: : 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. 20% is done on freeways, which have speeds limited to 70 mph (therefore negating the significance of top speed). The remaining 5% is done on winding roads. For purpose of argument, let's say .1% of driving is done on race courses.

: : Certainly, BMWs excel on winding roads and at race courses, but as I've made clear here, winding roads and race courses compose only a small percentage of all driving conditions. In the overwhelming majority of driving conditions, a better performing vehicle (in real-world terms (ie, acceleration)) is available for less money.

: : None of this is to say that BMWs are bad cars. They're excellent, and in all but a few cases (318, 528, 740, and Z3) are better all-around cars (in my opinion) than their competitors.

: : "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. I'm sure I'll hear from BMW owners here who road race their cars and measure their cars' performance by their lap times. But I point out that the 98% of the time that you're not racing your car, you're accelerating from stop light to stop light. And in those conditions--the preponderance of all moments you and your car spend together--your BMW is a less than "ultimate" driving machine.

: : All of which raises a second observation: "Why do you care?" I care because I work in advertising, and I'm fascinated by how marketing skews consumers' perception of fact and truth. BMW has gone to great lengths to portray their cars as real driver's cars. In commercials, most models are shown screeming 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.

: : A lot of people have bought into the BMW "mystique." And they've paid significantly for it--these are expensive cars. The majority of them will barely explore the road-course abilities of their vehicles. For them, their BMW is a fashion accessory. They could have bought a less expensive vehicle, but they instead chose a car which enhances their image (yes, BMWs are safe, luxurious, and well-built, but the Japanese meet them in all three categories and for less money, so it's image which tips the scales for these owners).

: : That said, from the replies to my original post, I can see that most participants in this forum have a well-grounded appreciation for their BMW. 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.

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

: : I hope you understand that your BMW (with very few exceptions) is not a real-world performance car. Enjoy your BMW for what it is: a very well-built, refined, and balanced road car whose qualities are largely wasted in American driving conditions.

: : If you want to reply, please avoid:
: : "You're an idiot" (or similar term for stupid person)
: : "Go away" (you could have scrolled past my post)
: : "Didn't you claim to own a used 3-series" (that post was a practical joke--I thought most would catch the sarcasm)
: : "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)
: : "You have no life" (don't we all have interests that seem frivolous to others?)

: Slaower and More expensive than their competitors?

: Where's the beef?

: Z3 2.8

: vs.Mercedes SLK....2.8 faster and cheaper
: vs. Porsche Boxter 2.8 depending on where you read 2.8 equal in performance and less expensive
: vs.Honda s2000...slower performance (but who wants a high revving engine at like 8000 rpm)

Where's the beef?

slower and more expensive than their competitors?

Z3 2.8

vs.Mercedes SLK....2.8 faster and cheaper
vs. Porsche Boxter... depending on where you read 2.8 equal in performance and less expensive
vs.Honda s2000...slower performance (but who wants a high revving engine at like 8000 rpm)