It's too bad they've clamped down this year. Years past you would have 3-4 locations across the country, with a full, half, or a free session available. Now this year you're stuck with the full day and one location in CA. Wouldn't mind going, but that's quite a bit far to justify.

 

BMW buyers just different than Lexus buyers. Those are my thoughts. BMW is more of lifestyle brand and these driving events have a different mission.

 

The mission is to get people to buy their cars. BMW gave out $1,000 vouchers to all attendees. That aided in tipping us to picking up a new X5 lease the other week.

 

Lexus used to have a lot of free events years ago. I did several, which helped seal my IS purchase.

One lasting impression were laps in the then-new IS-F. I will forever be a fan of large V8's stuffed into smaller sedans thanks to that wild afternoon.

 

The mid 2000's were some good times, right? Today, you have $100k+ cars with floating calipers in the back to cut costs, sick (the current M5 to name one)

 

I will be going to the BMW event on Sunday at MetLife stadium.
As always - these are top notch events put on BMW. The setup and instructors are very good and professional. Always a good time.
Will post my feedback on the new 3.

Lexus used to do amazing events called A Taste of Lexus.
I attended the LS kickoff event 2 years ago i believe and it was an OK event but not comparable to ones years ago or the one BMW does.

 

Tell them I’ll be interested when they put a stick back into the 3 series. No. Wait. A stick with AWD....same goes for Audi, Cadillac, Lexus....not holding my breath.

 

That sounds like a fun event. I can’t understand why the new 3 Series has to cost so much.

 

Do people actually buy new 3 series? It seems like the lease deals on “3” are so good (huge subsidy by BMW), it almost makes no sense to buy. The lease hackr forum is littered with sub $300 24 month deals on the ‘18 model year.

 

My sister leased the last gen 3 series. She now has cross-overed to a RAV4

 

I have an appointment next Saturday to test drive the 330i M Sport, it appears this may be the car to replace the 3IS in the next 3 months.

 

Someone has the actual numbers, at some point in time it had to have been 50/50, but yes today, likely favoring leasing.

The cars at the event were 4 cyl. 330's, and the list was over $59k. My hunch is that to buy a 4 cyl. car for ~ $60k, is painful. Meaning an ordinary person should be pinching themselves. A lease would likely make it more palatable--only $629/mo! But imho they also will say $5k down and 10k miles per year. Not everyone wants to give up 5k and can only drive 10k/yr. Personally, I would still buy, because the rubber is going directly to the road with normal assumptions (the money). But add a little more to the price of the loaded 330i, and you have a M2. Different cars, yes.

I'd be curious if the $1000 emails we got really causes a person to run out and buy. Not me, that's like a pebble on the beach imho...

 

At those prices I'd rather get a 365hp G70 that likely drives comparably for $50k. You can get an S4 at $59k that would crush a 4 pot BMW. Getting too expensive.

 

I disagree, and agree.

No, I don't think a G70 would drive the same, maybe a Stinger would. But now, you're also dealing with what I consider the Apple factor. Sometimes, the competition gets zero credit for being on par, and people just want what they want. This becomes blatant with say X1 or X2 etc. Who would get that? I went Apple when I saw I could get the Xs flagship for $249 last Thanksgiving. Today I carry a S8 and the Xs. I think the S8 on Pie outperforms the Xs, and it is 2.5 gen older. But Apple folks don't care, it's Apple.

I was thinking about how some including myself feel Lexus has lost its way. In Fall 1989, the 4 objectives were accomplished. fuel economy, top speed, aerodynamics, and quietness. It was such a feat that BMW accused Toyota Motor of selling the LS400 below cost. I really coudn't find it online, but didn't the LS400 have a top speed of 160 mph?

So today, BMW sits there with an Alpina B7. It has a top speed of 205 mph. Back in the 80's? By the end of the decade, Toyota could sell for mass production, a car that outdid BMW (on paper and with specs). Today? I don't even think it's possible (to sell to the masses/i.e. production vehicle).

 

You'd be surprise at the G70, critics says it drives better than the Stinger, the weight difference in and of itself should have hinted to that. Hell I need to add that to my list as well. The 3.3 liter G70 can be had for less than 50K and will is better compared to the 340I. BMW is no longer the leader in driving dynamics in the sport compact sedan category and probably never will again. I have owned E36's and E46's that most would say were better drivers car than even the E90.