Most liked posts in thread: Is BMW turning into Toyota?

The link took me to a Camaro vs. Mustang video.

I'm biased, because I am an Audi fan. I've owned three of them, so far, and loved them all. But, I've driven dozens of BMWs, and it is, IMO, and apples to oranges comparison, in some key ways. RWD vs AWD, inline six vs V6. Everyday performance vs track day performance.

As for Toyota, they don't make anything I like enough to buy, other than a Tacoma pickup -- if I needed a pickup.

CD

 

Oh, I didn't stay with the video long enough. Oooops.

Here in Texas, Ford Super Duty trucks are still the most popular for driving to the office and picking up a few bags of mulch at Home Depot. Toyota Tundras are made here in Texas, but are a bit small, and how do you impress the neighbors with a 3/4 ton truck with a puny 5.7 litre engine. :frown2:

The Tacoma is a pretty decent truck, and has a big enough carbon footprint to avoid complete embarrassment. It's kinda' like riding a Sportster to a biker bar. You won't get beat up, but nobody's going to buy you a beer.

CD

 

Oh my, the ride on an F450 is like having no suspension at all. Just bolt the axles to the frame.

Dodge, excuse me, "RAM" makes a half-ton 3.0 turbo diesel that I think is worth looking at. Everything I would need in a truck, and good fuel economy -- more money staying in my pocket.

The last time I owned a full-size pickup was when I also owned a boat that I towed to the lake on a regular basis. It was a half-ton Silverado.

Yes, I drove it to my office job, but I couldn't afford two vehicles, and my boat was too heavy for a car, or even a small truck.

What people think they "need" in a truck today bogles my mind.

CD

 

CD, I'm sure you'll be seeing a heck of a lot more Toyota's in the area real soon.

 

You can't compare the ride in a F450 to anything else you talking about. Completely different trucks and capacity. It's made to have a massive load attacked to it. Need to look at the F150 to compare to the ones your talking about. The new ones are pretty nice. I also like the dodge trucks, Toyo's have no sole and never liked the GM trucks for some reason.

 

I have a '97 F350 Powerstroke diesel, with overload springs, I use it to get gravel for the driveway and dirt for the garden as well as pellets for the pellet stove and wood for the wood stove. I leave the door open on it most of the summer 'cause the dog likes to lay in there. The previous owner chipped the engine, it gets 11 mpg in the city and 18 on the highway. I only put about a thousand miles a year on it, but it is sure usefull and I got it real cheap.

 

MINI could use Toyota motors in them since they run forever unlike the MINI POS motors.

 

Oh, yeah. I drive by the new HQ all the time. It's coming along. And, all those Cali folks are helping drive real estate values up and up. My house has appreciated by about 100K.

CD

 

That's an idea, a little collaboration between the two :idea: . Might end up with a nice handling car that can haul a little *** with a engine you can actually do something with.

 

Sooo you have something other than a R53, because my car hauls a$$ with it's motor that I have had lots done. :devil:

 

From what I have read I have no doubt that it does haul *** Dave. By the way my R53 doesn't do too bad either. I guess I should have expounded on the comment a little more than I did but I think you know what I mean. As mentioned in numerous threads on this forum, the Gen 1s are really the only ones capable of receiving engine mods without turning into a grenade. They MINI/BMW have been working themselves right out of the enthusiast market.
As others have also mentioned it would be nice to have a wider assortment of components and tuners to choice from, nothing against those that already support our enthusiasm (thanks one and all, I support when I can) but compared to other badges it is a very exclusive market. Where will we be in another ten years? MINI/BMW has enlisted other companies for engines in the past so why cant they work with someone that can provide something a little more user friendly, that's all I am saying.

 

^^^ I 100% agree but BMW / MINI wants people to only buy from them.

They are being greedy and making the cars very hard to modify and even update the ECU's because they do not support the aftermarket groups

BMW / MINI is not like GM or Ford where they provide cars "pre-release" to certain aftermarket manufacturers so they can have complete product line ready when the car is released. They do this to create a buzz and get people excited. Example companies; Edelbrock, Magnaflow, tire and rim manufacturers on and on.