[Guvernator]

Originally Posted by gIzzE

The 5GT is a more practical 7 series.

The 3GT is a 5 series hatch. I will be interesting to see how big the rear load space is, the F11 is terrible in this regard.

I love the 5GT, have done loads of long journeys in them, best car for soaking up the miles with some decent practicality

You can't do this with a 7 series....

Just to put this in perspective, in the car was...
3 suitcases
A large trunk
2 full size keyboards
3 boxes like the one you see on the right
3 boxes of files and papers etc like you see on the left.
2 holdalls
3 months worth of shopping because my wife doesn't think my daughter will have supermarkets in Greenwich!
Myself, my wife and my daughter.

This car is massive inside, larger than a long wheel base 7 series, and much more dynamic than an X5.

The 3GT may be the car to get me back into a BMW, I am not sure on the looks of the new 3er touring, but the GT (in the right spec.) could do the job nicely.

Why not just get a 5 series touring, I'm sure it will have similiar load lugging capacity but you don't have to live with the godawful looks. I just don't understand the point where a 5 series touring and a GT which is a 5 series touring with an awkard looking hatchback stuck on the end need to co-exist?

[gIzzE]

Because the 5GT is on a whole other level quality wise, it is a 7 series, it is not a 5 series in anything but name.
So a 7 series but with some extra practicality.

The 5 series touring has no load space at all, it is terrible.
You can't even get one set of golf clubs in the boot without them coming over the back seat. The GT will take 3 sets no problem and they are hidden.

I also really like the look of the GT, I know many don't, but we all like different things.
You drive an E93, which I simply don't get, why would anyone ruin the looks, handling and dynamics of a nice E92 just so they can drive round with the roof down?
It is a look at me car. Everything I hate about cars.
But I totally get that others like it.

BMW talked about a 7 series estate for years, I guess this was the direction they went.

[gIzzE]

I much prefer the design of this over the saloon and the touring....

[gIzzE]

Plus some praticality...

[Guvernator]

Originally Posted by gIzzE

Because the 5GT is on a whole other level quality wise, it is a 7 series, it is not a 5 series in anything but name.
So a 7 series but with some extra practicality.

The 5 series touring has no load space at all, it is terrible.
You can't even get one set of golf clubs in the boot without them coming over the back seat. The GT will take 3 sets no problem and they are hidden.

I also really like the look of the GT, I know many don't, but we all like different things.
You drive an E93, which I simply don't get, why would anyone ruin the looks, handling and dynamics of a nice E92 just so they can drive round with the roof down?
It is a look at me car. Everything I hate about cars.
But I totally get that others like it.

BMW talked about a 7 series estate for years, I guess this was the direction they went.

I knew the GT was based on the 7 so I get the argument that the interior should be a step\class above a 5 series. Very surprised to hear that a 5 series touring is so limited on load lugging capacity, surely that's the whole point of them?? Disappointing if so but slighly overegged on your part I feel as I could probably get a set of Golf Clubs in my E93's boot at a push and that IS small.

Oh and as for convertibles, I didn't buy it for people to look at me as I stopped caring about that many years ago. I bought it because it gives you a sense of freedom and lets you experience the sensations of driving in a much more vivid fashion than a fixed top so it has a function that isn't fullfilled by other types of cars whereas IMO the GT has viable alternatives.

Despite this current trend for "niche for niches" sake I could still understand BMW for making it as some people obviously do see a need for this type of car and also for no other reason than because the competition is doing it, what I can't forgive them for though is the unbelievably awkard styling.

I'm certainly not a form over function person by any stretch of the imagination but how the same company who produces something like the stunning 4 series can also sign off on this 3 series GT is abslotely beyond me, perhaps they feel that people who need to cart a lot of stuff around don't really care that it looks like a Korean made 3 series clone that's being humped from behind by a massive scarab beetle??

[gIzzE]

Originally Posted by Guvernator

I knew the GT was based on the 7 so I get the argument that the interior should be a step\class above a 5 series. Very surprised to hear that a 5 series touring is so limited on load lugging capacity, surely that's the whole point of them?? Disappointing if so but slighly overegged on your part I feel as I could probably get a set of Golf Clubs in my E93's boot at a push and that IS small.

On buggies, not just the bag.
No exaggeration.

We had an F11 for a few weeks and the load space was shocking, but then I was in an E Class which is huge, I just don't remember my 535d E61 being that small.

Originally Posted by Guvernator

Oh and as for convertibles, I didn't buy it for people to look at me as I stopped caring about that many years ago. I bought it because it gives you a sense of freedom and lets you experience the sensations of driving in a much more vivid fashion than a fixed top so it has a function that isn't fullfilled by other types of cars whereas IMO the GT has viable alternatives.

Exactly, we all see things from our own perspective.

Originally Posted by Guvernator

Despite this current trend for "niche for niches" sake I could still understand BMW for making it as some people obviously do see a need for this type of car and also for no other reason than because the competition is doing it, what I can't forgive them for though is the unbelievably awkard styling.

Again, we all see things differently.

I think the GT is the best looking of the new 3 series shapes.

Originally Posted by Guvernator

I'm certainly not a form over function person by any stretch of the imagination but how the same company who produces something like the stunning 4 series can also sign off on this 3 series GT is abslotely beyond me, perhaps they feel that people who need to cart a lot of stuff around don't really care that it looks like a Korean made 3 series clone that's being humped from behind by a massive scarab beetle??

Again, for me it is not a compromise, it is best looking of the three.

[Maaarkk]

rear end on the gt's look horrible

[F31-340i]

its an interesting view Gizze, I can see the appeal of a 5GT even if I don't like the looks.

secondhand, the 5GTs seem to be quite a bit cheaper than an equivalent F11 - is this your experience?

it will be interesting to see if the 3GT has the same residual relationship with the F31.

Did you consider a 740d sport? They look great value, and the recent sport model finally has the good looks that the 7er has missed since the "transporter" model.

Whilst I'm tending towards an F31 330d, there are a lot of interesting choices about.

[gIzzE]

It is not mine, it is my old mans.
Yeah, they did seem to loose money quick, as quick as a 7 series does, however, since the 520d GT came out prices seem to have firmed up....a lot.

My old man is about to swap his car, 3 years old.

His is a 530d GT with Dynamic Pack, so 20" alloys, sport seats, adaptive dampers, and black gloss trim, comes with hifi, bluetooth and Nav professional as standard, and has the Panoramic roof. Plus you get things like heated seats, interior ambient lighting etc. as standard.
It is a 10 plate with 36k miles and he has been offered £21000 trade in, so I guess it will retail for around £23k.

A 10 plate 530d sport with that spec would be £30k still or thereabouts, so the GT as a used buy makes a lot of sense.

This is what his looks like....


After doing the miles in this I would consider a 7 sport, but I actually prefer the GT overall, like the boot and the slightly raised ride height.

[gIzzE]

The interior quality is just miles ahead of a 3 series and still well up on a 5 series...





And the rear is huge!!
Loads of chauffeurs are using them now...



You can get it as a 2 or 3 seater.

[JackR]

My mother was taken to the air port in one on Monday. Asked her what she thought - "yeah it was nice, the cup holders are snazzy" was all I got with regards to a review.

[Matrez]

Great comments and comparisons there

So if you are a practical man who uses a car in every respect and is not bothered about looks then get the 5 Series GT or the 3 Series GT. The 3 GT looks very similar to the 5 GT but I would say the exterior design is more interesting but it doesnt come as near as the 5 GT's interior design and quality.

If you are there for looks and a bit of practicality then get the 5 Series F10 or the 7 Series F01. These two cars look stunning inside and out

I am still not convinced about the interior and exterior looks of the 3 Series F30 and I think I will never be. Maybe the facelift model will make me change my decision hmm...

[gIzzE]

Again, what we like the look of is a very personal thing.

I don't like saloons full stop, to me they shout middle aged company car driver, wasn't allowed a coupe as it was the wrong image and the touring was too expensive.

I would take this..


Over this...


I would definitely take this...



Over this...


I also think the interior is the best part of the new 3 series...


There was an M-Sport Touring outside mine the other day in grey with beige leather and it looked really, really nice, sporty and elegant at the same time.
Although, still think the bonnet looks out of proportion with the rest of the car, the Z4 has a big bonnet and because of that looks like it means business, the F30/1 has a small bonnet that makes it look wimpy imho...




Hate to say it, but BMW have always looked better than the A4 and C Clas, but not at the moment...







At the end of the day I am sure we will all love the looks of the new BMWs like a mother loves and ugly child, but I don't think there is much "I have to have one!!!" with them this time round. E46 and E39 was the last time I really thought that though and owned around 8 since then!

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Matrez

Great comments and comparisons there

So if you are a practical man who uses a car in every respect and is not bothered about looks then get the 5 Series GT or the 3 Series GT. The 3 GT looks very similar to the 5 GT but I would say the exterior design is more interesting but it doesnt come as near as the 5 GT's interior design and quality.

If you are there for looks and a bit of practicality then get the 5 Series F10 or the 7 Series F01. These two cars look stunning inside and out

I am still not convinced about the interior and exterior looks of the 3 Series F30 and I think I will never be. Maybe the facelift model will make me change my decision hmm...

I'm one of the guys in the 3GT market, as I liked the 5GT concept, but a bit too big and not too sure of the rear end. I was interested in the F31 touring, but was going to wait for the 3GT to be released, as it appeared to fit the bill.

In the end the draw to a 5-series touring got the better hand, when evaluating the costs and how expensive the 3GT was projected to be with all the right kit. Got the chance to move to a F11 with all the right options for a sensible price, so that ruled the day.

I take on gIzzE's comments about the 5GT being bigger in the boot, but it isn't capacity as such, as the figures are virtually the same, as a boot space, it is the shaping. I don't find the F11 an issue (particularly after the E91) as size is bigger and better for my needs.

Boot capacities: F11; 590/1670 litres. 5GT; 440 min. 590 max./1700 litres.

I still feel the '5' interiors are a class act, a cut above the '3', but if buying new the 3GT would be the one to beat.

HighlandPete

[gIzzE]

It is a shame that the 3 series isn't up to the standard of the 5 series, as that is now the market leader in interior quality compared with the A6 and E Class, but I am not sure if the 3 series is.


I would own another F11 sport touring, I love them. I guess the problem I had with our F11 520d SE was it didn't excite me in the way the 335i touring and 535d touring did previously, it is a lot more controlled in so many ways, softer, more relaxed etc.
I just felt the Mercedes I was in at the time when I got the F11 did that better, it was more luxurious, it was more refined, and dynamically not that far behind.
Looking back though I should have bought it, I think as an all round package it is better than the E61, it is probably getting back to E39 feel in many ways, and the E39 530i sport I still class as the best all round car ever made.

The boot space is now a non issue for me, I am back in a C Class, we are not moving stock around like we were and my daughter is off at Uni so it is just three of us now and the dog, so a non issue, but at the time I was doing 3 trips in the F11 compared with 2 in the E350, and at 90 miles a trip that started to be noticeable.

F11 in M-Sport is a car I look at with envy, I really like it.
And I thin when I see a 3 GT in sport guise in the right colour I will be the same about that too.

I see Mercedes have now added leather, xenon lights, media, bluetooth, internet and comand as standard on the new E Class due next month.
That means we are seeing contract hire deals at £319 a month from Mercedes and less from brokers, so that is getting tempting too..


I think BMW UK will have to add those options as standard too on the 5 series, otherwise it is starting to look very expensive.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by gIzzE

I would own another F11 sport touring, I love them.

.....Looking back though I should have bought it, I think as an all round package it is better than the E61, it is probably getting back to E39 feel in many ways, and the E39 530i sport I still class as the best all round car ever made.

....F11 in M-Sport is a car I look at with envy, I really like it.....

Even though the F11 is a bit bigger than I really need, it is the total package that kept pulling at me. Particularly after trying an F30 328i saloon, thinking down sizing to a turbo petrol would be the answer, in an F31 touring or 3GT. But pricing one to a decent specification didn't sit well and not even a 6-cylinder engine. When an Ex BMW HQ 535i touring (I was watching) came up at a decent price, it made so much more sense to go for that.

I agree the F11 is more like the E39 than the E61, I commented on that in another thread just this week. I find it does follow my E39 540i touring in many ways.

My M-sport is not the norm, being a 535i, or the cinnamon interior, but love the combination of Sophisto Grey and Cinnamon Brown interior.







Superb driving machine, I can live with petrol as I don't do high mileage these days. With all the options like the sports gearbox, Adaptive Drive, HUD, Panoramic Roof, all the cameras and Comfort Access, (to name a few goodies) is a nice place to be for a few years.

HighlandPete

[Matrez]

Recent review of the 3 GT :

Enjoy !

[Apl440i or 335d?]

I like it with the M Sport package.

[Hopeful]

Andrew English wasn't impressed with the 3GT judging by yesterday's review in the Telegraph. He reckons that raising the ride height has ruined the handling.

[F31-340i]

Originally Posted by Hopeful

Andrew English wasn't impressed with the 3GT judging by yesterday's review in the Telegraph. He reckons that raising the ride height has ruined the handling.

A few seem to be saying that - shame if true, as whilst it looks a bit odd to me vs a touring, it does have a certain appeal in its use of space.