Originally Posted by RenegadeXR (Post 8873977)

I was kind of thinking about this the other day, but yeah, the 6th gen Camaro's interior is actually nicer than a lot of expensive modern BMW's. I know a lot of people give BMW crap for not even trying to integrate the infotainment into the center stack. They've awkwardly placed a tablet-looking thing jutting out the top of the dashboard. It really looks like an after-thought that wasn't part of the original design.

Originally Posted by RenegadeXR (Post 8873977)

I was kind of thinking about this the other day, but yeah, the 6th gen Camaro's interior is actually nicer than a lot of expensive modern BMW's. I know a lot of people give BMW crap for not even trying to integrate the infotainment into the center stack. They've awkwardly placed a tablet-looking thing jutting out the top of the dashboard. It really looks like an after-thought that wasn't part of the original design.

Originally Posted by ParisTNDude (Post 8875451)

I'm not sure I would pay the difference in price between the BMW and the Camaro especially considering the extreme high cost of maintenance/repair on the Beemer. Nearly $400 for an oil service is crazy...that's what I paid on my last 328i...may be more on an M. I think the Camaro in base 2SS form with magnetic ride will easily dispatch the M. Just my opinion of course.

Originally Posted by Denis (Post 8875183)

a lot of the reviewers are saying that the infotainment setup on the 6th gen is odd too. sort of like a tablet was just placed somewhere on the dash.

basically interior design is subjective, some like it some don't. its really up to the buyer.

Originally Posted by fastball (Post 8873856)

Yeah this is right where I started losing interest in BMW. I just didn't like them leaving their classic signature cockpit design. I also don't like the gauges, integrating the fuel gauge and temp gauge into the speedo and tach - classic BMWs have a large speedometer, large tach, and separate fuel and temp gauges next to them. To me it makes it easier to read all the info at a glance.

BMW had the same interior concept for years and it worked.

The angled cockpit design was classic, sporty, business-like, and very attractive. There was no need for them to stop using it. It was their signature.

Originally Posted by fastball (Post 8873838)

The 6th gen Camaro interior is leaps and bounds better than the 5th, that's what I'm comparing BMW interiors to. If you think back to what BMW interiors used to look like in the late 90s I think you'll understand what I'm saying. A friend of mine has a 2003 3 series and that's the last year I think with the "classic" BMW cockpit design, where the center stack is angled toward the driver and just has that classic BMW design that was essentially unchanged from the late 1970s until the early 2000s. It LOOKED like a BMW.

Now in BMW's effort to be artsy fartsy they've lost their classic cockpit design. Right around 2004 is when it happened.

THIS is classic BMW:


Attachment 771152

This is blah:

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Originally Posted by bpang1234 (Post 8878165)

I think you touch on a good point...BMW has really changed their design philosophy away from being Ultimate Driving Machines that are driver focused to chase sales from people who aren't enthusiasts. These pictures clearly show how BMW has de-emphasized the driver-first mentality.

BMW really only makes a couple of cars that I would want (M235i and M3/4)...and another on the way (M2). Most of the 3-series line has been neutered in a lot of ways and the 5-series is a shadow of it's former self.

Originally Posted by fastball (Post 8878203)

Yep, and I think it's disappointing. BMW built their reputation on being driver's cars, for the enthusiast and purist. I understand from a business sense they want to attract a more broad scope (they used to offer manual transmissions on EVERY SINGLE CAR - even the 7 series, and the engineers and designers threw a serious fit when management told them American spec cars need cup holders). They should have done what Porsche did with the Panamera - build a car that expands their customer base and is less driver oriented and more "family" friendly, but their main line of cars - the 911 and Boxter - are still very singular of purpose.