[Grover432]

Originally Posted by Chili Palmer

If you want sportiness, do some engine and suspension tweaking - that'll give you some sportiness and it'll probably be less than the hit you'll take on the depreciation of your car and you won't have to downgrade to a smaller car.

Just my $0.02.

You can do all of that, but you still can't get away from the weight of the F10. the cars are aimed at different markets. If you want a nimble sporty handling car the 3 - 4 series is preferable. if you want decent handling and a larger more comfortable cabin, the F10 is your ticket.

[Chili Palmer]

Originally Posted by Grover432

You can do all of that, but you still can't get away from the weight of the F10. the cars are aimed at different markets. If you want a nimble sporty handling car the 3 - 4 series is preferable. if you want decent handling and a larger more comfortable cabin, the F10 is your ticket.

I knew the 5 series wasn't a flyweight when I bought it, but at the same time I don't go canyon carving in it either - I know it's not built for that - it's a GT a comfortable long distance cruiser that gets up and goes and handles pretty damn good (550i) for it's size and weight. There isn't a car that compares to it (imho), the Audi A6 is pretty close, but there's just something it that I couldn't bond with. The Mercedes E-Class is just different, kinda mushy for me. Lexus GS 350 - this one really disappointed me, I used to have a 2001 GS430 and that really impressed me, and before I bought my 550 I looked at the then new GS350. It just didn't have the solid feel that the BMW has and the 3.5 V6 engine just doesn't cut it either. Word is that they are finally going to add an F model with the 460 hp 5.0 liter engine, but that's only 15 hp more than the 550 is putting out now, kind of late to the game Lexus.

Basically I'm saying that if you want at car that will be very responsive and maybe even trackable, the 5 series is not that car. Stick to a 3 or 4 series or an Audi RS4 or RS5 if that's what you want to do.

[WilliCO]

But in the past the 5 series was that car, if you wanted it to be. It offered 90% of the athleticism of the 3 in a 15% larger package. Directional numbers. That was a great recipe. What they've come up with for it now appeals to many people, but to me the F10 just feels like a nice car. There are lots of those.

[Mbbrewer]

I'd pick the 4GC all day long. Wish they made an m version.

[moosebeamer]

Originally Posted by WillInDenver

3 kids?! The 4GC is a 4 series coupe with 2 doors for better access to the back seats. At no point did BMW characterize it as a people hauler. Yet, every day I see people using its lack of back seat space as a main criticism.

Barry, there's nothing at all inaccurate about what you've written here, and I guess it is what's different between the E36 and the F10 - but you write with a disappointed tone. Did you go into your research on this car expecting something different that what you found?

I actually had not been in the back of a 4 series until this car. With the back center tunnel in the old 3 coupe, I could never consider it. The new 4 seemed to have the same thing, so again it was oh well. Then the 4 GC came out and that tunnel was more or less gone. I was only disappointed in that the car appears bigger than it actually is. It was OK for me to concede that the back only fit 2, but the complete lack of head room boggled me. Im not talking about now my head is near the roof. Im talking inches not there and not possible for me to sit back there ever. I couldnt sit in an A4 for the same reason, but a 3 series had plenty of headroom. Maybe I should go sit in a 6 GC and if my head slams up against that, then just concede I can look but not touch (of course its way out of my $)

Do I love the looks of the car ? YES I love all the GC's
Could I live with it ? cant put anyone back there in my family that wouldnt complain (well except the dog)

Barry

[Grover432]

Originally Posted by Chili Palmer

I knew the 5 series wasn't a flyweight when I bought it, but at the same time I don't go canyon carving in it either - I know it's not built for that - it's a GT a comfortable long distance cruiser that gets up and goes and handles pretty damn good (550i) for it's size and weight. There isn't a car that compares to it (imho), the Audi A6 is pretty close, but there's just something it that I couldn't bond with. The Mercedes E-Class is just different, kinda mushy for me. Lexus GS 350 - this one really disappointed me, I used to have a 2001 GS430 and that really impressed me, and before I bought my 550 I looked at the then new GS350. It just didn't have the solid feel that the BMW has and the 3.5 V6 engine just doesn't cut it either. Word is that they are finally going to add an F model with the 460 hp 5.0 liter engine, but that's only 15 hp more than the 550 is putting out now, kind of late to the game Lexus.

Basically I'm saying that if you want at car that will be very responsive and maybe even trackable, the 5 series is not that car. Stick to a 3 or 4 series or an Audi RS4 or RS5 if that's what you want to do.

I agree, but I would never consider "tracking" my car or any other car I drive daily on the street unless it was a sports car (911, etc.). Despite what BMW tells you about the M3, M4, M5, it is an expensive hobby to race your street car costing $50,000+ around a track with tires squealing or smoking, engine racing, etc. I always laugh when I see automotive journalists like Top Gear pushing an M5 around a race track, tires smoking, car drifting, trying to wring 5 seconds out of a lap. Who really drives their car like that? If I was going to play like that, like I wrote above, it wouldn't be in a M series car.

If you want exceptional handling for a car in the F10's class, try the M5. I did and loved it, but, alas in my climate we have 5 months of snow and when I test drove the car in the fall just before the snow flew, the car had a hard time keeping the back end in line with the front end. The next series will have awe - that is when I'll pick one up. The handling was brilliant for a heavy every day driver though.

[r3amir]

That is 428i GC Luxury Line

[DocB]

I suggest posting this question to those that actually have a 4GC. I suspect you will get a much different perspective and response.

[DocB]

Originally Posted by E46-C6-F10

I won't beat a dead horse re the interior differences noted (which are all pretty accurate).

I will say that in the midst of looking for my F10 last year, I found out that BMW was likely to come out with a 4 gran coupe. Being that I loved the look of the 6GC, but thought it was a bit long and expensive for my taste, I thought the 4GC would be the perfect compromise. The initial renderings I saw suggested it would look like a baby 6GC. I was sold! I immediately stopped looking for F10s and just planned to wait for the 4GC. Then it happened.....I saw it - GAME OVER! I saw some spy shots and started to get a better idea of what the 4GC would look like. It certainly was no baby 6GC. It looked closer to the 3 Gran Turismo. Let's just say I was extremely dissappointed with the look of the 4GC and immediately resumed my search for the F10 and I'm so glad I did. IMO the roofline of the 4GC is not sporty, has no business being called a 'coupe' of any sort, and is a wasted opportunity for BMW.

Your opinion, I believe, is in the minority. To each is own, I suppose.