7 Series (G11) BMW 7-Series (G11/12) reviews, test-drives, etc.

[Mick Briesgau]

Clearly it is because MB fanboy number 1 says it is.

No, it's because over a 100.000 sold W222 say so.

 

[ThroughandThrough]

And the first video review

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

Two goons and a slideshow...

 

[sako97]

This is quickly turning into an internal combustion thread.

No, it's because over a 100.000 sold W222 say so.

MB hit the 100k S-Class sold mark close to 1yr ago. Up to this point around 220k V/W222 have been produced.

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/...-sells-over-100000-s-classes-in-a-single-year

 

[Giannis]

This is quickly turning into an internal combustion thread.

Exactly. So let's leave the S-Class and the A8 out of this discussion please.

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

From Car and Driver. Is this true? That would make it the first BMW without more or less 50:50 weight distribution. Under which conditions was this measured? Fully loaded with passengers? All fluids?

C&D tested the long wheelbase 750 Xi, whereas the Autocar claims 50:50 in the SWB 730d. I think that the V8 and AWD hardware provides additional weight up front.

 

[klier]

Well now that you mention it, that is the problem. Trying to be something you are not. Manufacturers try hard to appeal to all customers, but they should focus on appealing to the customers they already have. Mercedes right now is being Mercedes. Hence their success.

Don't believe the lies. The 7er is not something it is not, the MB fanboys are simply afraid of the upcoming tests of the 7er, and are now vocally spinning the 7er first drives.

The 7er vs S class thread is going to be epic. I am already preparing myself.

 

[sanpt7777]

Don't believe the lies. The 7er is not something it is not, the MB fanboys are simply afraid of the upcoming tests of the 7er, and are now vocally spinning the 7er first drives.

Well, I don't think the 7 is trying to be something it's not, but the S Class is certainly playing it's own game and making most of the rules for the rest to play. I just think he is right because it certainly was the C Class problem many times, trying to beat the 3er.

I just want to hear the opinion of a respected (by me) journalist/driver about the 7 because I will most likely not be able to drive either. I'm hoping good things will be said about it. The most important thing to me is steering feedback (my Volvo was not very good at that haha)

The 7er vs S class thread is going to be epic. I am already preparing myself.

I bet you are haha



I like both cars/brands so I will try to just watch you guys fight discuss the topic. I can't pick a side this time.

 

[mdartisian]

Well now that you mention it, that is the problem. Trying to be something you are not. Manufacturers try hard to appeal to all customers, but they should focus on appealing to the customers they already have. Mercedes right now is being Mercedes. Hence their success.

IMO Mercedes is trying to be BMW, the difference is, they've taken care of their core values whereas BMW is not being BMW in an attempt to appeal to a broader audience. The problem with that is the market is demanding BMW and everyone is trying to be sporty or at least look sporty.

It may not be the 7 series, but luxury automakers are beginning to take their shots at the S class and some will best it at it's own game just as is the case with the 3 series.

 

[Merc1]

IMO Mercedes is trying to be BMW, the difference is, they've taken care of their core values whereas BMW is not being BMW in an attempt to appeal to a broader audience. The problem with that is the market is demanding BMW and everyone is trying to be sporty or at least look sporty.

It may not be the 7 series, but luxury automakers are beginning to take their shots at the S class and some will best it at it's own game just as is the case with the 3 series.

How is MB trying to be BMW? Due tell.

M

 

[sanpt7777]

IMO Mercedes is trying to be BMW, the difference is, they've taken care of their core values whereas BMW is not being BMW in an attempt to appeal to a broader audience. The problem with that is the market is demanding BMW and everyone is trying to be sporty or at least look sporty.

I agree everyone wants to look sporty and angry. Just look at the Corolla for heaven's sake. But that's what I meant with being themselves, following their values and making customers feel at home.

It may not be the 7 series, but luxury automakers are beginning to take their shots at the S class and some will best it at it's own game just as is the case with the 3 series.

You shut your mouth hole!!

 

[mdartisian]

How is MB trying to be BMW? Due tell.

M

Nah. It might spark an off topic debate, so it's best not to go there.

 

[Busty]

That isn't even the case anymore IMO. The C-Class has gone back to it's roots of being more of a luxury car and it is hugely successful at that. Mercedes is no longer pandering and the 3er BMW has been beaten left and right dynamically. I don't see where Mercedes is even trying to beat them at that anymore, they're winning based on luxury now. BMW played right into Mercedes' hands with this 7-Series trying to be something it isn't. This 7er while really nice, is seemingly as far away from BMW's core values as possible based on the specification and test drives. Reading the features is like reading about the S-Class. Except for the exotic materials used in the body and the gesture control I don't see anything else the S doesn't have. Unfortunately the slimy lawyers here in the U.S. won't allow BMW to sell the self-park feature here. That would have been nice. I'm hoping further tests (actual reviews, not this "first drive" stuff we're seeing now) will reveal that this car is back as being the drivers car of the segment. Otherwise the next A8 is going to be a problem for it and the S.

M

In this segment, there is no request for a 'typical' BMW. Even in the lower segments, comfort becomes more and more important. So there is not much choice for all the other brands than to consider the S class as a benchmark.
A8, S class, and 7 series differ only in details that 95% of the customers (and most forum members) would not notice. What ultimately makes the difference is the feeling associated with each car and also the brand. Also, comfort has a very different meaning for different people. For me, a certain level of' directness' is a plus, others like it soft, for others subjective safety is a comfort feature.
I have driven the current S class and A8, and was front-row passenger in the G11. My impression: S class still most comfy and not slow. A8 comfy, very easy and secure to drive, but very understeering. G11 almost as comfy as S (a little more noise), much more dynamic than the other two, but requires a 'working' driver.

 

[sanpt7777]

In this segment, there is no request for a 'typical' BMW. Even in the lower segments, comfort becomes more and more important. So there is not much choice for all the other brands than to consider the S class as a benchmark.
A8, S class, and 7 series differ only in details that 95% of the customers (and most forum members) would not notice. What ultimately makes the difference is the feeling associated with each car and also the brand. Also, comfort has a very different meaning for different people. For me, a certain level of' directness' is a plus, others like it soft, for others subjective safety is a security feature.
I have driven the current S class and A8, and was front-row passenger in the G11. My impression: S class still most comfy and not slow. A8 comfy, very easy and secure to drive, but very understeering. G11 almost as comfy as S (a little more noise), much more dynamic than the other two, but requires a 'working' driver.

I agree. Audi, Mercedes and BMW are very similar and at the same time very different. I've noticed that you can know about somebody's personality by asking what brand they prefer.

For me, a certain level of' directness' is a plus, others like it soft

Let me guess, that's what she said?

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

I'm getting old and jaded, clearly, because I think these reviews (i.e. of super luxury cars) are full of sh!t. How do they arrive at a four star rating when the car is essentially flawless - it must be when you write words like "absolutely excellent in every respect", "marvelous", "high-tech underpinnings and dazzling range of options elevate it to a new level of excellence", and then dish out a four star rating.

And then you write this drivel:


Really? By whose standards? What a waffy, useless piece of English.

For its intended purpose - the new 7er just like the S-Class can only be a five star car as there is nothing objectively which one can lay fault with given its reason for being.

Exactly Martin. If the car is technically flawless, which it appears to be, it should be 5-stars.

 

[klier]

[QUOTE="Merc1, post: 760399, member: 45" BMW fanboy number 0

M[/QUOTE]

I really do like the sound of that!

Fanboy Zero

 

[bennyson]

I'm sorry, but I can't stand this talk of rivals "finally" beating the S-Class, or "finally" beating the 3-Series. It's all just lazy motoring journalism. To be honest, the S hasn't completely smashed the competition since the W140. They were calling the shoddy effort that was the W220 the "best car in the world" back in the day, just because.

 

[SKY]

Yep, I rember similar statements back in the F01 era. Same for the M3 and the rest of the benchmarks lf each segment.

What the reviews make clear is the G11 is a fantastic product. BMW has made some extra effort to reach the level of luxury found on the S-Class, including the fancy stuff.

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

I'm sorry, but I can't stand this talk of rivals "finally" beating the S-Class, or "finally" beating the 3-Series. It's all just lazy motoring journalism. To be honest, the S hasn't completely smashed the competition since the W140. They were calling the shoddy effort that was the W220 the "best car in the world" back in the day, just because.

There's a lot of truth in that. That said, I don't think the 3er has faltered since its inception like the W220 did for the S-class. Some may say the F30 was a bit of a misstep, but a shoddy product it is not and still embraces BMW's core values.

Twenty years ago or so, BMW was at the sporty end of the spectrum and (non-AMG) M-B's were at the luxury end. We are now seeing these brands, along with Audi, straddling more in the middle to appeal to as many buyers' sentiments as possible. In the most cut-and-dry objective sense, they are within 5% of each other. What really separates them these days is their design sense. BMW and Audi fully embrace a more modern, progressive aesthetic while M-B is more a mix of old-world feel with a thoroughly modern approach.

Personally, I'd choose the 7er as it appeals to sense of understated style with substance, but the resale value, while pretty bad in this class, is pretty terrible for the 7er. And with so much tech in it and so much of it becoming ever increasing obsolete or unreliable faster, it's becoming more difficult to hold onto a flagship car longer. Gone are the days where you'd see a fifteen or twenty year old S-class barrelling along.

 

[sanpt7777]

I'm sorry, but I can't stand this talk of rivals "finally" beating the S-Class, or "finally" beating the 3-Series. It's all just lazy motoring journalism. To be honest, the S hasn't completely smashed the competition since the W140. They were calling the shoddy effort that was the W220 the "best car in the world" back in the day, just because.

No one has finally beaten the S Class
Don't believe the journalists

 

[Metanoid Android]

Some very interesting and positive reviews from "alternative" sources in the UK. Probably the most positive and possibly the least biased?

http://www.thechauffeur.com/industry-first-drive-new-bmw-7-series-for-2015/

http://www.carenthusiast.com/reviews/article/10635/-/2015-BMW-7+Series/First+drive+-+730d.html