Hot! Autobild: BMW 3er GT vs. 4er Gran Coupe vs. X4

[EnI]

Autobild has compared 3er GT vs 4er GC vs X4 .... Enjoy (those who don't speak German feel free to use Google Translate ):

Article & photo gallery: http://www.autobild.de/artikel/bmw-3er-gt-4er-gran-coupe-x4-vergleich-5134120.html

Copyrights: Autobild

 

[Mr Robert]

The top photo really shows how sleek the 4 is compared to the 3½!

 

[DblPen]

were they trying to find out most unnecessary car in the market?

 

[EnI]

were they trying to find out most unnecessary car in the market?

And who defines "(un)necessary"? Arguments, please. I would really like to hear them.

 

[DblPen]

And who defines "(un)necessary"? Arguments, please. I would really like to hear them.

and could you make arguments why are they necessary?

 

[Will]

The 3er GT is so ugly looking in standard trim, facepalm!

 

[EnI]

and could you make arguments why are they necessary?

Nobody really says they are necessary. But they aren't unnecessary either. Sure world could live without them ... But since they are available, they obviously are necessary enough to some.

Obviously such cars are "necessary" enough to some since quite a lot of people buy them every year.
Eg. in 2013 combined sales of 3er GT, 5er GT, X6 & 6er GC almost reached 100k unit mark - a mark that was barely exceeded by X5 in 2013. With X4 & 4er GC coming, 100k mark will be easily exceeded in 2014 - with combined sales higher than individual sales of X1, X3 or X5. And eg. 150k sales per year is around 8% of annual BMW brand sales. Not a a bad result for a bunch of niche cars. And don't forget they are profitable too.

So, 100+k customers per year is IMHO a sufficient argument that those cars aren't "unnecessary". At least to some (more 100k per year!).

If find it funny that nobody argues if eg Z4 is "(un)necessary" - since its annual sales are lower than eg the individual annual sales of 3er GT, or 5er GT, or X6, or 6er GC - despite most of these cars do cost more than Z4.

I also find it weird that so called "car enthusiasts" are usually so conservative & skeptic when it comes to new shape variants. Shouldn't car enthusiasts be more open minded & open to novelties ... and not being such purists?

Also ... With so many vehicles available in the markets ... vehicles of various sizes, shapes, prices, features, power & torque outputs etc ... Who is there to judge which ones are "necessary" and which ones aren't? People do have different needs, wishes, preferences etc - and with relatively cheap production niche vehicles have become a trend ... and found quite some customers. Some have even become so popular that they have become mainstream & no more a niche.

Sure everybody has a right to opinion ... And IMHO it's at least a bit ignorant to claim some products are "unnecessary" in general (not to that person in particular - that would be fine with me) despite they sell quite well & find quite some new customers every year. Obviously some people do find them necessary enough to buy them ...

IMHO customers vote with their valets. If enough of them pick such a niche car every year, it's a success & necessity. To the customers & to the company. Customers getting a car even more tailored to their needs & preferences, while the company gets sales revenues & also makes a hefty profit. Win - win.

 

[martinbo]

Oh man, I'd loooove a 430d GC money being no object...

However, money is an object and it would be insensible of me to buy a car purely because it looks (and somewhat drives) better than the equivalent 3er. But that's just my personal situation - who's not to say that the 4er GC gives a buyer with 5er money (who doesn't need the space) an option to get something less mundane than a 3er? Perfectly fine by me. So here goes my own personal logic:

Case for the:

4er GC:
+ Pretty
+ More practical than 4er
- More expensive than 3er
--------------------------
Justifiable purchase

3er GT
+ Much more spacious than 3er
+ Elevated driving position over 3er
- Not bad but not quite pretty either
- A little more expensive
---------------------------
Justifiable purchase

X4
- More expensive than X3
- Less spacious / practical than X3
- not pretty in any traditional sense
+ it's different
---------------------------
Questionable purchase

Again, highly subjective but that's my viewpoint.

 

[DblPen]

does 4er gc have larger trunk than 3er sedan?

 

[EnI]

does 4er gc have larger trunk than 3er sedan?

When it comes to sheer volume it's the same: both have a capacity of 480 liters.
Yet due to 5th door (tail door) layout 4er GC's boot is easier accessible, more practical & expandable to 1,300 liters when back seats are folded down.

Eg. 3er GT's boot capacity is 520 - 1600 liters, while the one of X4 allows 500 - 1400 liters of cargo.

 

[mini_cooper4]

Oh man, I'd loooove a 430d GC money being no object...

However, money is an object and it would be insensible of me to buy a car purely because it looks (and somewhat drives) better than the equivalent 3er. But that's just my personal situation - who's not to say that the 4er GC gives a buyer with 5er money (who doesn't need the space) an option to get something less mundane than a 3er? Perfectly fine by me. So here goes my own personal logic:

Case for the:

4er GC:
+ Pretty
+ More practical than 4er
+ More practical than 3er
- More expensive than 3er
--------------------------
Justifiable purchase

3er GT
+ Much more spacious than 3er
+ Elevated driving position over 3er
- Not bad but not quite pretty either
- A little more expensive
---------------------------
Justifiable purchase

X4
- More expensive than X3
- Less spacious / practical than X3
- not pretty in any traditional sense
+ it's different
---------------------------
Questionable purchase

Again, highly subjective but that's my viewpoint.

You forgot something. Now it's fixed

 

[DblPen]

When it comes to sheer volume it's the same: both have a capacity of 480 liters.
Yet due to 5th door (tail door) layout 4er GC's boot is easier accessible, more practical & expandable to 1,300 liters when back seats are folded down.

Eg. 3er GT's boot capacity is 520 - 1600 liters, while the one of X4 allows 500 - 1400 liters of cargo.

But you can fold down seats in 3er sedan too?
If trunk volume is the same and only its accessible is easier, i would argue if 4er gc is that more practical than 3er sedan, since its lower, so it should have a little bit less headspace and maybe a bit harder to get into. I mean differences between them is soooo small, that you only pay more for it being abit more pretty (and the difference is so small too)

 

[mini_cooper4]

But you can fold down seats in 3er sedan too?
If trunk volume is the same and only its accessible is easier, i would argue if 4er gc is that more practical than 3er sedan, since its lower, so it should have a little bit less headspace and maybe a bit harder to get into. I mean differences between them is soooo small, that you only pay more for it being abit more pretty (and the difference is so small too)

Headroom is only 1cm. lower front and rear, legroom is identical. A hatchback makes the boot A LOT more accessible which is really important for most people. Even tho the boot offers the same space you won't be able to fit what you can fit through a hatch.

 

[Sunny]

^Exactly why I want to see a M4 GC. It will be the closest thing to a M3 touring we will probably get.

 

[EnI]

But you can fold down seats in 3er sedan too?
If trunk volume is the same and only its accessible is easier, i would argue if 4er gc is that more practical than 3er sedan, since its lower, so it should have a little bit less headspace and maybe a bit harder to get into. I mean differences between them is soooo small, that you only pay more for it being abit more pretty (and the difference is so small too)

Yes, 3er Sedan has folding rear seat backrests too but due to classic 3-box sedan design the trunk can only accommodate lower objects - only as high as the trunk height. In hatchbacks (incl 4er GC) trunk height is all way to the roof edge.

The main difference is in character: 4er GC is lower - roof line is lower, sitting position is lower, and driving dynamics is typical coupe-like not sedan-like. Driving is much sportier. While eg 3er GT ride is softer & more comfortable compared to Sedan ... and even more to 4er GC. No to mention the sitting position is higher & therefore access to the seats is easier - especially for the people with back or knee problems. With ample space in the back & trunk it's suitable to the families.

 

[DblPen]

Headroom is only 1cm. lower front and rear, legroom is identical. A hatchback makes the boot A LOT more accessible which is really important for most people. Even tho the boot offers the same space you won't be able to fit what you can fit through a hatch.

Maybe accesible is not the right word, because you have to reach higher to close the hachback trunk, and in sedan its much lower

Yes, 3er Sedan has folding rear seat backrests too but due to classic 3-box sedan design the trunk can only accommodate lower objects - only as high as the trunk height. In hatchbacks (incl 4er GC) trunk height is all way to the roof edge.

The main difference is in character: 4er GC is lower - roof line is lower, sitting position is lower, and driving dynamics is typical coupe-like not sedan-like. Driving is much sportier. While eg 3er GT ride is softer & more comfortable compared to Sedan ... and even more to 4er GC. No to mention the sitting position is higher & therefore access to the seats is easier - especially for the people with back or knee problems. With ample space in the back & trunk it's suitable to the families.

MUCH sportier? really? Really i think you overate differences in these cars, I hardly see enough of it to judge making these niche cars. But they will no doubt be profitable for BMW and people will buy it. Just like they did e36 and e46 compact which were utterly ugly. I guess people will buy any BMW, so i wonder why they cant make business case for BMW supercar (yeah yeah, its coming, like Dr. Dre's Detox album), or at least M3/M5 touring.
Even tho i would have to agree that z4's lack of sale would disprove my claim of people buying anything with BMW logo.

 

[LaArtist]

what the hell kind of test is this? so different cars..

The only common denominator is the hatch tail.. is that why?

The BMW hatch family test?

 

[mini_cooper4]

Maybe accesible is not the right word, because you have to reach higher to close the hachback trunk, and in sedan its much lower

Automatic opening and closing boot lid is standard on all 4-Series GC models.

 

[Deckhook]

I don't know if its more awkward to gain access to the rear of the 4GC compared to the regular 3 saloon or whether it's got that much more restricted space back there but it there's little difference I would pick this over a 3 in a heartbeat. Whilst I do like the 3GT much more than the 5GT but if you want a commanding driving position get a X3, as for that ugly as sin X4 least said sooner forgotten.

 

[KiwiRob]

I've been surprised at how popular the 3GT is. In my little corner of the world the 3GT followed by the Touring appears to be the most popular 3er.

The 4GC is BMW copying the Audi A5/S5, it's not as pretty as the Audi either. How long before we see something similar from Mercedes?