f********m
发帖数: 8397 | 1 http://www.bmwblog.com/2011/12/21/opposite-lock-my-next-bmw/
I’ll be the first to admit that my opinions, tastes and preferences
represent a minority of the driving community. As a purist that favors
connectedness over comfort and dynamics over, well… efficient dynamics, I
find myself sitting among an ever shrinking crowd of enthusiasts. To borrow
a line from Jack Johnson: “where’d all the good [drivers] go?”
While it’s true that my tastes have softened somewhat, I’d still delete
many luxury features to save weight, and take curbs at offensively slow
speeds thanks to a suspension on the stiff side of town. I’ve taught
several friends how to drive manual and all of them have come away with a
smile and second thoughts of buying another automatic. BMW’s DCT has
incrementally improved, but it’s still no where near Porsche’s PDK, so
while the 7 speed DCT suits certain cars very well (namely the new M5), I
would still ditch it for a raw, hands on manual.
Please don’t be offended by my efficient dynamics comment; I do appreciate
efficiency, and protecting the environment as well as our lungs. Further,
high efficiency and low emissions are a testiment to engineering competence
– it’s no easy feat to extract huge power with low pollution. To that end,
I’m willing to compromise on a naturally aspirated engine with a highly
responsive turbo.
One thing I will never, ever compromise on however, is steering feel. If
driving is your art, and the racetrack or back road is your canvas, then the
contact patches are your eyes. Blurring your vision of what the tires are
doing with numb steering feel and feedback is like forcing bottle-cap
glasses on an artist. The painting will become somewhat “abstract”… and
so will your driving. Both art forms may involve strangely shaped trees. It
’s no laughing matter.
Not only is it imperative to performance driving that a car offer up precise
steering input and feedback, but such connectedness with the road surface
is a core element of driving pleasure. To illustrate it another way, driving
a new BMW with electric power steering is a bit like having sex wearing a
condom. It’s still a great time, but you’re missing that intimacy that
makes it spectacular. Sorry to all our underage readers. Ask mom and dad for
an explanation.
With the above in mind, I’ve had an exceedingly difficult time determining
which BMW I would buy from the current lineup. The current M3 is too heavy.
The new F30 3 series is lacking in steering feel. The F10 5 series is also
lacking in steering feel. The M5 is a smidgen out of my price range. The Z4
understeers like the Titanic and we all know how that story ended (Jack and
Kate floating on a door). Ahh! The new F20 1 series. Strangely it shares
electric power steering tech with the other soulless racks, yet it delivers
much better road feel through the wheel. The new 1 series is fun, light and
dynamic. It’s also mean and muscular to look at in the flesh – don’t let
the photos mislead you. Let’s not forget that it’s reasonably priced, fuel
efficient and practical. It’s now large enough to eclipse at least the
first two generations of the 3 series, so space shouldn’t be an issue, and
no matter if you’re tall. If you’re still not sold on its looks, stick
around for the new coupe. My bet is that it will be a sharp looking machine.
Of course, while the new F20 1 series features the best steering feel I’ve
experienced yet among the new EPS (Electric Power Steering) systems (I’ve
yet to drive the new Porsche 911), it’s still a touch numb and muted for my
taste. I want it raw, from the road surface to my finger tips. I want to
feel every pebble, tar line, crack and crevice, degree of camber and grain
of sand. Bring on full-bore steering feel. If you need a benchmark, BMW, try
pulling an E36 or E30 out for a spin. Or a 2002 for that matter. Driving
one of these machines back to back with any new EPS equipped car will
quickly bring you back to ground-zero of steering feel and communication.
And I’m sorry, but luxury need not trump steering feel, I site the Alpina
B7 as a prime example.
For this reason, I am convinced that hence forth I will forever be an M car
driver, and/or vintage BMW driver. I’m quite certain that the only BMWs of
the future to provide the same guttural feeling and scalpel-in-hand driving
precision of past generations will be M cars. Perhaps someday BMW will sort
EPS to the point that it no longer stands as a roadblock to contact patch
clarity. But until that day, I feel forced to the M division – hardly a
punishment, mind you.
If I’m completely honest, it’s not just the steering feel that has been
muted and softened on modern BMWs. The suspension calibration is a touch
less sporty across the board. More than ever, driving dynamics are trending
toward comfort more than sport. Can somebody take the reigns and enforce
some measure of soul control? There is more behind the roundel than a
powerful engine. The online pundits will argue that these developments are
all for profitability – and there is some truth in that – but at the end
of the day, BMW must respect the foundation they were built upon: dynamics
and driving pleasure. To remain profitable and attractive to current owners,
enthusiasts and conquest buyers, they must offer genuine BMW products in
their dealerships. If their cars trend too closely toward Lexus or Mercedes,
they will only be giving sales away to both of these brands. Frankly, no
one can beat Mercedes at their game anyway, they are awfully good at
building comfortable luxury cars. BMW’s nieche is one of performance,
passion, and modern design. I pray that the brand will find its way. Even
their own designers and engineers (off the record and in a hushed voice)
lament the direction the brand is heading. I’ve been privy to these hushed
voices.
I recently heard in an exchange of words that BMW corporate told BMW Club
Canada (a performance driving club not far off BMW CCA in intention and
spirit) that they could not offer full support to the club because they’re
now focusing on efficient dynamics instead of motorsport, performance
driving and dynamics. How sad. Somebody throw this company a life vest
before they drown in a pile of money.
I’m at least a year away from a new vehicle purchase and while my next two-
wheeled machine is dead in the cross-hairs – BMW’s K1300S – I’ve yet to
nail down my next four-wheeled steed. All signs point towards the next M3. I
expect M to put it on a diet, add power, and retain the same brilliant
steering feel that has made BMW an icon through time and around the world. | d******g
发帖数: 6966 | 2 我不同意"BMW’s DCT has incrementally improved, but it’s still no where
near Porsche’s PDK"
我对比过m3/135i上的dct和2011 carrera s上的pdk, 我觉得水准一样高 | D*****I
发帖数: 8268 | 3 主要买家还是喜欢那种soft 感觉的吧。。
反正渐渐大妈化了。。
borrow
【在 f********m 的大作中提到】
: http://www.bmwblog.com/2011/12/21/opposite-lock-my-next-bmw/
: I’ll be the first to admit that my opinions, tastes and preferences
: represent a minority of the driving community. As a purist that favors
: connectedness over comfort and dynamics over, well… efficient dynamics, I
: find myself sitting among an ever shrinking crowd of enthusiasts. To borrow
: a line from Jack Johnson: “where’d all the good [drivers] go?”
: While it’s true that my tastes have softened somewhat, I’d still delete
: many luxury features to save weight, and take curbs at offensively slow
: speeds thanks to a suspension on the stiff side of town. I’ve taught
: several friends how to drive manual and all of them have come away with a
| c*********r
发帖数: 19468 | 4 不过至少有一点是肯定的，PDK在LC方面做得好很多，所有车型PDK版都比手动1/4快很多
但BMW家的DCT就很少比手动更快了
【在 d******g 的大作中提到】
: 我不同意"BMW’s DCT has incrementally improved, but it’s still no where
: near Porsche’s PDK"
: 我对比过m3/135i上的dct和2011 carrera s上的pdk, 我觉得水准一样高
| d******g
发帖数: 6966 | 5 恩的确bmw dct的lc是有点恶搞...其实就是3.5k rpm然后突然放离合器...跑上来响胎响半天
很多
【在 c*********r 的大作中提到】
: 不过至少有一点是肯定的，PDK在LC方面做得好很多，所有车型PDK版都比手动1/4快很多
: 但BMW家的DCT就很少比手动更快了
| c*******a
发帖数: 203 | 6 不知道有没有一些专业评测和比较以下这几个DSG的？
Porsche PDK
BMW DCT
Audi S-Tronic
Mercedes AMG Multitronic
M3 0-60手动4.7秒，DCT只有4.5秒，好像提高一些。 | W*******2
发帖数: 1460 | 7 对比自己开过的车。。。15年前的dfbb，1996 Accord 转向感觉很好，有指哪打哪的感
觉，到现在都很喜欢。不过弱问一句，这种感觉是不是也包括路面颠簸方向盘也一起震
动？
PS。我现在家里07 Altima还是hydraulic，10 VW CC是electric，我怎么没有觉得
Altima比CC转向更清晰。。。。 | f********m
发帖数: 8397 | 8 i love the handling of 89 Camry
【在 W*******2 的大作中提到】
: 对比自己开过的车。。。15年前的dfbb，1996 Accord 转向感觉很好，有指哪打哪的感
: 觉，到现在都很喜欢。不过弱问一句，这种感觉是不是也包括路面颠簸方向盘也一起震
: 动？
: PS。我现在家里07 Altima还是hydraulic，10 VW CC是electric，我怎么没有觉得
: Altima比CC转向更清晰。。。。
| D*****I
发帖数: 8268 | 9 insideline上面的long term test也在抱怨现在的bmw一定要放到sport mode才会有点
感觉
问题是那个sport mode每次熄火之后都会重置。。没有记忆功能
borrow
【在 f********m 的大作中提到】
: http://www.bmwblog.com/2011/12/21/opposite-lock-my-next-bmw/
: I’ll be the first to admit that my opinions, tastes and preferences
: represent a minority of the driving community. As a purist that favors
: connectedness over comfort and dynamics over, well… efficient dynamics, I
: find myself sitting among an ever shrinking crowd of enthusiasts. To borrow
: a line from Jack Johnson: “where’d all the good [drivers] go?”
: While it’s true that my tastes have softened somewhat, I’d still delete
: many luxury features to save weight, and take curbs at offensively slow
: speeds thanks to a suspension on the stiff side of town. I’ve taught
: several friends how to drive manual and all of them have come away with a
|
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