Pontiac G8 GT vs. BMW 550i
#41
Gotta side with the G8. Yeah yeah yeah, drove the euros, very-very nice refined automobiles, not cars... but automobiles. My life style is plain american schedule and the abuse the cars take on a daily bases (not sayin the euros can't hold up) just sayin for the price and wear and tear, the G8 cost less with greater value right out of the store, with no tune or mods, just heads up... Parts are cheaper, yeah yeah they are.
Jump in and daily drive it til to the next v8 comes out, maybe a 400hp model or the Chevelle.
I took the ad as "look what I get for the price, why pay so much more with the same features, just less dollars. They didn't say quality or durability either.
I could argue Levi's vs Pollo or Nautica for jeans. Again, I would perfer the Levi's for my life style.
Jump in and daily drive it til to the next v8 comes out, maybe a 400hp model or the Chevelle.
I took the ad as "look what I get for the price, why pay so much more with the same features, just less dollars. They didn't say quality or durability either.
I could argue Levi's vs Pollo or Nautica for jeans. Again, I would perfer the Levi's for my life style.
#42
TECH Apprentice
Gotta side with the G8. Yeah yeah yeah, drove the euros, very-very nice refined automobiles, not cars... but automobiles. My life style is plain american schedule and the abuse the cars take on a daily bases (not sayin the euros can't hold up) just sayin for the price and wear and tear, the G8 cost less with greater value right out of the store, with no tune or mods, just heads up... Parts are cheaper, yeah yeah they are.
Jump in and daily drive it til to the next v8 comes out, maybe a 400hp model or the Chevelle.
I took the ad as "look what I get for the price, why pay so much more with the same features, just less dollars. They didn't say quality or durability either.
I could argue Levi's vs Pollo or Nautica for jeans. Again, I would perfer the Levi's for my life style.
Jump in and daily drive it til to the next v8 comes out, maybe a 400hp model or the Chevelle.
I took the ad as "look what I get for the price, why pay so much more with the same features, just less dollars. They didn't say quality or durability either.
I could argue Levi's vs Pollo or Nautica for jeans. Again, I would perfer the Levi's for my life style.
And I have driven BMW's 5 Series for more than a week plus. I lived in Germany for 3 years. I put my American a** lead foot into it. And I am not a luxury guy. Chicks dig trucks where I come from, not BMW's. And I agree with ya alot with knowing alot and making he money, but a motor is a motor. No if and or but about it. Just the names and the parts have different names is all. But that is why we all like different Ice Cream, correct?
#43
Reasons while I'll never own a bmw:
99% of the people who own them aren't car enthusiasts. They just bought it because the other snooty badge ****** at work did, or they wanted to be different than their Mercedes-Benz nut-swinging buddies.
I don't care what their quality is or how they're built or even where they're from.(although i am aware of it)
I personally don't like them because i see them all the time and who the hell wants to spend an *** load of money on a car that easily and quickly gets lost in even mild traffic.
Also, they ALL look the same....same with Mercedes-Benz...."omg our new line up!" m-kay...looks the same....again...same grill, same body style....whoopty-doo.
Anyway, just my perspective on it. Also, by no means would i run out and buy a G8.
99% of the people who own them aren't car enthusiasts. They just bought it because the other snooty badge ****** at work did, or they wanted to be different than their Mercedes-Benz nut-swinging buddies.
I don't care what their quality is or how they're built or even where they're from.(although i am aware of it)
I personally don't like them because i see them all the time and who the hell wants to spend an *** load of money on a car that easily and quickly gets lost in even mild traffic.
Also, they ALL look the same....same with Mercedes-Benz...."omg our new line up!" m-kay...looks the same....again...same grill, same body style....whoopty-doo.
Anyway, just my perspective on it. Also, by no means would i run out and buy a G8.
#44
Does anyone here actually work for BMW? Probably not, but my father-in law actually does (for 10 years)he measures all the different gaps in every single area of the car. If the car is a certain percentage of a milimeter off, it goes back. The cars that come out of the Greer assembly plant are the X5, X3, Z4 (for now) and possibly the UGLY X6. When it comes to the instruments used to ensure quality it is better than a G8, but in terms of actual everyday build quality, what you see with your own eye, what you feel with your own butt when you sit in the seat, what you feel with your sweaty hands as you grip the steering wheel, there isn't that much difference in build quality. Don't be fooled by a name. Just because you're willing to pay 15-20 grand more doesn't mean it's 15-20 grand better.
#45
TECH Senior Member
PLEASE PLEASE explain to me in the real world how comparing hp/l of engines will show which is "better"? Put both engines in the same car and which will be quicker, the one with more hp/l or hp/weight?
The LS7 is not only physically smaller, but its lighter (by around 100lbs) than the M5s boat anchor of an engine. To top the icing on the cake, how much can I get a S85B50 for? Or maybe I should ask how many LS7s can I get for that price?
Now, explain how the heavier, physically bigger, more expencive (and less powerful) S85B50 is superior to the LS7???
To even bring this up. In 1999 ford brought out the Cobra R with a 5.4L 4V modular with what 380hp yet it still takes gm more displacement to produce the same amount of horsepower. The only real great thing about pushrod engines are there dimensions compared to there DOHC counterparts.
Thats as dumb as saying "Ford needed 520+lbs to make 380hp, yet GM only needs 390lbs to make 405hp (LS6)"
No one needs X displacement to make power, they CHOOSE to use that displacement for a better torque curve and more reliable engine (and cost).
#46
You're kidding right? Ugh, I hate there arguments...
PLEASE PLEASE explain to me in the real world how comparing hp/l of engines will show which is "better"? Put both engines in the same car and which will be quicker, the one with more hp/l or hp/weight?
The LS7 is not only physically smaller, but its lighter (by around 100lbs) than the M5s boat anchor of an engine. To top the icing on the cake, how much can I get a S85B50 for? Or maybe I should ask how many LS7s can I get for that price?
Now, explain how the heavier, physically bigger, more expencive (and less powerful) S85B50 is superior to the LS7???
PLEASE PLEASE explain to me in the real world how comparing hp/l of engines will show which is "better"? Put both engines in the same car and which will be quicker, the one with more hp/l or hp/weight?
The LS7 is not only physically smaller, but its lighter (by around 100lbs) than the M5s boat anchor of an engine. To top the icing on the cake, how much can I get a S85B50 for? Or maybe I should ask how many LS7s can I get for that price?
Now, explain how the heavier, physically bigger, more expencive (and less powerful) S85B50 is superior to the LS7???
It's simply a more efficient and elegant engineering solution than the old school overhead cam layout.
No one needs X displacement to make power, they CHOOSE to use that displacement for a better torque curve and more reliable engine (and cost).
#47
TECH Fanatic
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Mercedes or BMW superior? To what, a Yugo? How did Mercedes' 15K mile oil change interval work out for them a few years ago
I could go on and on about how overrated the Euro cars are in terms of everything. But I'll say that in every German car, no matter what the cost, the electronic throttle control is absolutely horrendous. When I floor the throttle in a 300+HP engine, I want it to respond like any "inferior" GM ETC does. The German cars feel as if the gas pedal is connected to the throttle body with a 200ft long bungee cord.
The only smart Euro car owner is the one who dumps it the second the manufacturers warranty runs out.
I could go on and on about how overrated the Euro cars are in terms of everything. But I'll say that in every German car, no matter what the cost, the electronic throttle control is absolutely horrendous. When I floor the throttle in a 300+HP engine, I want it to respond like any "inferior" GM ETC does. The German cars feel as if the gas pedal is connected to the throttle body with a 200ft long bungee cord.
The only smart Euro car owner is the one who dumps it the second the manufacturers warranty runs out.
#50
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Mercedes or BMW superior? To what, a Yugo? How did Mercedes' 15K mile oil change interval work out for them a few years ago
the electronic throttle control is absolutely horrendous. When I floor the throttle in a 300+HP engine, I want it to respond like any "inferior" GM ETC does. The German cars feel as if the gas pedal is connected to the throttle body with a 200ft long bungee cord.
The only smart Euro car owner is the one who dumps it the second the manufacturers warranty runs out.
the electronic throttle control is absolutely horrendous. When I floor the throttle in a 300+HP engine, I want it to respond like any "inferior" GM ETC does. The German cars feel as if the gas pedal is connected to the throttle body with a 200ft long bungee cord.
The only smart Euro car owner is the one who dumps it the second the manufacturers warranty runs out.
#51
But he was saying that he thinks that the GM "ETC", Electronic Throttle Control, is better than the Euro counterparts.
#52
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What ever names you want to give the system it works on the same principle. You press on a potentiometer and/or a throttle simulator, inputs go to the ECM system and it opens closes the throttle valve depending on other parameters and what traction system is equipt and/or enabled.. So what are you saying the GM computer does a better job at opening and closing the throttle valve? It has a better FEEL?
#53
Calm down buddy. I'm not saying anything. You didn't understand his comment, so I explained it. Talk to him.
He does seem to be talking about feel however. Not all pots are created equal (and if it's a good system, it shouldn't use a pot at all [ideally]), read range, and system response all come into play, including the Stabillitrak system's TCS component as well (which will first cut timing, then pull throttle, then finally apply brakes), but that can be turned off.
I'm not saying he's right, or wrong, just that there certainly can be a big difference depending on the system's design, and what it's hooked up to, as well as explaining his comment (that he specifically stated that the GM vehicles used a similar system but that he apparently felt it was better).
He does seem to be talking about feel however. Not all pots are created equal (and if it's a good system, it shouldn't use a pot at all [ideally]), read range, and system response all come into play, including the Stabillitrak system's TCS component as well (which will first cut timing, then pull throttle, then finally apply brakes), but that can be turned off.
I'm not saying he's right, or wrong, just that there certainly can be a big difference depending on the system's design, and what it's hooked up to, as well as explaining his comment (that he specifically stated that the GM vehicles used a similar system but that he apparently felt it was better).
#55
Launching!
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My sister bought a 98 cavalier and went 82K miles with it and only put a clutch in it (first 5spd car), tires and brakes. I then bought it off her and put another 180K on it. I had to put front brakes on it again and another set of tires thats it.
So theres 4 GM cars that went 740K miles for the same money.
#57
BMW ///M Nerd
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My dad had a 84 buick that he bought new and put 220K miles on with only a water pump, alt, tires, brakes, belt and battery. Less then maybe 2K. He did 180K on both a 84 firebird and a 89 camaro as well.
My sister bought a 98 cavalier and went 82K miles with it and only put a clutch in it (first 5spd car), tires and brakes. I then bought it off her and put another 180K on it. I had to put front brakes on it again and another set of tires thats it.
So theres 4 GM cars that went 740K miles for the same money.
My sister bought a 98 cavalier and went 82K miles with it and only put a clutch in it (first 5spd car), tires and brakes. I then bought it off her and put another 180K on it. I had to put front brakes on it again and another set of tires thats it.
So theres 4 GM cars that went 740K miles for the same money.
I've had 2 GMC Yukons. A '97, that fell apart after 45k miles. I drove it into the ground @ 150k.
The '03 has 110k on it, and has it's fair share of issues. I had to add dye to the coolant, as I believe the cylinder head is having the infamous 5.3L issue. So it will be time for some heads and gaskets...
My '02 WS6 with 20k is a rattle trap.
I wasn't implying that you COULDN'T make the same power in the GM for approx. the same coin. You can definately get to the 400rwhp mark with ease. But
LOL at the electronic throttle. That's a load of BS. Get in an M car and put it in sport mode. Throttle feel is absolutely instantaneous. Pull it out of sport mode and drive around town with smooth action/driveability.
#60
TECH Senior Member