rave though. We should try to understand what drives these trends. Mainly two things. They go hand-in-hand:
1. Competition. There are more motor manufacturers out there than ever before. Profit margins are just getting smaller and smaller. Very few manufacturers actually make really bad cars anymore. If they do, they will simply just not survive. And the drive for some kind of competitive edge has become insane. And before you say that a car designed to last less than 10 years is a bad car. Just hold up, think again. The world has changed. People have changed. As mad as it may seem to some of us, the modern trend is for people to replace rather than repair. They would rather buy a new car with all the latest gadgets and innovations. The manufacturers don’t really have a choice here. They have to follow this trend. They have to ensure they compete in efficiency and technology. And they are getting rewarded less and less for cars lasting longer than 10 years.
2. Technology. And this does not necessarily mean electronics. Mechanical technology advancement has been huge. But to get the advantage of these developments, more and more exacting build requirements have to be met. Requirements that are getting harder and harder to duplicate. More parts, more complexity. Certain parts are becoming more expensive to replace.
Understand this: We, the consumers, are the drivers of market trends. We, the consumers either reward or punish what the producer makes available. It can never be any other way in a market that is so hugely competitive. 30 years ago, a good car was a car than will last a 100 years. Now, a good car, is one that will last 5-10 years, is super efficient, and has all the latest electronic gadgets. This is not what manufacturers say. This is what we, the consumers are dictating to them. Manufacturers either conform to this, or they die.
To sum up:
- Cars are increasingly designed to be a consumable. To last for 5-10 years, and then be discarded. Sad, but true.
- Cars are becoming more efficient, and technologically advanced.
- Cars are becoming harder to maintain by the “home” mechanic.
Is it the end of an era? – yes.
Is it avoidable? – no.
Is this phenomenon limited to BMW? – no.
Is it sad? – yes. ( As is the loss of all things we have come to value)
Do we need to adapt? – yes.
Should we embrace it? – yes......we need to, we have little choice. Look, I am 46 years old. I understand why many of us are sad....I really do. But it is not going help us. The world is changing, and we will need to change along with it.
My advice: Those of you with 6 or 8 cylinder cars that you love, and lovingly maintain. Keep them and love and appreciate them for as longs as they may last. But understand that eventually you will need to adapt to the new way of things. Adapt your financial planning to the fact that you will most likely not drive a 15 year old luxury sedan ever again.
In the future you will be driving newer cars. You don’t have much choice. They will be very reliable (there will be the odd exception) and efficient in the first 5-8 years. They will be full of bells and whistles. And after that time you will replace them. And if you can’t afford a new-ish BMW, you will have to buy a cheaper brand. Learn to like it. Otherwise you are going to be unhappy every time you think of cars.
Me, I love my E90 320d. It is a truly great car. I will drive it to about 150 000 km. Then it has to go. What will I buy then ? I will have to wait and see if I can afford a BMW younger than 2 years old by then. If I can’t, it will have to be something else. I hope I can though.....
http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=49098
But, decided that rather than derail it further, I would rather just post a new thread.
I have noticed that lots of people are great fans of the slightly older BMW’s, especially those with more than 4 cylinders, and find the newer deigns somehow inferior. I suppose from their frame of reference, they are entirely correct. These members lament the fact that BMW no longer build cars this way. I understand. Truly, I do. Their arguments certainly have merit. What most of them say, is certainly true.
But......
Before one starts insulting the brand of car you used to love, let us take a step back, see the whole picture, and be fair:
Cars are consumables, always have been always will be. I sort of agree with Gizmo that there is a trend to design cars to last 5-10 years these days, and less regard for the fate of the owner thereafter. But it is not universally true in all things. It is well known that the quality of turbos in diesels, for instance have actually improved. The E90 & F30 turbo being more reliable than earlier versions. This actually improves the out of motor plan situation.
That said, there are definite trends in car design over the last decade that cannot be disputed:
1. Cars are designed in such a way as to be increasingly difficult for a layman to maintain with his own technical skill. As a 20 year old I had no difficulty changing the clutch on my Ford Cortina 30S. It would take a very knowledgeable 20 year old to do the same to a modern 3 litre sedan today.
2. Cars are increasingly designed to not be undergoing major repairs. The exact conditions en specifications of the factory assembled machines are getting harder and harder to duplicate. Of course it can still be done (has to), but it is getting harder and harder....
3. Downsizing. Engines are becoming smaller, lighter and en more efficient. Small turbo petrol engines have arrived, and I believe they are here to stay. They will be hard to beat for efficiency. Diesels are also just getting better and better.
4. Electronics are becoming more sophisticated, but also cheaper. Some small cars now has SATNAV as standard, with no significant increase in price.
So, in general cars are becoming even more of a ”consumable” than ever before. But also, they are getting more efficient. On the other hand, build quality seems to have suffered. Cars feel less solid, tinny almost.
Before we rant and rave though. We should try to understand what drives these trends. Mainly two things. They go hand-in-hand:
1. Competition. There are more motor manufacturers out there than ever before. Profit margins are just getting smaller and smaller. Very few manufacturers actually make really bad cars anymore. If they do, they will simply just not survive. And the drive for some kind of competitive edge has become insane. And before you say that a car designed to last less than 10 years is a bad car. Just hold up, think again. The world has changed. People have changed. As mad as it may seem to some of us, the modern trend is for people to replace rather than repair. They would rather buy a new car with all the latest gadgets and innovations. The manufacturers don’t really have a choice here. They have to follow this trend. They have to ensure they compete in efficiency and technology. And they are getting rewarded less and less for cars lasting longer than 10 years.
2. Technology. And this does not necessarily mean electronics. Mechanical technology advancement has been huge. But to get the advantage of these developments, more and more exacting build requirements have to be met. Requirements that are getting harder and harder to duplicate. More parts, more complexity. Certain parts are becoming more expensive to replace.
Understand this: We, the consumers, are the drivers of market trends. We, the consumers either reward or punish what the producer makes available. It can never be any other way in a market that is so hugely competitive. 30 years ago, a good car was a car than will last a 100 years. Now, a good car, is one that will last 5-10 years, is super efficient, and has all the latest electronic gadgets. This is not what manufacturers say. This is what we, the consumers are dictating to them. Manufacturers either conform to this, or they die.
To sum up:
- Cars are increasingly designed to be a consumable. To last for 5-10 years, and then be discarded. Sad, but true.
- Cars are becoming more efficient, and technologically advanced.
- Cars are becoming harder to maintain by the “home” mechanic.
Is it the end of an era? – yes.
Is it avoidable? – no.
Is this phenomenon limited to BMW? – no.
Is it sad? – yes. ( As is the loss of all things we have come to value)
Do we need to adapt? – yes.
Should we embrace it? – yes......we need to, we have little choice. Look, I am 46 years old. I understand why many of us are sad....I really do. But it is not going help us. The world is changing, and we will need to change along with it.
My advice: Those of you with 6 or 8 cylinder cars that you love, and lovingly maintain. Keep them and love and appreciate them for as longs as they may last. But understand that eventually you will need to adapt to the new way of things. Adapt your financial planning to the fact that you will most likely not drive a 15 year old luxury sedan ever again.
In the future you will be driving newer cars. You don’t have much choice. They will be very reliable (there will be the odd exception) and efficient in the first 5-8 years. They will be full of bells and whistles. And after that time you will replace them. And if you can’t afford a new-ish BMW, you will have to buy a cheaper brand. Learn to like it. Otherwise you are going to be unhappy every time you think of cars.
Me, I love my E90 320d. It is a truly great car. I will drive it to about 150 000 km. Then it has to go. What will I buy then ? I will have to wait and see if I can afford a BMW younger than 2 years old by then. If I can’t, it will have to be something else. I hope I can though.....
