I think the E65 7-series will be a classic

[sportyaccordy]

The E32 is long forgotten...

The E38 is good but kind of was what was expected

The E65 was a polarizing design. New technology, new engines (V8 & V12s), a big risk as the flagship of the company and the benchmark of the new design direction.

Not to mention, it has such road presence. Everytime I see one w/the sport package I fall in love again. My only beef is they are getting slammed in the brown hole by depreciation, putting them in the hands of possibly unscrupulous owners (i.e. I might be able to buy one soon lmaooooooo).

What do you guys think?

[Payman]

Audi S8 W12.

[CALL_911]

Audi S8 W12.

It's a V10.

[Eye of the Tiger]

It's a V10.

Which would make an Audi S8 W12 a real collector's item. 

[Payman]

It's a V10.

Oh. I want the W12.

[Payman]

The E32 and E35's are the only 7'ers I like and wouldn't mind owning.

[the Teuton]

I think the E65 was a step up in many departments (poise, features, technology, ride), but it was a step down in some departments, too (handling feel, feel of size, styling, plastics quality).

I think it will be a forgotten BMW much like the first gen 3 Series.

[sportyaccordy]

I think the E65 was a step up in many departments (poise, features, technology, ride), but it was a step down in some departments, too (handling feel, feel of size, styling, plastics quality).

I think it will be a forgotten BMW much like the first gen 3 Series.

No freaking way. It is the Acura Legend of the 2000's.

[CALL_911]

I think the E65 was a step up in many departments (poise, features, technology, ride), but it was a step down in some departments, too (handling feel, feel of size, styling, plastics quality).

I think it will be a forgotten BMW much like the first gen 3 Series.

Hey, I didn't forget the E21!

[MexicoCityM3]

I agree. It took balls to design it like that in & out and like it or not it was copied all over.

Re the Audi: The S8 is as bland as all Audi sedans. One design, three sizes, all front heavy. They suck.

I only respect (a lot) the R8 out of the current lineup. All other Audis could disappear for all I care.

[sportyaccordy]

I agree. It took balls to design it like that in & out and like it or not it was copied all over.

Re the Audi: The S8 is as bland as all Audi sedans. One design, three sizes, all front heavy. They suck.

I only respect (a lot) the R8 out of the current lineup. All other Audis could disappear for all I care.

I agree (sorry saxonyron). The last S-Class was equally sterile and looked too long.

The E60 has grown on me as well. In the context of the current BMW lineup the E60 & 65 actually make sense. Who would have thought LMAO

[Payman]

I agree. It took balls to design it like that in & out and like it or not it was copied all over.

Re the Audi: The S8 is as bland as all Audi sedans. One design, three sizes, all front heavy. They suck.

I only respect (a lot) the R8 out of the current lineup. All other Audis could disappear for all I care.

Funny, aside from the 3 series, I feel exactly the same way about BMWs.

[Raza]

No freaking way. It is the Acura Legend of the 2000's.

Acura Legend? 

Oh right, that car that was an Acura and they called it a Legend.  It was notable for have four wheels, seats, a steering wheel, and doors.  Legendary.  Ha!  No wonder.  I have posters of it on my wall.  Every month, there are Acura Legend fan club meetings in my area.  A bunch of guys getting together to check out each others' Legends, and they talk about politics and stuff like that. 

[Raza]

I agree. It took balls to design it like that in & out and like it or not it was copied all over.

Re the Audi: The S8 is as bland as all Audi sedans. One design, three sizes, all front heavy. They suck.

I only respect (a lot) the R8 out of the current lineup. All other Audis could disappear for all I care.

See, you only say they're bland because you're used to cars being so ugly that no one wants to make a car that looks like it.  You've forgotten what a good looking, cleanly designed car is.  Now ugly is distinctive, and therefore brands aspire to being as ugly as possible. 

[the Teuton]

Hey, I didn't forget the E21!

You, Charlie, and who else?

[CALL_911]

You, Charlie, and who else?

You!

[the Teuton]

You!

(Yes, I really, really want one)

[Payman]

Well, the Edsel is considered a classic... so why not.

[Raza]

(Yes, I really, really want one)

I was looking them up the other day.  Nice cars, but it's easy to see why they were so forgotten.  After the 2002 and before the M3, it's not really notable for any reason other than being first.

Of course the E65 will be remembered; for what, though, is the question.  Remembered as the car that started a revolution in BMW?  Or the car that sent them careening into a dark time where, while sales were high, the cars were so horribly ugly and overcomplicated that no one who didn't buy one understood why anyone did?

[2o6]

I was looking them up the other day.  Nice cars, but it's easy to see why they were so forgotten.  After the 2002 and before the M3, it's not really notable for any reason other than being first.

Of course the E65 will be remembered; for what, though, is the question.  Remembered as the car that started a revolution in BMW?  Or the car that sent them careening into a dark time where, while sales were high, the cars were so horribly ugly and overcomplicated that no one who didn't buy one understood why anyone did?

It pushed other manufacturers to take more daring designs. Befor the E65, every luxury car was boring.

[BimmerM3]

It pushed other manufacturers to take more daring designs. Befor the E65, every luxury car was boring attractive.

[2o6]

I think it's boring. Granted, they were well proportioned, and ok to look at, but it was so inoffensive. I love the new BMW. It's "in your face".

[Raza]

Thank you.

Yes, the E65 was an influential design, but only because luxury manufacturers are lemmings.  They even copied iDrive, the worst invention to hit cars since....ever.  "Why press a button that I can press without looking at while I'm driving to change a setting when I can go through countless submenus with a 10 cent shitty piece of plastic that won't click on what I want it to click on?  This is brilliant!  Oh wait, I don't remember my car looking like it was wrapped around a telephone pole.  It looked a little dented on the sides, sure, but why am I bleeding?"

[the Teuton]

When I think of a modern lux car, I think of being wafted away at high speeds without a sound from the outside.  I think of a glass-smooth ride, a stereo that never makes me long to go to a live concert, and enough toys to keep me entertained.

The E65/6 fits the bill for all of those, but the pre-redesigned version is downright ugly.  Having taken a 760Li on a really short jaunt two times, I will say the car is excellent.  But I don't think it was worth the extra $40k over the V8 model.  It was also ugly as hell in its first form.  And those kinds of lux cars are not what you buy if you want to be noticed.

[Raza]

I think it's boring. Granted, they were well proportioned, and ok to look at, but it was so inoffensive. I love the new BMW. It's "in your face".

See, here's the problem, and it's not just you, although you seem to be affected the most.  Ugly is not good.  Ugly is not interesting.  Ugly is not exciting.  Ugly can be distinctive.  Ugly can be in your face.  But that's not good.  Ugly is ugly, plain and simple, no matter how much you look at it.  People can't turn away from car wrecks either, but that doesn't make them attractive.

Let's say that in a crowd there are two women.  One is shockingly beautiful, the other is Morlock-like in her hideousness.  You'll notice both.  That doesn't make them equal. 

[Raza]

When I think of a modern lux car, I think of being wafted away at high speeds without a sound from the outside.  I think of a glass-smooth ride, a stereo that never makes me long to go to a live concert, and enough toys to keep me entertained.

The E65/6 fits the bill for all of those, but the pre-redesigned version is downright ugly.  Having taken a 760Li on a really short jaunt two times, I will say the car is excellent.  But I don't think it was worth the extra $40k over the V8 model.  It was also ugly as hell in its first form.  And those kinds of lux cars are not what you buy if you want to be noticed.

The E65 has a glass smooth ride?  Do you actually live on glass?  Because on roads it rides like shit. 

[the Teuton]

The E65 has a glass smooth ride?  Do you actually live on glass?  Because on roads it rides like shit. 

I have driven the A8 L 4.2 and the 7er in both wheelbases and engines.  I didn't think it was that bad at all.

[2o6]

Thank you.

Yes, the E65 was an influential design, but only because luxury manufacturers are lemmings.  They even copied iDrive, the worst invention to hit cars since....ever.  "Why press a button that I can press without looking at while I'm driving to change a setting when I can go through countless submenus with a 10 cent shitty piece of plastic that won't click on what I want it to click on?  This is brilliant!  Oh wait, I don't remember my car looking like it was wrapped around a telephone pole.  It looked a little dented on the sides, sure, but why am I bleeding?"

One: I didn't say it was a beautiful car. I do like elements off of it, but overall the entire package is a bit homely.

However, I applaud BMW for evolving. The number one reason that car companies (any company, really) fail because they don't adapt their product to their changing clientele. It's the reason that MG is dead, and why GM and Chrysler is in the situation they're in. BMW's clientele changed, the conservative older folks that bought them are replaced with more outgoing, loud and vicarious young people (similar to myself), young people that want to stand out.

[sportyaccordy]

I will go as far as to say the pre-facelift version is beautiful. Best colors are white, navy blue and black. Of course it has to be the SWB version. The taillight arrangement, the absolutely perfect proportions, the way it looks smaller than it actually is... I can't think of a better looking fullsize luxury sedan, Quattroporte included.

And I don't have much experience with luxury cars, but the few times I rode in it I definitely felt coddled. IDrive wasn't awful but I do wish there were just a normal radio interface. Other than that it was decent... don't see what the big deal is.

[NomisR]

What they need to do is to make a M version of the 7 series.