BMW sales are HOT

[hiwayman17]

From www.autointell.com (http://www.autointell.com):

Sales of BMW's new 7 Series sedans are especially strong, with year-to-date sales up over 45 percent. October sales reflected an 85 percent increase over the same month last year as the company recorded sales of more than 20,52 7 Series models.

BMW also reported total sales of 734 all-new BMW Z4 roadsters in the five days this model was on the market. The Z4 roadster 2.5i featuring a 2.5 liter, 185-horsepower engine, and the Z4 roadster 3.0i, featuring a 3.0 liter, 225-horsepower powerplant, went on sale October 26 at 340 BMW dealers across the US.

[kazi]

BMW has some attractive lease specials for the 7 series. http://forums.freshalloy.com/ubbthreads/images/icons/grin.gif

[hiwayman17]

There are 2 Z4s on the road in my area and they are f*cking gorgeous. Interestingly enough, both are the same color Maldives Blue Metallic with dark beige tops. What's strange about this is when I go to BMWs site to "build my own", the blue/beige combination is not allowed. Well, on the road this color combo looks great!

I'm still not sure why there is controversy surrounding the design of the Z4...it's a sports car. Sports cars deserve incredible styling. The Z4 is low, wide, and sexy. Just what a sports car should be....plus, it's original, weird and different.

[hiwayman17]

</font><blockquote><font class="small[/img]In reply to:</font><hr />
BMW has some attractive lease specials for the 7 series.

[/QUOTE]

Is BMW the only car company offering special leases and/or financing to sell its cars?

[hiwayman17]

And what's so special about a $933/month lease?

[kazi]

If you are a current lessee of a 7-series with 90 days or less left on your lease term, BMW will waive your last three payments if you re-lease a new generation 7-series car.

BMW has also increase the residual value of the 7 series in the lease agreements in effect lowering lease payments. (article (http://www.autonews.com/news.cms?newsId=2036))

This has helped boost sales for the new 7 series.

[FanaticZ]

its funny, ever since bmw started concentrated on sales goals, i've started liking their cars less and less. i cantstands the z4, i see those bmwfilms on tv and i just wanna puke the car is so ugly.

[warrmax]

I thought that someone posted not to long ago that BMW was having trouble selling the new 7 Series.

Anyway, the back of the 7 Series looks like an old Plymouth Breeze while the front of the Z4 looks like a Buick LeSabre.

[GroovinGTR]

I am surprised the 7 is selling in the USA so well, but just b/c US sales are good, it doesn't mean the car is doing well unless you look at the entire picture. I have heard that global sales for the 7-series are in the shitter, with the USA being the only country stupid enough to buy a car just b/c of the badge on the front no matter how ugly it is (rebadge the Aztek as a Bimmer and the results should be interesting.) I have only heard reports of Europe sales being crappy on initial release, results could have changed. I would prefer to see worldwide reports before I call the 7 a success. If anybody has them I would be eternal grateful!

Anyways the Z4 isn't bad, but altogether an uninspiring car compared to the competition when you can have the 350Z for less w/ more power, the Boxster for just a little bit more, or hell, the dozen of roadsters in this class that look better even after several years on the market. I will wait for the Z5/Z6 (initial reports call it the Z5, but that doesn't fit in BMW's new nomenclature with 2 doors being even #s) - a lot more performance and a much better design.

[hiwayman17]

From all reports I've seen 7 series sales are up worldwide...with the biggest increase in the US.

I'm not sure what all the fuss is over incentives. Comments in this thread make it seem like BMW is the only company in the world offering incentives to buy cars.

I have not drive a new 7 series, but I have been a passenger in one. That car provides one very fine driving experience. If the looks of this car prevent someone from buying it, then they are truly missing out on something great.

And I don't get the criticism of iDrive. Did you know that the Phaeton has nearly 140 buttons on its dashboard??? iDrive is a good thing. I was in the 7 series for nearly three hours and you know what....during that time no one even needed to use iDrive. While I played with it the entire time, there was no urgent need to use it. I mean really...do people have temp adjustment emergencies? It's easy to use.

And yet again I say...BMW is now THE style leader in it's class. Bentley and Mayback have similar trunk styling....Maybach people were quoted as saying that their car has "vertical presence in profile" in regards to the trunk.

[FanaticZ]

i don't have as big of a problem with the exterior of the 7 series. on some cars that i have seen, they have chrome strips running over both sides of the top of the roof which i think is tacky, but it seems to be an option. i don't really like the interior at all though, furniture grade wood doesn't look great to me. i like the marine grade finish http://forums.freshalloy.com/ubbthreads/images/icons/smile.gif with the thick, shiny protective coating.

speedvison had an indepth review of the 7 and it was a capable car, but it was fairly obvious i-drive was useless while driving, thats kinda funny that someone can't use i-drive while driving. they had multiple commands in layers, so no matter how you look at it, its not that great an idea for a car.

its like this, put your hand on your mouse, close your eyes and try and click on the start button and find a particular program. now close your eyes, put your hands on the keyboard and try and find the letter H.

i don't know where c$d counted 140 buttons, maybe they were counting functions in the nav system and backseat buttons too.
http://www.vwvortex.com/news/03_02/03_04/int_front1.jpg
http://www.vwvortex.com/news/10_01/10_11/03.jpg
http://www.vwvortex.com/news/03_02/03_26/int2.jpg

[FanaticZ]

oh and as far as styling, it looks like infiniti came before bmw. i can't find a 2001q45t picture, i recognized the trunk idea in traffic one day because on the t model it has an integrated wing which looks quite similiar to what bmw is so proud of.
http://www.nissannews.com/multimedia/infinitiarchives/q45/800px/2001rear.jpg

[hiwayman17]

But there is some sort of misconception that people are constantly using iDrive while driving and that certainly isn't true unless you're some sort of obsessive-compulsive.