BMW 3 Series GT revealed

[Beeblebrox237]

Well, styling is subjective, there are plenty of people that don't like the hearse like look of a wagon, and Americans never seem to have gone a bundle on the wagon style either. As far as practicality goes, the 3GT is built on the LWB 3 platform, meaning it's more spacious inside than the F31 tourer, so it really depends on what you call practical; load lugging, go for a tourer. But, if you want more space for yourself and your passengers then the tourer is no better than the Saloon, and that's where the GT comes in.

I agree, styling is very subjective. What I said was my opinion, not yours.

Also, I can see the desire for more space, but I feel that if space is so important to you, then you should be looking at larger vehicles like the 5 series, E-Class, etc. or fun midsize cares like the MAzda6 and VW Passat. However, I can completely see why someone would buy the GT based on space and ignoring weight and appearance.

The US does get a bum-deal with some of the more exciting BMW's, but BMW still make plenty of cars for the enthusiast, and they do appear to more driver focused than the respective AMG offerings, which mostly seem to be about destroying tyres and making Jeremy Clarkson say "POOWEEEER". What does Mercedes offer the enthusiast that BMW doesn't?

Well, in a recent comparison test, Motor Trend said that the Mercedes-Benz C350 was more fun to drive than the 335i, because of its chassis, despite the 335i's amazing engine.

Also, despite the childish nature of them, AMG cars always seem to be fun, while the new M5 is more isolated than most of the cars it competes with. It's great as a fast, long distance car, but not so good on a twisty mountain road. Generally, I think that the C-Class offers more precise handling, while the AMG range offers fun and power, without the isolation of the new BMWs, though with less finesse.

 

[Nessy]

I honestly can't decide whether i like it or not... i don't mind the fastback styling, but the front end styling doesn't sit easily with me. Maybe it will be a grower.

 

[E28]

Well, in a recent comparison test, Motor Trend said that the Mercedes-Benz C350 was more fun to drive than the 335i, because of its chassis, despite the 335i's amazing engine.

Also, despite the childish nature of them, AMG cars always seem to be fun, while the new M5 is more isolated than most of the cars it competes with. It's great as a fast, long distance car, but not so good on a twisty mountain road. Generally, I think that the C-Class offers more precise handling, while the AMG range offers fun and power, without the isolation of the new BMWs, though with less finesse.

Really? Every other review I've seen has said the 3-Series has the best handling in it's class.

 

[MatskiMonk]

Well it's here..

lots more pics and specs at Bimmerpost http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=799040

I actually really like it, the front end is better than either the F30 3er or F10 5er IMO. And the back end works a lot better than the 5GT.

It's out of my range, but I'd definately consider one over either the Saloon or Tourer.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

Meh, I still don't like the styling.

 

[BKGlover]

What's the point? That extended roofline doesn't serve any function to my eye, and I also don't see a trunk either. Is there just a solid shelf under the hatch? It's like they took the X6 body and dropped it on the 3's Chassis.

 

[homeforsummer]

Struggling to get interested in it.

Not overly keen on the looks, though it's an improvement on the 5GT or the X6 as far as bulbous hatchbacked BMWs go. I expect it doesn't cost greatly more to produce than a normal 3er for BMW and it fills a niche, so the business case for it is easy to make.

No appeal for me though. In honesty, the regular F30 doesn't really appeal to me either at the moment, nor the 5 series. I'd prefer an E90, really. Or the current C-Class.

 

[Famine]

Imagine the Ssangyong Rodius. Imagine someone took the bodywork containing the rearmost windows out.

Bam. 3GT.

 

[RocZX]

I hate the look of the "GT" trim on the 5 series and also now on the 3, it just looks ugly. It reminds me of the Chevy Malibu Maxx....

The wagon (Touring) looks 1000 times better and is more practical.

 

[MatskiMonk]

What's the point? That extended roofline doesn't serve any function to my eye, and I also don't see a trunk either. Is there just a solid shelf under the hatch? It's like they took the X6 body and dropped it on the 3's Chassis.

The wagon (Touring) looks 1000 times better and is more practical.

The hatch in the GT offers a larger aperture than the hatch in the touring, and the boot/trunk capacity is higher than the touring. The rear shelf is both split and removable. The rear seat backrests are tilt adjustable also.

Also, the rear seats offer an additional 70mm of legroom compared to the tourer, and the cabin is more spacious in virtually every way. Even rear headroom is increased despite the 'swooping' roofline (more so over the saloon, but only 1mm over the tourer).

Seriously people, the touring shouldn't automatically get a free pass as the most practical 3-er. Be open to the possibilities!!


This message is sponsored by the un-official BMW GT Internet defence league

 

[Joey D]

BMW's designers just keep putting out some of the worse looking cars I've seen in a long time. I don't see much of point to a less useful wagon but there will be people out there that will buy it solely because it has a BMW badge on it.

I think BMW's gotten weak in terms of cars they're making and they are extremely boring now. I'm sure they are engineered well, but I just can't get excited by any of their stuff. When it comes to German cars I think Mercedes has it down in terms of car that actually have style and substance. Audi and VW are equally as boring as BMW, if not more so.

 

[MatskiMonk]

BMW's designers just keep putting out some of the worse looking cars I've seen in a long time. I don't see much of point to a less useful wagon but there will be people out there that will buy it solely because it has a BMW badge on it.

Again...

The hatch in the GT offers a larger aperture than the hatch in the touring, and the boot/trunk capacity is higher than the touring. The rear shelf is both split and removable. The rear seat backrests are tilt adjustable also.

Also, the rear seats offer an additional 70mm of legroom compared to the tourer, and the cabin is more spacious in virtually every way. Even rear headroom is increased despite the 'swooping' roofline (more so over the saloon, but only 1mm over the tourer).

The GT is less useful?

 

[homeforsummer]

When it comes to German cars I think Mercedes has it down in terms of car that actually have style and substance.

I'm with you on that one.

In the past, it's varied. The 80s was awesome for both marques. BMW ruled throughout the 90s while Mercedes was pissing about making poorly-made cars and A-Classes that toppled over, but over the last five years or so Mercedes has started to hold more appeal.

A few of them are a bit grotesque (and I mean that in the literal sense, in that some are a little flamboyantly overstyled), but some work very well indeed. The C-Class models are probably the best examples of how a modern Merc should look (elegant, restrained, but modern), but the CLA, CLS shooting brake and a few others all work well too.

Plus, I currently prefer Merc cabins to BMW ones. Current BMW innards have neither the clean-cut look they had under Bangle, nor the properly driver-focused look they did beforehand.

As for Audi, they don't really get a look-in for me. The TT can pass, the rest I'd leave.

Lovely cabins though. Spoiled slightly by everyone giving you the finger as you pass.

Edit: Matski - we geddit, you like the 3GT (& BMWs in general). Whether or not it's more practical than the wagon, you can probably accept that many here simply don't like it as much...

 

[Joey D]

Again...

The GT is less useful?

I guess I should have said looks like a less useful wagon. I haven't seen one in person so I don't know nor have I seem any specs on it.

 

[MatskiMonk]

Edit: Matski - we geddit, you like the 3GT (& BMWs in general). Whether or not it's more practical than the wagon, you can probably accept that many here simply don't like it as much...

Totally accept that,.. and as you'll see I'm not arguing with anybody over the styling, if people think it (or any other BMW) is ugly I've got no argument with that. I happen to quite like the way it (3GT) looks, and since looking at a CPO 5GT last year, I'm really sold on the concept too. I also don't mind if people don't need it, that's fine, people have different needs. I just want people to look at it a bit more objectively, rather than just having a knee-jerk reaction to something a little different - and supporting their jumped-to conclusions with incorrect statements.

I'm a BMW fan(boy) obviously, but I'll admit they make cars that I find ugly (X1 I'm looking at you), and they make cars that I could claim are pointless (ANY CONVERTIBLE)... but I just happen to really like the GT's.

 

[terminator363]

I never understood why the 3 Series was given a new front but retained it's old back. It just seems off.

 

[Prince.M5]

Is there a purpose? In my opinion, there is - for those who want something different. BMW might have some hard time selling this thing, much like the 5-Series GT. In Malaysia at least, less than 10 5-Series GT were sold and I've only seen 2 on the road so far.