Confidential - All Comments

re: Where's BMW'S R8?

srvracing — Wed, 14 May 2008 03:28:01 GMT

Where's BMW's R8? Chas, you only need to see the topic of Ruberts blog - which sits directly beneath this entry in the list incidently - to know the answer to that one.

M1 Homage perhaps? God, I hope not.

re: New 9-5 can't come soon enough

Quattro369 — Tue, 13 May 2008 23:07:00 GMT

I agree that the current SAAB 'updates' are on the wrong side of tacky. If the new Vectra is anything to go by then it will be no bad thing for the next 9-5 and 9-3 to be based on it. Especially as they should be even more 'Premium' than the humble Vectra. 4 wheel drive and much improved build quality and handling are just what the SAAB saloons need

re: New 9-5 can't come soon enough

ordinary bloke — Tue, 13 May 2008 22:53:22 GMT

It would be good to see a decent stylish SAAB back on the roads, I cannot imagine that anyone thinks the current range has not had their looks ruined by the last round of styling tweaks.

I fondly remember a SAAB 9000S that I bought after losing a company car when I changed jobs in the early 1990s, it was just so comfy and I still miss the fabulous heated leather seats on cold mornings.

re: Baby Ferrari's long gestation

NiallOswald — Tue, 13 May 2008 20:15:01 GMT

Now there's a project for someone with a bit of time on their hands - correlation between magazine front cover 'scoops' and actual cars...

re: Baby Ferrari's long gestation

phillio3 — Tue, 13 May 2008 17:24:03 GMT

Makes a change that you got it right. Says something when you have to boast of the fact through a blog.

re: New 9-5 can't come soon enough

N P — Tue, 13 May 2008 13:58:47 GMT

I'm sure the new 9-5 will remain a relatively leftfield, small-volume choice, but it's essential for Saab to finally have some competitive product in this market again. People forget what a fine car the 9000 was in its day.

All they have to do is retain that unique Saab blend in a modern package - lots of space and standard spec, huge boot, mega-comfortable seats, turbo torque. It will sell, as long as they haven't completely Scorpioed the styling and don't get over-ambitious on pricing.

re: Nissan GT-R: cheap at twice the price

barina — Fri, 09 May 2008 08:35:56 GMT

Not in white thanks, and DEFINITELY not in silver, but wouldnt you just buy one to stick it up Porsche 911's. No, given the cash, I'd buy one because it comes closer to 'difinitive' that anything I've ever seen. Maybe except the McLaren F.1.

Have a girlfriend who privately imported a Nissan Skyline GT350. It's nothing like the 350Z, more like a mini Maxima face, but has the same motor. I got to chase her down a major arterial in Sydney, in her almost perfect unmolested 69K R.32 Bathhurst winning model GT-R. After reading a local comparo between the R32, R33, R34, and the R35, it put 'awesome' into perspective for the R32. She'll be flat out getting AU$20,000, [about 8,300 of your Pounds] for it though. Is that over the odds in the UK? I'm surprised they are so scarce. Having enthusiastically driven this GT350, the new GT-R would have to be the adrenalin rush of the year.

We have had the same mutterings from Nissan in Oz about grey imports, and whether they have a bat in the cupboard, and how big it is, remains to be seen. There are at least 6 new Godzilla's in Oz right now.

You may well complain about the in-yer-face gouging with the price of the GT-R in the UK. In Oz, some simple conversions reveals it will cost the equivalant of UKPounds 66,000. Must be because we are so bloody far down-under. :-)

re: Where's BMW'S R8?

Quattro369 — Mon, 05 May 2008 09:00:44 GMT

Audi have beaten BMW is respect of the R8 (with a little help from Lambo) but BMW have more than lead the way with much more far reaching innovations; EfficientDynamics, inclusive servicing packages, I-Drive (although i accept MMI is much better) Plus, dont forget how long it took Audi to catch up with BMW in the 4x4 stakes X3 and X5 (The X5 having been out for 6 years before Audi had a rival) These combined are much more significant than a low-volume Halo model.

As for the question "Where is BMW's R8?" Its here;

www.worldcarfans.com/.../bmw-m1-protoype-spied

re: Where's BMW'S R8?

The Colonel — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:39:37 GMT

I had a very good test drive of an R8 last summer, as I was seriously interested in buying one, and it left me cold. I found it to be a sterile driving experience and it felt no more special (not £80k special at least) to me than my wife's A3, and certainly didn't put a smile on my face as my own car does. That said, I actually like the styling, and was pleased that some of the fears I had about detail and quality (from previously seeing it in pictures) were allayed.

Do I want BMW to build an "R8"? Not like that thanks. And do BMW require a "much needed halo status"? Are they having difficulty selling cars right now?

re: Where's BMW'S R8?

tuchel — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:13:29 GMT

I would disagree with some of this article - it's all very subjective. BMW has made one mid-engined sports car, the M1, and they've managed to maintain their image since the car went out of production in 1981 - 27 years ago. Brand diluting cars like the X5 have certainly not helped, I suppose, but the M3's, M5's, and M6's still shine through as performance machines.

Also, note BMW's recent revival of the M1 as a design concept. (covered on this very site! www.autocar.co.uk/.../232486 ) Not a production concept, but it is still nice to see them thinking.

A side note - BMW is running second in the F1 constructors championship right now. (behind only Ferrari, no less!) Surely for such a young team (3rd season in control of Sauber) this shows some insight into their true performance-oriented nature?

re: Where's BMW'S R8?

shomann — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:45:45 GMT

The R8 is a good car no doubt, but it is ugly as sin.

Give me a Corvette, and I'll laugh my way to the bank with the money saved.

re: Where's BMW'S R8?

manicm — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:01:43 GMT

Chris, you're wrong:

The R8 is Audi's masterpiece in more ways than one. First it's a brilliant car. Second it's a huge up-yours to BMW - as you rightly said, the Munich boys have nothing even remotely as accomplished as this. Thirdly, Audi are laughing all the way to the bank, they're actually making money on this car!

So yes it wouldn't hurt Audi to pull this car, but that wouldn't be rock and roll! Ouch BMW, ouch!

re: Where's BMW'S R8?

loather — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:01:14 GMT

Chas, it's Audi's stated aim to become the number one prestige maker, that is eclipse BMW and Mercedes-Benz in sales and profits by 2015 at the latest. They seem to be on their way!

re: Pininfarina's picture looks great

David Harrington-Wright — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:46:28 GMT

Could be interesting news for the Jaguar design team - maybe some will be looking for new jobs before too long.

Also, I wonder what Pininfarina can do with Land Rover - a tarted up Defender 90 with pop up headlamps and scissor doors would not look too well on a farm, but someone in Chelsea would no doubt buy it!!

re: Porsches don't pollute

JJBoxster — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:48:24 GMT

Klaaz, you may be missing the point here. Planet Earth doesn't give a stuff about CO2 levels and never has in 420,000 years.. get it?

So yes "doing nothing" about CO2 (ie. nothing) because nothing is happening (check last 10yrs static temperature) and because you can't do anything (ie. man cannot control temperature) is an eminently wise idea.

Trying to do something aout a whole lot of nothing is a really, really, really dumb idea.

Get it yet Einstein?