Home Forums Articles How To's FAQ Register
Go Back   Xoutpost.com > BMW SAV Forums > Other BMWs
Fluid Motor Union
User Name
Password
Member List Premier Membership Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Xoutpost server transfer and maintenance is occurring....
Xoutpost is currently undergoing a planned server migration.... stay tuned for new developments.... sincerely, the management


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #11  
Old 07-24-2008, 09:53 AM
xx3's Avatar
xx3 xx3 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: California
Posts: 1,177
xx3 is on a distinguished road
I think the greater reason here is the savings BMW will get from building the X3 here versus exporting it from Europe. The higher volume of the X3 and the declining trend in the roadster market pushed BMW to do this. It also makes sense cost-wise/part-wise to have all your SUV production in one place.

As for sales the Z4 could never match the momentum the Z3 had. People forget many things when comparing the two cars: the difference in price (Z3 had a 4 banger since inception, the Z4 got it much much later), number of competitors (the TT & SLK weren't there when the Z3 started, all the Germans were playing the premium roadster game when the Z4 arrived) and the fact that the economic factors came into play during the Z4's lifetime (causing the roadster market to shrink enormously - none of the German's second round of roadsters from the 2000's sold nearly as-well as the sheer quantity they sold in the late 90's).

In my opinion, most of the stories about the Z4 "not selling well", was really a picture painted by auto press' as a way to justify their Bangle hatred. We can see the same pattern emerge when auto press' claimed that BMW was rushing a redesigned 7 to market early, every year after that the E65 debuted, and that BMW was extremely disappointed with the sales figures of that car - both which were untrue, the E65 refresh came mid-cycle as planned, and the E65 went on to be the most popular selling 7 series ever. Same thing with the Z4. It's Bangle, it's new, we don't like the design, it's not selling well. Therefore I think the Z4 suffered the most in the public's eye from it's perception.

All in all the Z4 had a pretty impressive run, and last time I checked (about a year ago) was still the leader in the roadster class by a large margin. Or maybe I'm just biased because I own one, you decide.
Reply With Quote

Sponsored Links

  #12  
Old 07-24-2008, 10:03 AM
FSETH's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Marietta, GA
Posts: 5,302
FSETH is on a distinguished road
I happen to like the Z4, but from what I have heard sales were not up to par for what BMW projected. I could be wrong. I don't know the sales figures or what mark BMW was hoping to hit, but even BMW's car club magazine "Roundel" spoke on numerous occasions of the slow Z4 sales. I guess I have heard it so much (even from pro-BMW publications) that I just started beleiving it.

I agree that it makes sense to move the Z4 out and have all the SAV's produced under one roof. Especially as most SAV's have historically been purchased here in the US anyway.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 07-24-2008, 10:54 AM
Viperfreak2's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Greenville SC
Posts: 782
Viperfreak2 is on a distinguished road
Volume is critical right now.The Spartanburg BMW plant is the largest automotive exporter in the US. Due to the exchange rate. The original plan was to build cars here for the US market, but that was when the exchange rate was 180 degrees! The other reason (and secondary) has something to do with the design, and the 'other' plant having a lot of lessons learned with this particular design feature.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 07-24-2008, 11:01 AM
motordavid's Avatar
RetiredBum & Semi-RenaissanceMan
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Mtns of Western NC, & SW FLA
Posts: 16,816
motordavid will become famous soon enoughmotordavid will become famous soon enough
No dog in this fight as I don't own one and never really wanted one,
though the few I've driven have been "pleasant"...
Sales of the Z4, in the US, were just 10,000 in '07, and ~28,000
worldwide. The car never reached sales projections, imo, for whatever
reason.
__________________
Ol'UncleMotor
From the Home Base of Pro Bono Punditry
and 50 Cent Opins...

Our Mtn Scenes, Car Pics, and Road Trip Pics on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/4527537...7627297418250/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/4527537...7627332480833/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/45275375@N00/

My X Page




Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 07-24-2008, 11:50 AM
AzNMpower32's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: WNC
Posts: 6,010
AzNMpower32 is on a distinguished road
The Z4 design was a bit ahead of its time, but it's aged well and looks very good at the end of its 7-year run. Even Clarkson admits he's grown to like the styling of the roadster.

It's a swell roadster, for sure. But I'd never consider getting one. It's too sporty.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 07-24-2008, 11:54 AM
FSETH's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Marietta, GA
Posts: 5,302
FSETH is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by AzNMpower32
... I'd never consider getting one. It's too sporty.
I agree with what you said in another thread, you are much older than your actual age. j/k.
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 07-24-2008, 01:42 PM
Meiac09's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Chicago
Posts: 4,227
Meiac09 is on a distinguished road
My biggest gripe with the Z4:
They're all fookin' slushboxes!
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 07-24-2008, 02:03 PM
JCL's Avatar
JCL JCL is offline
Premier Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 11,853
JCL will become famous soon enoughJCL will become famous soon enough
Quote:
Originally Posted by Meiac09
My biggest gripe with the Z4:
They're all fookin' slushboxes!


You don't like the manual transmission models?
__________________
2007 X3 3.0si, 6 MT, Premium, White

Retired:
2008 535i, 6 MT, M Sport, Premium, Space Grey
2003 X5 3.0 Steptronic, Premium, Titanium Silver

2002 325xi 5 MT, Steel Grey
2004 Z4 3.0 Premium, Sport, SMG, Maldives Blue
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 07-24-2008, 02:05 PM
xx3's Avatar
xx3 xx3 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: California
Posts: 1,177
xx3 is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by JCL


You don't like the manual transmission models?
I think he is saying that the vast majority of Z4's come with auto's instead of manual/SMG...
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 07-24-2008, 02:10 PM
JCL's Avatar
JCL JCL is offline
Premier Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 11,853
JCL will become famous soon enoughJCL will become famous soon enough
Quote:
Originally Posted by xx3
I think he is saying that the vast majority of Z4's come with auto's instead of manual/SMG...
OK. Maybe it is a US thing. Just checked dealer inventory (Canada) and found 11 out of 35 listed had automatics. Those are far better percentages than other BMW models, which are overwhelmingly automatics.
__________________
2007 X3 3.0si, 6 MT, Premium, White

Retired:
2008 535i, 6 MT, M Sport, Premium, Space Grey
2003 X5 3.0 Steptronic, Premium, Titanium Silver

2002 325xi 5 MT, Steel Grey
2004 Z4 3.0 Premium, Sport, SMG, Maldives Blue
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:28 AM.
vBulletin, Copyright 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. SEO by vBSEO 3.6.0
© 2017 Xoutpost.com. All rights reserved. Xoutpost.com is a private enthusiast site not associated with BMW AG.
The BMW name, marks, M stripe logo, and Roundel logo as well as X3, X5 and X6 designations used in the pages of this Web Site are the property of BMW AG.
This web site is not sponsored or affiliated in any way with BMW AG or any of its subsidiaries.