Right, so I guess I could add a post-script to this post.
We picked up the new Bimmer 4/1, at the PCD in South Carolina. This is my sixth BMW, and second PCD experience, after my 2011 E90/6MT. We stayed at the Marriott Greenville, the night before, and enjoyed a very nice steak dinner, all compliments of BMW. Pickup day included an hour tour of the BMW Factory (all X production is made here), demonstrations rides in a new M4 (fun!), a lap of the "X" rough road course out back to demonstrate the AWD SUV's impressive off-road capability and (the highlight for me) three segments of driving control/experiences. Since I was picking up a 5 series, they gave me a M550i for the 90 minutes of seat time.
The car control segments included a stopping distance exercise, at faster and faster speeds, to demonstrate the capabilities of modern ABS and sticky tires (amazingly short stop, these cars). Second was a few circuits of the handling circle, wet, with DSC on and off to showcase the car's ability to control power oversteer (very impressive; I spun out immediately with throttle on opposite lock with DSC off. With DSC back on, I lasted maybe 1/3 of the circle with the throttle mashed to the floor). Lastly were hot laps on the short handling circuit with a mix of turns. I kept catching up to the SUVs (of course haha) but it was fun to get on the throttle of the big V8 5 series. Transitions in the slaloms, not so much. I felt the car was really heavy in the front end and pushed quite a bit in the corners with handfuls of steering being needed. Obviously not a 911 (ahem) but it was quick, no doubt.
They did a fantastic job of prepping our car, we received a complete in-brief with all features demonstrated, phones linked, etc. etc. from our BMW Genius guy.
I would heartily recommend anyone that can to do a BMW Performance Center Delivery. The only down side was the wait for the car to ship from Germany after our order mid-December, it was about 14 weeks, all in. We had no impact from the various stop-sale issues due to lack of electronic gizmos that are happening these days. You do have to get yourself to Greenville SC, and drive home; you still pay the normal Destination Charge, but otherwise, it costs nothing extra.
We've had the car about a month now, not too many miles but it is very pleasant to drive. The 3.0 twin turbo in mine is a good match for the chassis, and feels much, much lighter than the 550. It's odd, it drives like a smaller car; turn in is so so but I'd chalk that up to the Goodyear Eagle run-flats that are standard. I will not miss them when I burn through them to put some performance rubber on. I am personally very glad the G30 5 series does not have the new corporate Bucky Beaver grille. Phew.
There are not as many options available as on the P-cars, but one in particular we ordered was the Driving Assistant Professional. This is an all-singing, all-dancing active cruise control, with lane keeping, auto stop, traffic jam functions, auto lane change, etc. etc. It is very weird after 40 years of driving to turn things over to the car at freeway speeds, but it works amazingly well.
So well in fact, it saved our bacon on the way to Orlando yesterday: I was steaming along at 70+ (cough) and traffic stopped suddenly near the Ellenton Outlets. I wasn't minding the distance and the car sensed a stop as soon as I did, while we approached. This all happened in about 100 milliseconds: I got a red, then a red and white, then a red and white and a VERY LOUD BEEP and ABS activation of the brakes as my foot was mashing the brake pedal. Bottom line we stopped in plenty of space but it was a near-underwear changing moment for us.
It's sobering to realize that cars these days react quicker than I do, but frankly I am ok with that at this stage of my life.
I still miss the 911, a little; but it's kinda like you miss that date with the hawt chick you had in College: Very enjoyable for a while, but you start to slowly realize you couldn't afford the maintenance.
But seriously, we are glad we traded in the 991.2: getting a brand new car, three year warranty and bag of money is a major plus.
As to the car...I was wondering: does BMW still have that certain "something" in their DNA, something that they do, where they take a 4D sedan and make it fun and engaging to drive?
I was pleasantly surprised to find out: yes, yes they do.
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Originally Posted by GJM
