rominl

iTrader: (4)

seriously, what else did they expect from the car... it's been a problem since day 1...

grabber2

Of course, no one want taht fugly car.....I saw few in the city & I just few bad for the poor guys and that they invest $$$$ on a piece of fugly performance car.

CDNROCKIES

I find it interesting that BMW is concerned about this but isn't prepared to answer. Typically they have a vehicle that fits just about any need or configuration.

With the release of the beautiful new A6 Avant to go with the E-wagon, BMW stands to lose most of their customers looking for a wagon to the competition.

mmarshall

If people can just get under the frumpy-looking skin for a moment (and, apparantly, not many are doing so), this is one superb-driving car. Of course, one has to pay for this kind of machine.....it doesn't come cheap. And the dash controls, like most higher-level BMWs, are unnecessarily complex.

CDNROCKIES

I wouldn't necessarily call the looks "frumpy" Mike, but they are definitely polarizing. The problem with that, in this class of car, is that people are not looking to stand out. They are supposed to be about understated luxury.

You are correct that it drives well. I haven't driven the GT but have taken the other F10 5's out. The other problem that the GT faces is, what does it do differently or better than a regular 5? There didn't seem to be anything truly differentiating about it other than the bigger trunk. For $90K (up here) it just doesn't seem worth it, imo.

P.S. I've seen only 2 of them on the road up here, and like the article pointed out, both were being driven by middle aged women.

LexFather

Mike, I didn't think it drove superb at all. It drove like the tall wagon it is, more SUV than sport wagon. Its priced way to high as well. Pluses are the fantastic interior and tons of interior room.

The looks seal its death.

IS-SV

The facts show the sales failure that many here predicted, and published road tests show no edge over far more attractive premium cars in this price range.

RXSF

If we can learn anything from the 5GT and the R class, is that people are not willing to spend 60K on this type of minivan alternative. They would much rather go the full SUV route

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

LMAO. DUH BMW

mmarshall

I knew when I first saw it and reviewed it that its rear-end-styling would probably keep it from selling much (same with the similiarly-shaped Honda Crosstour). But I was impressed with the interior, driving dynamics, and the fact that it seemed to be assembled at the factory more like the quality of a Honda/Acura than with the niggling QC problems one sometimes sees on new BMWs, even right out of the factory.

Slightly off-topic, but one of my neighbors (who is one of our condo-board members) just bought a new black Crosstour with black-alloy wheels....he just loves it. Sold his old FWD Accord to another board member.

IS-SV

Yes, the Crossturd is selling below forecast (nearly 50% of Venza sales), but still at a clip that far exceeds 550GT. A more similar example of an ugly sales disaster is the ZitDX.

Black certainly seems like the best color for these less than attractive vehicles, and the custom black wheels will draw the eyes away from the unshapely body.

dunnojack

knee jerk response- "no duh"

sometimes i wonder if the execs have wonk eye.

almost everyone in the world said it was ugly. The remaining 1% just needed a visit to the optometrist.

bnizzle87

Looks can be deceiving. Yes- it is quite ugly on the outside. The interior, to me, isn't anything spectacular. But it drives quite well. It's that in-betweener that RXSF mentioned, that "minivan alternative." I found it to have adequate room for practically everything you want to throw in it. The power is there, and driving feel is there, but I knew from the get go that this thing wouldn't be a hit. I've even heard some BMW owners bashing this product.

T0ked

iTrader: (2)

I don't know who thought this design was a good idea. Vehicles with this similar design concept (550GT, Crosstour, ZDX) are not meeting sales expectations, falling far short actually. They may be good vehicles, and bargains for what they offer, but we all know that buying a car has some emotional involvement. I know it does for me, especially if I'm going to spend more money. Crosstour = cheaper so even if design is "polarizing" (aka fugly) it will sell. Everytime we see one on the road, my gf and I point and always comment how ugly it is. Yes, I find it that bad.

Fizzboy7

It's the same end result for the last 30 years. Americans do not like cars inbetween a sedan and SUV. They either like a sedan or they like an SUV. Most hatches have failed here and more will continue to.