Re: BMW: Real-world performance failure (boring) (archive)

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: Acceleration is the most significant real-world performance statistic in American driving conditions. 75% of all driving is done between stoplights in straight lines, with speed limits of 30-50 mph.

This is a slightly ridiculous logical leap. Because (you claim, anyway) 75% of all driving is done between stoplights, then acceleration is the "the only relevant real-world performance statistic"?

: In the overwhelming majority of driving conditions, a better performing vehicle (in real-world terms (ie, acceleration)) is available for less money.

Why don't you just say: a faster accelerating vehicle is available for less money? See, you're making that leap again. You can repeat your statistics and claim acceleration==performance (real-world or otherwise (though I'm only aware of one world that we all share)), but that doesn't make it anymore logical or true for that matter. The amount of time drivers spend in suburban or city traffic has nothing to do with a cars performance.

Of course you're entitled to your opinion. But the rest of us are going to enjoy the superior performance of our cars long after you stop trolling our message board.

: "So the whole point of this long-winded post is to say that BMWs are not the best accelerating cars in their classes?" you say. No, that's only the support for my point. My point is that acceleration is really the only relevant real-world performance statistic.

Why don't you say: in my opinion acceleration is the only real world performance statistic? You've yet to prove by any reasonable argument that it's a fact. Do you really think that people who drive performance cars spend all their timing hammering from light to light? Oh, I forgot - you're a 'vette owner...

: All of which raises a second observation: "Why do you care?" I care because I work in advertising...

Why doesn't this surprise me? If we've all been duped, you should be glad! That means you have job security, duping the rest of the populace into buying whatever it is you help sell that they don't need...

:In commercials, most models are shown screeming [sic] through tight turns in a mountainous country side. I can't imagine that BMW owners get such an opportunity more than a few times a year.

Your imagination has nothing to do with reality, and the reality is you don't know how BMW owners drive their cars (neither do I). For me, the description fits a majority of the time I drive the car, because I take all the cool back roads around here to get where I want to go, and I only drive when I want to - the rest of the time I'm on my bike.

: A lot of people have bought into the BMW "mystique" ...[t]he majority of them will barely explore the road-course abilities of their vehicles.

Where are your statistics to back this statement up? I could say the same thing about the majority of C5 owners, and it would ring just as true.

From leap of logic to dull imaginings to un-researched conjecture culminating in a generalized insult. Nice work! Your advertising experience shows!

: I think the majority of BMW owners here would like to distance themselves from the popular image of the BMW owner, and for that I support them.

You can start by stopping your own stereotyping of BMW owners. How's that sound? Stop insulting us while you're at it.

: Where I differ from other participants here is in their view that their BMW is a superior performance machine because of its road-course manners. I think I've made clear that most of what makes a BMW special and unique is put to no good use on American roads.

You've made clear that you believe "most of what makes a BMW special and unique is put to no good use on American roads", and you've erroneously concluded that since you believe it, it's true.

: For that reason, I use my C5 as my daily driver and use my 540i for the occasional times I need 4 doors.

So, you're one of the suckers? By your own arguments your BMW is just for image... and expensive too!

I will accept your myopic performance criteria long enough to agree that the C5 meets it (thank goodness the other criteria don't matter in this case ;-).

: I hope you understand that your BMW (with very few exceptions) is not a real-world performance car.

I hope you understand that this is a silly generalization, and inflammatory as well. I'm glad I don't live in your "real" world!

: "You're inconsistent. You say BMWs are better all-around than their competitors, but also say that most owners buy them for their image and that they are poorly-performing cars." (that's not being inconsistent, and I wouldn't call them poorly-performing either)

Why do you own a 540i? Oh, I see it's on your exceptions list... so not all BMWs experience "real-world performance failure"? Then why this whole bloody long post? 5 BMW models are apparently exceptions to your "rule" - that's a pretty large % of the model line... how many Toyotas experience your so-called "real world performance failure"? How many Nissans? How many Chevies? How many... you get the picture.

: "You have no life" (don't we all have interests that seem frivolous to others?)

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