Yea, I have to yet seen the GT in person, but, yea, between the price, limited space (compared to wagon), niche looks I doubt it will sell anywhere near as this handsome wagon on a sustained basis. The US market has had it's share of one night stands with niche cars - Smart, PT cruiser, new Beetle...
No 5er Touring in the U.S is stupid and a mistake they will end up undoing hopefully. The F11 is too pretty not to be a moderate succes in the U.S, and imo it's quite a different car from the GT so they compliment each other pefectly. The GT is serious business-luxury, the Touring is lifestyle-luxury; you will not see press pics with a dog in the 5er GT like they did with the Touring, but a man in a suit instead, with his laptop, sitting in the back. As for press pics of the 5er Touring, I think BMW did a pretty good job here. There's a lot of very pretty pics of the car in the press release! You WILL like it, I am sure. Please let us know when you do. This is one of those cars you really have to see to judge. Also, it has maybe limited cargo space compared to the F11 (maybe, because the interior is very versatile as well), but it has more interior space for the passengers. A lot more, think 7er with X5 headspace
I have seen the 5er GT in person and I don't like it one jot. It's that derriere. I know exactly why there's a BMW 5er GT but I personally harbour no reason whatsoever to buy one over a pukka Touring. Pity, because as I understand it, BMW SA has also taken the decision to market the 5er GT and that the Touring will in all likelihood be dropped from the 5 Series' offering. I stand to be corrected on this of course...
I don't like this type of cars, but I must admit that new 5 Tourig looks really good, so BMW did great job.. IMO 5 GT will be even more useless now...
Wow, they have decided against the Touring? Strange, because the GT and the Touring cater very different needs. By the way, I think the GT should be black. To hide its size a bit. I think I thaught it should be silver before but I have changed my mind.
I have seen the 5 GT in person and it impressed me so much that the thought of owning one has passed my mind, I like it! And IMO the car has a future in the local (SA) market albeit it would not be sold in huge numbers...the local car market is not that strong...though niche products have their marketplace. And yes Doc - strange, because they do cater for VERY different needs indeed AND the F11 + 5GT would be separated by price internationally by a reasonable margin.
Nice post Klier, indeed and as dr Dunkel said both the F11+5GT cater for VERY different needs and they will be separated even further by price. So my thought as well when I read Scott27's statement on the F11 that would not make the US sales charts...pitty, because BMW is going to loose out! With those looks and practicality etc. the typical Volvo estate buyer in the US could've been easily persuaded in buying the F11 for as you said lifestyle-luxury....
To be honest, I don't care at all if the Touring is or is not coming to the U.S and SA. Europe is getting them both, and that's all that counts for me. Sorry.
The only market not to receive the F11 5er Touring I am aware of is the United States and Canada. Sales have virtually dropped in these markets , less so in South Africa. The largest market for the BMW 5er Touring is Germany , followed by Italy and the UK. The reason why BMW have dropped the F11 Touring in the US is because there is no way for BMW to recoup the cost in federalising and marketing the car if sales are near to nothing.
Coming from England and living in the States I can see a reason behind why BMW are not bringing the 5er Touring, station wagons as they are known are just not popular here, Americans preferring 4x4 SUVs instead. I have both seen and driven the 5GT and don't care for it one bit, its the most un BMW BMW in the line up and will only be bought by people who can now upgrade from the R Class. A real shame the 5 Touring is not heading Stateside.
Yes, red light preserves your vision in the dark most effectively because the rod cells in human eyes are not sensitive to its wavelength. That's why they use it in submarines for example.
I guess the noth american people have spoken. They will manage fine without touring when subsitutes such as the X3 and X5 offer more head room and similar capacity.
LOL. Call me a typical "American" but it doesn't matter if the touring makes it stateside or not, because it still isn't going to sell any better than the GT. Give me the X1 or redesigned X3 please.
