[CFoote]

I totally agree that the mid/late 90s was really the pinnacle for BMW, with the exception of the Z4 which lasted until 2006... it is really sad to see things change - I still have a '00 M5 which I will never get rid of for this purpose - the car is just too good, and even then some would say its isolated compared to its predecessors...

The news cars are nice, but you guys are right, too much like an appliance. If you think about it, what is differentiating the 3 series from a Toyota Camry now? You can get all the bells and whistles (including a fake leather dashboard!) in a Camry now. The general public says, "Who cares other than the badge?"...other than the roundel on the hood and some styling cues, there really isn't much to differentiate the cars anymore.

The allure of technology is a temporary one....as someone who has a 10 year old NAV system in their car, yes it still works, yes it still gets you from point A to B....but it looks dated. 10 years from now the current generation of cars will look outdated in terms of tech.

....and what was BMW thinking with the NAV screen sticking out of the dash? Awkward...

BMW will tell you the 2 series is really what enthusiasts desire now....but some of us still want a larger car with just the basics. We won't ever get that, not these days anyway.

Chris