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Drove my wife's BMW. Boy was it crude.

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by RobH, Aug 23, 2007.

  1. RobH

    RobH Senior Member

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    I got assigned to take my wife's BMW to the gas station last night. Boy was it crude.

    I walked up to the car, and it wouldn't let me in. Oh, you have to use a key. Ok, I put the key in the lock, unlocked it, and put the key back in my pocket. Got in. Oh s**t, it wants the key again for the ignition. Took the key out again, put it in the ignition.

    Stepped on the clutch, turned the key. Varoom. Big commotion. Thing's making noise, and I haven't even moved an inch. Took off the parking brake, put it in reverse. Where's the backup camera display? Oh well, just have to scan the mirrors and look out the back window.

    Ok, got out to the road and drove toward the gas station. Stopped at a signal. Thing's still running the engine, even though I was at a full stop. Light turned and I drove on toward the gas station.

    I wonder if the left headlight is out. No, both headlights are on, but they're certainly not as bright as my HID lights.

    Got to the gas station, but the lines are all several cars long. Engine kept running the whole time I was waiting. Maybe I should have stopped it and restarted as the line moved forward.

    Finally got some gas. Really took a long time to fill up ($35 for premium!).

    Driving home I noticed a really bright glare in the rearview mirror. Oh, you have to flip this lever to dim it. I usually turn off the Prius mirror to kill the green light, but I do that during daylight.

    I noticed that everyone around me drove really aggressive, beating me to the next stoplight by several hundred feet. I guess the Prius has taught me to pace myself to the signal ahead, rather than race up to it.

    The BMW used to be our really neat car. After driving the Prius for a year, the BMW is just crude and expensive. The BMW can accelerate faster, but quite why I would do that is not really clear. I guess the BMW is better at passing on a high speed two-lane road. But the Prius travels at freeway speed with less commotion. The Prius doesn't seem to notice the bow-wave when passing a big semi anywhere near as much as the BMW. One problem with the Prius is that I have to watch the speedometer much more on the freeway. If I don't, I tend to let it go up to 80 mph without even noticing. I really need to use the cruise control more or else I'm going to get nailed for speeding.
     
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  2. Shark

    Shark New Member

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    Nice! :lol: :lol: :lol:
     
  3. tekn0wledg

    tekn0wledg New Member

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    What year BMW are you driving?

    The new BMWs don't require a key in the ignition and have a start button. they also have auto-dim mirrors, including the side mirrors.
     
  4. robincx

    robincx "Fear is the mind killer"

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    Funny you say that, I have an Audi A4 that I loved and swore by. My wife drives it now and when I occasionally drive it, it feels like a lead wagon. It sits too low, doesn't coast, you have to step on the gas to make it go forward and doesn't handle anywhere near as good as I used to believe it did. The red interior lights are also distracting.
     
  5. Marvinh

    Marvinh Marvin

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    I had my 2007 Prius for about a week and I had to drive my wife's 2001 Corolla for a short distance. Wow, what a feeling! The brake pedal was mushy and even the steering felt funny. I was already spoiled by my Prius after just a couple of weeks! :p
     
  6. treehggr

    treehggr New Member

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    Yeah that was pretty good. I can relate too as I came from driving a Mercedes CLK320 that is still in the family (sold it to my parents) and I still drive it every now and then and the whole time I'm in the car I'm wishing I was back in my Prius. Luxury or not the Prius is where it's at.
     
  7. desertbriez

    desertbriez New Member

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  8. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tekn0wledg @ Aug 23 2007, 06:36 AM) [snapback]500961[/snapback]</div>
    Depends... If you don't get the "Comfort Key" option, you still have to put the fob into the dash (like non-SKS Priuses) and press the start button.


    I don't know about the US but even the 5 series in Canada has optional auto-dimming rear view mirror! :blink:
     
  9. mootsman

    mootsman New Member

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    At least you can see outa the back window :rolleyes:
     
  10. alg

    alg Junior Member

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    BMW is many people's dream car. It had been mine too. And now I'm dreaming of a Spectra Blue Prius.

    By the way, you should never wait to be assigned to fill-up your wife's gas tank. Filling up and washing her car makes for a very happy husband. :p
     
  11. BellaHMB

    BellaHMB New Member

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    I had a 2003 325ci BMW before my Prius. I thought I would miss it!
    HA! The bmw is still sitting in my garage waiting for me to sell it :)
    I havent missed it for one minute!

    Victoria
     
  12. doubleg2005

    doubleg2005 Member

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    well done!

    I hate having to drive other cars now... last week my fiancee took my car for a business trip (i'm getting mileage at like $.44/mi, though) and left me with her Saturn Vue...

    I nearly got in 6 or 7 wrecks because i couldn't seem to press the brake hard enough to make the stupid thing stop! i mean, it didn't even start slowing down until i thought it was all the way depressed!

    as soon as she came back (all smiles about driving Pablo, i might add) I quickly told her that I would prefer it if we didn't have to trade again and that i nearly died. of course, she just laughed and said, "thanks for letting me drive your car."

    moral of the story: buy your Sig Oth a Prius just in case you ever need to trade cars! :p
     
  13. zuhair

    zuhair New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(robincx @ Aug 23 2007, 07:17 AM) [snapback]500969[/snapback]</div>
    Are those red lights as distracting as the MFD on your Prius?
     
  14. paulccullen

    paulccullen New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(doubleg2005 @ Aug 23 2007, 12:08 PM) [snapback]501142[/snapback]</div>
    Yeah, my wife used to borrow mine all the time, so I got her one of her own. :)

    I frequently go on out-of-town business trips and have to rent a car. Man, are those "regular" cars weird to drive. Apart from the obvious annoyance of having to take the key out of my pocket all the time, I can never get used to the accelerator. I press it down gently. Nothing happens for a second or so, then it lurches forward.

    I just wish Hertz carried more Prii. I haven't been lucky enough to score one yet. :(
     
  15. kos

    kos New Member

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    digging up an old thread here but i love my bmw's and time for some factual info

    they unlike a prius is a real drivers car. despite the fact its not green and not as fuel efficient as your Japanese toys cars, current BMW's are at the top of the game when it comes to class leading cars. the japs certainly can learn a thing from bmw when it comes to efficient dynamics

    my 2001 daily bmw may be old, but it still has xenon lighting, remote central locking ( unlike the OP's wifes car) and many other features, the newer cars have far more. it cost me £90 to fill up the tank but it is a large fuel tank. but i still get 30mpg which i am happy with even when our fuel prices here are double the price of what you pay in the US.

    a car is supposed to make noise, you may find that unacceptable compared to the hybrid toy you drive, but i along with 1000's of other like engine noise. its not intrusive even by my old cars standards, but when i'm pressing in, it sounds glorious, almost as good as a hemi V8, and when i press on and leave all they hybrids behind me, i dont suffer glare because my old bmw has auto dipping rear view mirror and wing mirrors. the brake take some effort to use/work. do you have legs like chicken? i've never had bmw's brakes fail on me, and even after sustained use on a race track. ones thing for sure, a bmw has never has a world wide recall for brake failure, or a recall for air bag failing to deploy when you have an accident or steering failure

    i might add it also has parking sensors, but if you need parking sensors to park then you should not even be allowed to drive, if you need a rear view camera to park you must be special

    a bmw is knows as a drivers car, and you do often get unwanted attention from other road users, but if you are a sensible driver, considerate and calm you wont be affected by the people racing and being aggressive around you. you go at your own pace not matter what.

    a pruis if anything screams to other road users and pedestrians "look at me look at me" you want to be noticed because in life you have failed in other areas. it is a fashion statement and your unfounded criticism of a bmw is because you feel insecure about your self and you prius

    many thanks for taking time to read this

    Kos, a bmw driver from London
     
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  16. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

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    BMW screams "look at me look at me." There is no reason anybody needs to own one.

    F**k expensive name brands. Toyota all the way!
     
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  17. finman

    finman Senior Member

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    to each their own. I wouldn't have a beemer if u gave me 2! Prius is just so far ahead of all cars out there. and has been for over 10 years in the US.
     
  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    wow, did you wake up in the middle of the night thinking, 'is there a bmw hate thread on prius chat from 2007?' i better join and set them straight! it's not personal bro.
     
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  19. kos

    kos New Member

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    Re: Drove my wife's BMW. Boy was it crude.

    and you are telling me that a prius is not a screaming statement that wants to save the world ?

    what exactly is the USA doing as a nation to lower its carbon footprint. its reluctance to sign a multinational agreement to lower its footprint along with china and india speaks volumes

    the prius craze is pushed by B list celebrities who give up one of their SUV's to look better in the public eye

    have you ever heard of bmw efficient dynamics ?

    a bmw is not only a car with some class, they are persuing green technology and have done for many years long before toyota, if you go back to the mid 80's and BMW's "eta" models you will see this

    a prius has a CO of 89 and a 3 series of 109 not a million miles apart, list prices for a car are comparable, but which is better to drive ? which will retain its value better, which has higher sales numbers ?


    have a read up on bmw efficient dynamics, namely the 320i ED and you may learn a thing or two
     
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  20. kos

    kos New Member

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    Re: Drove my wife's BMW. Boy was it crude.

    seriously, get your blinkers off




    no, its actually early evening here. this forum link is doing the rounds here in the UK, we find it quite amusing.

    i know its not personal, but its good to have another opinion thrown into the mix, the OP is making a personal statement. i'd like to know which bmw he was driving

    the guy above i just quoted is a prime example of ignorance. should he take 5 minutes out fo his life to look up which manufacturers are making significant steps to build green cars, that not only look good but perform well he may learn a thing or too. time and time again BMW are winning world wide awards for their engines
     
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