Thoughts on BMW

heartbroken_mr_drax · October 2006

What did you guys think of the BMW brand being the cars in the first 90s bonds?

I thought they were really good in GE and TWINE but average in TND, cos there are so many 7 series around its not that cool.

taity · October 2006

I liked the 750iL the most actually, i can never picture a convertable being a great in a fight.

That said, I drive a lovely old BMW sports car, so im a little biased.

words · October 2006

I absolutely hated the use of BMWs in Bond movies. Sure they're nice cars but pretty common and not as apirational as an Aston Martin or a Lotus. Added to that they tooled one up for Goldeneye and then never used any of the weapons (maybe the chassis wouldn't take it!). Not for me thanks, I'm glad we're back to Aston Martin.

Nightshooter · October 2006

I've probably seen more Astons then BMW Z8's(I think I've seen two Z8's and at least 5 new Astons), actually, but you're right that you see 7 series's everywhere, and Z3's everywhere.

JCSuperstar · October 2006

I loved the one in TND, specialy that notepad celphone, sweet!

words · October 2006

Nightshooter wrote:

I've probably seen more Astons then BMW Z8's(I think I've seen two Z8's and at least 5 new Astons), actually, but you're right that you see 7 series's everywhere, and Z3's everywhere.

I live just down the road from Newport Pagnell (where Aston Martins are made) and i'd STILL rather have one of them than a BMW. BMW is a car that a sales rep aspires to.

Mr Martini · October 2006

I won't go as far as saying I hated the idea of Bond driving a "Beamer" but I wasn't to keen on the idea. Even though the cars were nice looking, I'd rather see Bond driving a car I don't see on the road everyday. For me these everday cars include, Lamborghini (not everday, but three times a month), Rolls Royce, Volvo. I'd like to see Bond drive another Lotus Espirte (sp?) or even a nice sporty Bugati. And keep the Astons. That's a sexy looking car.

Moonraker 5 · October 2006

I never liked the idea of Bond in a BMW because they're so dull. The Z3?? A hairdressers car. The 750iL? A bankers car. Which, I guess, was fitting for his cover in Hamburg. The Z8? Quite forgettable, as history has now judged it. Nah, they're just not exotic enough.

Plus, even though I may be biased, there's just something about Bond driving a foreign car that's his *main* steed.

Mr Martini wrote:

Rolls Royce

I've seen a couple of Phantoms on the road round here, but yesterday afternoon I saw one parked outside a hotel in central Glasgow (for those in the local, Langs, so you'll know how central and illegally parked it was). And by jove, was it creating a major stir in the passers by! I've never seen other cars slow down to pass another car parked by the side of the road, nor people so obviously rubber-necking. Presence indeed.

Mr Martini wrote:

I'd like to see Bond drive another Lotus Espirte

The Esprit is long dead. Long live the Esprit!
Lotus is going through an expansionist phase - it's just launched the Europa and the above is a good idea at what the forthcoming relaunch of the Esprit will look like.

Lotus is going through an expansionist phase - it's just launched the Europa and the above is a good idea at what the forthcoming relaunch of the Esprit will look like.

Asp9mm · October 2006

Ooooooh, I quite like the look of that.

Nightshooter · October 2006

I love the new Esprit, and hope that Bond drives it. I can't see him driving an Elise, and wouldn't want him to, but that Esprit is gorgeous. Is that a production photo, or a concept car?

Also, make sure it isn't blue before he drives it.

Asp9mm · October 2006

... or pink

walther p99 · October 2006

i love the BMW Z8 in TWINE, too bad u didnt see it enough

MBE_ · October 2006

I think the Z8 is gorgeous, one of the best looking cars of the series and it holds up visually IMO to any of the AMs. I much prefer it to any of the Lotuses which I find to be quite ugly. The bankers car is the best used of the BMWs with the best gadgets and the best action scene, but alas it's still a banker's car -- it's incredibly boring to look at. Luckily most of the action consists of looking at Bond reacting in the car and not at the car itself.

MBE

Moonraker 5 · October 2006

Nightshooter wrote:

Is that a production photo, or a concept car?

Somewhere in the middle - it's no concept, but it's not the final model either. It is a Lotus design rendering though. Production was due to start next year, but it's been slipped to the end of 2008. Though Lotus has confirmed it will be built at it's plant in England (rumours were that it'd go overseas), it'll be all-aluminium, powered by a V8 (probably BMW) and cost in the region of £75k.

BestBondSean · October 2006

I always liked the Esprit, nice little car, the new one looks more like a serious supercar, a cross between an Aston and a Gallardo, which isn't a bad thing.

Moonraker i must be the dullest person in the world then with two BMWs, one of them being a Z3 i will have to look into job ads, seems my only options are hair dresser, or if i have to go with words sales rep,

Moonraker 5 · October 2006

BestBondSean wrote:

Moonraker i must be the dullest person in the world then with two BMWs, one of them being a Z3 i will have to look into job ads, seems my only options are hair dresser, or if i have to go with words sales rep,

) I never said being a hairdresser was a bad thing

BestBondSean · October 2006

i do actually work for the MoD at the moment :007)
getting my correspondence in one of those nice envelopes with 'Her Majestys' written on them...

Anyway i hope the Lotus hasn't got one of those 4 cylinder Turbo engines any more as they had an enormous lag on low revs and also sounded unceremouniously bad compared to other cars the Lotus was supposed to compete with.

To stay controversial, how british is an Aston Martin these days ? {:)

Moonraker 5 · October 2006

BestBondSean wrote:

To stay controversial, how british is an Aston Martin these days ? {:)

It's the history and home of the company that counts, where it's engineered and built, not who owns and manages it.

Minis and Rolls-Royces are BMW marques these days, but that doesn't mean they're not quintessentially British. German and American ownership has done wonders for the global brand power and build quality of these marques, so you won't get me complaining where the money's coming from - as long as it's still built here and true to its heritage.

God, look at our attempts to run car plants. British Leyland and MG Rover, anyone? 8-)

As for AML - it's up for sale, and if you believe the rumours, they might soon be JCB-powered!

words · October 2006

BestBondSean wrote:

i do actually work for the MoD at the moment :007)
getting my correspondence in one of those nice envelopes with 'Her Majestys' written on them...

Anyway i hope the Lotus hasn't got one of those 4 cylinder Turbo engines any more as they had an enormous lag on low revs and also sounded unceremouniously bad compared to other cars the Lotus was supposed to compete with.

To stay controversial, how british is an Aston Martin these days ? {:)

Well..at least they're still made in Engiand (unless the workshop down the road is just a front!). Sorry, didn't mean to call you a sales rep but just think of all those sales reps currently driving Mondeos who WANT to be you! Dontcha feel proud?

taity · October 2006

I have to ask, BestBondSean, what do you do in the MoD that allows you to buy 2 BMWs. Theyre very expensive cars down under, not so in the UK?

Nightshooter · October 2006

I'm pretty sure they're expensive cars anywhere.

PoorMansJB · October 2006

I think the Z8 is a beautiful car though I can't remember seeing but one on the road (heard rumor that US dealers offered them at a 200% mark-up).

One thing to consider is where we'd be without BMW: No where.

BMW pumped US$ 15 Mil into GE advertising and gave the series a new lease on life. I don't believe the series would be what it is now--if anything at all--were it not for BMW.

heartbroken_mr_drax · October 2006

agreed, somewhat.
Im sure that Bond would still be popular without BMW, but the fact the advertising was heavy for BMW for TND and GE would have made some difference

BestBondSean · October 2006

taity wrote:

I have to ask, BestBondSean, what do you do in the MoD that allows you to buy 2 BMWs. Theyre very expensive cars down under, not so in the UK?

reasonably expensive

a lot less than Astons...
no not too bad actually being that the z3 is 9 years old and my 323 Coupe is 6 years old, couldn't afford to buy them new.
As far as the MoD goes, fairly boring, i work in IT (not very well paid either lol) , but i do have access clearance to almost everything ....

Of course Aston Martin still represents a different status and prestige to any BMW, i do agree that Bond looks very good in them, Brosnan in the DB5 was very elegant and classy.

I'd actually like to see Bond in some well preserved classic Aston or Bentley.

taity · October 2006

Hes in the DB5 for the next movie. Unfortunetly, some might say that its too much of an attempt to draw connections between Connery and Craig. Roger never had to drive Connery's hand me down cars. Dalton never did. Pierce (mr generic did.)

I said earlier I have a bmw. Its really old - 1988. Its a 535i manual, so it is very sporting. and its red too, so that makes it go faster.

00-Agent · October 2006

I think the Z3 is a fantastic looking car and that is why you see so many on the road. When Goldeneye first came out they weren't all over the place. But the car I think Bond should drive is the new two door Bentley. Specifically the convertible Azure, now that is a great looking convertible.

I drive a used Z3 so I'm biased. My wife thinks its a feminine car and says she only sees women and gay men driving them, but what does she know. Any car good enough for Bond is good enough for me.

PoorMansJB · October 2006

heartbroken_mr_drax wrote:

Im sure that Bond would still be popular without BMW, but the fact the advertising was heavy for BMW for TND and GE would have made some difference

My remark wasn't about whether Bond was or would continue to be "popular," certainly he is. But I don't think the audience for GE might have been what it was were it not the the advertising blitz which attended that film. And a smaller turn-out for GE I expect would have meant for a smaller budget for TND, which itself would have then had a smaller audience ... and so on.

taity · October 2006

Id say something similar, but wont agree with you. WIthout BMW helping out with costs the budgets would have been smaller. I think MGM would have done enough promoting for the film to not need BMWs help.

Mr Goodnight · October 2006

Must as I liked the BMW I always loved the AM in Goldeneye.

heartbroken_mr_drax · October 2006

PoorMansJB wrote:

heartbroken_mr_drax wrote:

Im sure that Bond would still be popular without BMW, but the fact the advertising was heavy for BMW for TND and GE would have made some difference

My remark wasn't about whether Bond was or would continue to be "popular," certainly he is. But I don't think the audience for GE might have been what it was were it not the the advertising blitz which attended that film. And a smaller turn-out for GE I expect would have meant for a smaller budget for TND, which itself would have then had a smaller audience ... and so on.

I dont believe that the smaller budget had much to do with the advertising blitz on TND, that should have naturally happened after the success of GE, one of the reasons TND was Brosnans lowest (but still very high) box office pull was because it was released at the same time as titanic and TND was a **** movie.

Mr Goodnight · October 2006

That should be Goldfinger ! duh !

Thoughts on BMW

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