[karikaalan]

The Last of it's Kind or the Future of all Cars?

Opinion Poll (Hypothetical - Year 2028) - BMW India stops production of the current gen (G20) 3 series, Neue Klasse themed G50 is launching soon bookings are open as we speak - promising more horsepower, better mileage thanks to the strong hybrid system, futuristic looks to keep up with the EV's on the road and tech loaded with ADAS etc., for an introductory price of 99Lakhs on road. In fact the New G50 is also marketed future proof - with premium advanced driver assistance packages capable of autonomous highway and city driving for a reasonable subscription of 19,999per month onwards. Wanna max the engine and unlock top speeds? Your G50 can now accelerate 0-100 in 3.5seconds and top speed limiter removed for just a few lakhs extra perhaps.

BMW is discarding it's existing stock of G20 for a 20 Lakh discount. What would you do? (assume after selling your only car and within 1Cr Budget, BMW only)

1. Get the Brand New 3 Series G50
2. Stick to the discounted old school G20
3. A Bulletproof Toyota for the family and pre-loved Beemer just for you - close to the heart, but as reliable as your ex
   
   
   

Exterior Design

- Would love to hear BHPians view on the new design. Perhaps the hate is misplaced, only time can tell.

Transmission and Infotainment

First was the Push start which killed the excitement or turning the keys and hearing the engine roar in tandem.

Manual as an option is being phased out apart from high end cars which is understandable (although globally available for g20).

But why take away the last feeling of holding onto the gear knob altogether?? The left hand now feels purposeless at times when not holding the steering - perhaps a strategic decision by BMW to take your hand off the gear so you can focus on the giant screen trying to figure out controls without crashing the car. A minimal mode option would be nice.

Miss the nostalgia of having an analogue instrumentation for the speedometer. First the fake analogue digital screen and now the game like interface looks to be designed for a generation who can't take their phone's off the screen. Newer gen cars with elaborate screens and maps make me sound like a boomer who misses the gold old days where figuring out the road, making mistakes and direction stops were part of the fun. A good car should connect with the road and the outside world - not an electronic cocoon to detach from it. BMW is slowly but surely making the transition so that one wouldn't feel the difference in controls when having both an electric and ICE car in the household.

Final Thoughts

For me the G20 3 series feels like the perfect goldilocks car with the last semblance of what I remember BMW for:-

• School - Endless hours gaming and the only time you can realistically see or drive a M car.
• Roads - The BMW 3 series were more frequent to spot and had more allure as it epitomizes everything you would want from a car. It is within reach, reasonably levels of luxury and unassuming performance.
• College - Unaware of life's burdens with that one lucky kid who managed to bring his dad's car to college. Cruising on the passenger seat on an old 320d, nice cold pint in one hand and fiddling with the stereo on the other.
• Today - Maybe it's the age of stereotype still in mind - Luxury of the Merc, Comfort of the Audi and Performance of the BMW. But the delayed gratification of growing older and inching ever closed to the real possibility of owning one is indescribable. Note to Self - Never test drive an M or a Porsche in the near foreseeable future
• Future - I tend to drive cars till they break or die. So 10 years from now, the G20 either a new or pre-loved is excellent in terms of value, miles and OG Styling. Spares and Accessories ecosystem is best in class thanks to the sheer number of 3 series sold across the world and the itch for performance or personalization which is in stark contrast to bone stock Audi/Mercedes owners.

[SidwaysInLinen]

Originally Posted by karikaalan

[*]A Bulletproof Toyota for the family and pre-loved Beemer just for you - close to the heart, but as reliable as your ex

The way things are going, acquiring the bullet proof Toyota i.e a fortuner will in itself exhaust the 1cr budget