BMW - The Ultimate Driving Delusion?

jaydeeuk1

BMWs like apple devices. Do things well, at a price, and not for people wanting to standout in a crowd.

nearlyrich

I didn't choose my BMW it was thrust upon me by our fleet manager we used to have an Audi fleet. I was prepared to hate it but I have to say I really don't, it is a very nice ride and I had my first service yesterday and that was a good experience too...

motorguy

Joe_Horner wrote: »

We all know the adverts - perfect Teutonic engineering elevating our driving abilities and enjoyment to new heights. Possibly even getting the girl in the process. But do they have any basis in truth, or are they pure fantasy and ego massage for those defisient in the driving skills stakes?

Personally, much as i admire BMW for their engineering (especially the older versions of their classic 6 cyl), I believe the latter. Let me explain:

Skill in any field is basically a matter of getting the most possible out of available tools. The virtuoso pianist takes the same 88 keys and does far more with them than I do when I hack out Chopsticks. Give them a Klima spinet or a Bechstein concert and they'll get every ounce of magic from it. Michaelangelo used basically the same pigments and bristles as anyone else and used them do do more. Give him a set of childrens watercolours and he'd have still created art.

Likewise, with driving, a driver with skill will get the most possble out of whatever he's driving. The closer he comes to the limits of the machine's abilities, the more his own abilities come to the fore.

This is demonstrated every night (on some channel somewhere) on the endless repeats of Top Gear with their "star in a reasonably priced car" - the same car driven in broadly similar conditions, by wildly differing skill levels. The only limits are the car's abilities (fixed) and the skill of the celebrity. Compare even the best of the celebrities times to the Stig's and it's clear that the celebs are being limited by their own skill.

All that a "better" car does in that situation is to be more forgiving of the driver's inadequacies. More grip means they're less likely to fly off the track when they pick a poor line, or turn in harshly, or wobble about on the throttle mid-corner. But it doesn't improve their ability, it only masks their lack of.

Every genuinely skilled driver I've ever known has agreed that the skill, and the fun, is in pushing the limits of the machine. A track day in a 2CV can be just as enjoyable as one in a Veyron. The Veyron will be faster, undoubtedly, but keeping the 2CV on the track near its 65mph limit is just as challenging, and just as enjoyable, in its own way.

So how does that relate to road driving and those seductive adverts?

Quite simply, almost every mainstream car produced since the mid 60s has more than enough performance for normal road conditions. Especially if you intend to pay at least lip service to the law! They can all keep up with other traffic, whether or not their drivers choose to, and they can all corner fast enough to spin off into the bushes.

But, to average (say) 50mph over 100 miles of A road in an Austin Alll-aggro takes far more concentration and far more skill than it does in a 5 series. If you have any concept of safety, most roads are limited by visibility and other users rather than the car's absolute limits but, for the same speeds, the Allegro will be much closer to its limits and much more of a challenge than the BMW.


In summary, anyone can drive a fast car well within its limits - which it will always be if you're driving reasonably safely on the public road. Real skill is driving a slower car at the same speed. Because of that, all the "ultimate driving delusion" does on real roads in real life is cover for the mistakes of the inept - giving a deluded illusion that you're better than you really are

Feel free to discuss.....







* Ok, they're also quite nice places to be, but that's an entirely separate discussion from driver skill

It does bemuse me that they describe their product as "the ultimate driving machine", when 90% of what they sell are probably 2.0 litre diesels.

That said, they do tend to drive better than most of their rivals and with the right spec, are a nice place to be.

I dont think anyone really believes the "ultimate driving machine" tag line, its just their advertising gimmick.

jimjames

I found the offset pedals to be very uncomfortable. Maybe I'd have got used to them but ultimate uncomfortable driving machine doesn't have much appeal.

force_ten

BMW,s are cool because you can do this

http://youtu.be/BMW M6

Ebe_Scrooge

force_ten wrote: »

BMW,s are cool because you can do this

http://youtu.be/BMW M6

But can BMW drivers learn how to use indicators ? Or is that part of the special "advanced driving" course ?

Iceweasel

Well Joe, you lost me in the first paragraph.

I've never seen a BMW ad that said anything about - "perfect Teutonic engineering elevating our driving abilities"

Anyone who expects that is going to be disappointed.

I've been driving BMWs since 1982 - sometimes it feels like I've doing it non-stop -

I have also owned several other makes but the BMWs make me smile as soon as I start the engine.

Great enjoyment - which is what driving should be about - if you only want a car to get from A to B and nothing more - get a Toyota.

As for some of the antics drivers get up to - BMW drivers are no better and no worse than drivers of any other marque.

R Soles can drive any car.

Richard53

It's not hard to read, really. 644 words, takes what, a minute to read?


And saying "I haven't read this, but I am going to respond anyway" isn't very helpful to anyone.


But I totally get the 'driving machine' thing. I have been tooling around recently in an MX-5 and every mile has been a hoot. Not a fast car by any means, but it's a 'driving machine' in a way that it is not a shopping trolley, school bus, mobile office or love nest.

force_ten

Iceweasel wrote: »

As for some of the antics drivers get up to - BMW drivers are no better and no worse than drivers of any other marque.

R Soles can drive any car.

but sadly bmw drivers seem to cop most of the flack closely followed by Audi drivers, some people just love to hate BMW drivers

TrickyWicky

BMW? well apart from the badge, what really is there to them?

I know a french model that is better than many of them - i should know, i had a beemer driver in one once and he was utterly gutted at how rubbish his babe magnet was compared to it.