Modern engines that are relatively fun & reliable?

[Garak]

Mileage information for Quattro Pete:

I did a highway trip earlier at the old double nickel to see how the G37 would do. I got 32 miles per U.S. gallon (38 miles per Imperial gallon). There was little to no traffic, with little in the way of stop/starts, and no wind.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Thanks, Guys!

Quote:
Since you already have a 530i, you may have a better idea of what long term maintenance is than I do.

Maintenance on mine isn't bad. It's the occasional non-maintenance stuff that can get ya. Fluid leaks, various electric/electronic components, etc.

Quote:
I did a highway trip earlier at the old double nickel to see how the G37 would do. I got 32 miles per U.S. gallon (38 miles per Imperial gallon). There was little to no traffic, with little in the way of stop/starts, and no wind.

Thanks. But who drives at 55 these days.

In the end, I think I'll hold onto my E39 for a bit longer. I wasn't blown away by the G37. The difference in performance and other comfort creatures wasn't big enough to justify dropping close to $30K on it. A comparable E60 would have cost even more and wouldn't be any more reliable than my E39. I also can't force myself to part with my current car. Despite significant repair/maint costs that I've incurred over the years, it's currently in good shape and running order and I still love its classic looks much more than any other newer car. And I wouldn't get much money for it at this point. Only some serious mechanical problems would make me reconsider this.

If BMW has figured out how to make more reliable DI engines and HPFPs (time will tell) then maybe I'll look into a newish F10 or F30 in a couple of years.

 

[hattaresguy]

10 years really isn't much for a German car. Your getting to the point where they can really start paying for themselves.

Keep it another 10 years and just take care of it, it will still be a nice BMW regardless of its age.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
and other comfort creatures

Meant to write "creature comforts."

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Thanks. But who drives at 55 these days.

Well, I just wanted to see how it would do.

It was a tad painful, though. A wide open highway, in a G, at 55 mph. Fun, huh?

I don't blame you for hanging on. Getting rid of my Audi was difficult. I could do the repairs, and really, they weren't expensive compared to car payments, of course. However, I just don't have the actual time to deal with repairs like that, and prefer to stay out of shops. If I have no time to fix it myself and don't want to take it to a shop, I guess I had to do something else.

 

[CBR.worm]

I'm in the same situation with my G.

It's old and has been beaten, but I still prefer to drive it over the other cars I own (despite it's weaknesses). I've had it since new and know it's history. It drives like a car with 1/3rd its miles.

It's still reliable. I have done the equivalent of two track days in it in the last 5K miles (130K and 135K) and I just enjoy it. I drive the newer G37's and they are a little too tame for me for the money - and too many buttons. The BMW turbo motors just aren't there yet, the only other car I am interested in gets 12 MPG, costs over 60K - and is impractical. It is the Infiniti FX50S, but I think the 5 series actually has more passenger and cargo room and obviously drives better.

So, we will stick with the G35, FX45 and E60 until something changes. The F10 looks slick, but I understand the driving dynamic has been tempered a bit.

 

[SteveSRT8]

New 5's with a 4 banger do not work for me, somehow a 50k plus car with a 4 cylinder just seems wrong. Plus I like the linear power delivery of an N/A motor.

Nice to hear people with G35's defending them, at least Infiniti is a bit daring. They do seem to have some quality issues, but most appear minor from what I can tell.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: CBR.worm
It's old and has been beaten, but I still prefer to drive it over the other cars I own (despite it's weaknesses). I've had it since new and know it's history. It drives like a car with 1/3rd its miles.


A bit off topic, and definitely not in line with the four door performance sedan line of the thread, but I sure found something interesting last week up here. When I got my G last year, I was really checking used and new prices all over the country. At the time, a new G and new Z, similarly equipped, were almost exactly the same price.

Right now, a new Z in Canada, similarly equipped to a G, is $14,000 less than the new G. To be clear, the G didn't go up. The Z dropped dramatically.

I am exceedingly tempted, I must say. $4,000 of that is a Nissan incentive running right now, but I'm at a loss to account for the other $10,000. Are two seaters selling that poorly?

 

[hattaresguy]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
New 5's with a 4 banger do not work for me, somehow a 50k plus car with a 4 cylinder just seems wrong. Plus I like the linear power delivery of an N/A motor.

Nice to hear people with G35's defending them, at least Infiniti is a bit daring. They do seem to have some quality issues, but most appear minor from what I can tell.


Yeah but the old base I6 was a dog as well.

550I is the car to get, or at least a 535I.

 

[CBR.worm]

I have been tempted by the 370Z as a G35 replacement. I like having 4 doors though and the nicer interior. But the 370Z is an awesome car for the money, and it performs great. As crazy as this sounds, a negative for me is that it cannot tow a trailer, which is a requirement as I typically tow my bike to the mountains with the G. It is not an ideal tow car, but it gets the job done and I enjoy driving the car through the mountains almost as much as the bike. In fact just Tuesday I got a ticket in deal's gap...in the car.

I agree, I am not sold on a 5 series with a 4 cylinder - though the performance numbers look good. The I6 has been a great engine for so long, it is smooth and it performs well as long as you skip the 525i version. I think if we move to the new body style (in a few years) we will look for a CPO '11 528i - new body, old powertrain, or if the issues are resolved, we would prefer a 535i. The current V8 just uses too much gas for what we need. We already have one gas guzzling V8.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: CBR.worm
I have been tempted by the 370Z as a G35 replacement.


At least if I go to a 370Z, I won't have to get rid of a bunch of filters and fluids like I did with the Audi.

A two seater is no problem for me. It's a bonus in fact. It's a great way to politely refuse my friends when they need rides. The F-150 is a regular cab, and I intend to put buckets in it. Now, I just need a two seater car, and I'm set.

 

[Throckmorton]

2012 Hyundai Genesis 4.6L V8 sedan. The engine produces 375 hp and is coupled to an 8-speed automatic. There are also direct injected V6 & V8 engines available producing 330hp & 420hp respectively.

 

[SteveSRT8]

No offense to those who like them but Hyundai cannot even come close to the driving experience of the BMW's being discussed. While they have all the gadgets they lack chassis tuning and NVH tuning.

Plus Hyundai has a unique HP rating system that seems to exaggerate their power. For example their new Genesis Type R sedan only trapped 103 mph in a recent rag test. That is not even close to what it should run.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Throckmorton
2012 Hyundai Genesis 4.6L V8 sedan. The engine produces 375 hp and is coupled to an 8-speed automatic.

You must have missed one of my key requirements: a manual transmission.

Also, I saw one at an auto show not long ago, and the interior quality wasn't anywhere close to MB/BMW/Audi or even Infinity, but that's just my subjective opinion.

 

[Cujet]

I've thought long and hard about what modern engines are "fun". Really, none of them. Throttle response has been "dumbed down" for MPG reasons. Throttle by wire has numbed the awesome feel of a well tuned engine. Flywheel weights are kept high, for smooth idle and emissions reasons.

While modern engines make good HP, today's cars weigh too much and, in my opinion, the fun is gone. I grew up in the winding roads of rural Connecticut, with sports cars, Bob Sharp motors and Lime Rock track a big part of my life. Those cars I grew up with were true sports cars. They had rip-snorting little engines, Koni shocks, big sticky tires and were an absolute blast to drive.

Today's stuff is numb.

 

[Cujet]

I had high hopes for the BMW M series cars. But even those are dumbed down for the American market.

Next time you start the engine of your throttle by wire car, quickly jab the throttle all the way down and release. Then quickly put your foot down on the floormat. I'll bet you a dollar the engine does not even start to rev up until your foot is off the pedal and down on the mat.

There is nothing fun about an engine with a 1 second throttle response.

Then, try this with your throttle by wire car, while cruising down the highway, remove your foot from the gas pedal. See if your car slows down rapidly. I'll bet you it doesn't. In fact, I'll bet the throttle remains open and your car decelerates very slowly. All in an attempt to keep catalytic converters hot.

There is nothing fun about this either.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Sorry, but you are lumping ALL tbw cars together.

Mine has really snappy throttle response, but it is an aftermarket tune.

They're not all that bad!

 

[rslifkin]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Sorry, but you are lumping ALL tbw cars together.

Mine has really snappy throttle response, but it is an aftermarket tune.

They're not all that bad!


The aftermarket tune is key! Many are pretty bad from the factory, but can be cured with tuning.

 

[SteveSRT8]

^^^exactly.

IME the factory tunes are a bit 'retarded'... slow shifts, slow throttle response, too much stability control intervention, etc.

I'm sure many others have noticed this, too!

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: Cujet
I had high hopes for the BMW M series cars. But even those are dumbed down for the American market.

Next time you start the engine of your throttle by wire car, quickly jab the throttle all the way down and release. Then quickly put your foot down on the floormat. I'll bet you a dollar the engine does not even start to rev up until your foot is off the pedal and down on the mat.

There is nothing fun about an engine with a 1 second throttle response.

Then, try this with your throttle by wire car, while cruising down the highway, remove your foot from the gas pedal. See if your car slows down rapidly. I'll bet you it doesn't. In fact, I'll bet the throttle remains open and your car decelerates very slowly. All in an attempt to keep catalytic converters hot.

There is nothing fun about this either.


Sorry, but none of the above describes my car at all

Throttle response is instant, and in sport mode, almost "too snappy".

Dropping the throttle shut on the highway in a gear, and your speed drags down quickly.