BMW drivers
A concerned friend asks
A friend of mine is considering purchasing a BMW. My concern is that he is aware of the social stigma concerning BMW drivers yet doesn’t seem to care.
He also doesn’t care that is is rear wheel drive and will be rubbish in the snow & ice and he will have bounced it off the walls of the steep and narrow road on which he lives several times before the winter is out.
Does this mean he really is a w*nker and therefore is destined to own a BMW, thus we have to let him enter his inexorable downward spiral? Or is it possible that we can turn him around and prevent him from descending into w*nkerdom?
November 10th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
This appears to be a comment, rather than a request for common sense. The purchase of the BMW does make sense - it is more fuel efficient than his current model, and lower tax group, and better brakes / power managment system. Therefore, he is being sensible.
The only thing that is not sensible is getting a rear wheel drive car as we go into winter. As long as the risk is realised, and the vehicle driven safely, there is no issue (and I note that he did control the piroette in his front wheel drive very well - it was almost as if he intended us to spin 360 on the ice that day).
Two other observations : w4nkers generally drive Audi’s these days, and red is no longer a bad colour to have. Thus, a red BMW is much better than a silver Audi.
November 10th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Hey, the google ads have increased in quality suddenly.
Has he considered a Mercedes perhaps, or even an Aston Martin ? A nice Lotus ?
November 10th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
No, no, you’ve misunderstood: it’s not about the car, it’s about the person and how we can help this poor soul from becoming an outcast amongst his friends.
It’s important you all sit down together and consider all the options in a peaceful and friendly manner. Offer informal counseling to the hapless wreck, then kick him in the balls if he refuses to budge.
[ Consultant G, have you taken leave of your senses? Or perhaps someone has stolen your identity. ]
November 10th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
To me, he has made a sensible choice. Forget your prejudices and go with it. Othwerwise you’ll be left cold and wet when we drive of and leave you standing at the bottom of a hill in the highlands as darkness falls.
November 10th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Rarely do I find myself saying one of the other consultants on the panel is wrong or ill informed but I have to say that Can C seems to be on a prejudiced rant of some form and is judging people by the car they drive.
I for instance would never think of people who drive mazdas as dull and boring, in the same way that I would not presume all bmw drivers are w4nkers.
The questioner needs also to understand that cars have moved on and even the most basic of cars have mechanisms that correct for driver uselessnes and bad weather conditions preventing wheel spin and the like. More expensive cars come with stability correction and similar and so it is unlikely he will spin it (unless he presses the off buttons or is a w4nker behind the wheel).
Allow your friend to choose the car that is best/most enjoyable for him to drive and put your prejudices to one side.
November 11th, 2009 at 9:18 am
A ‘prejudiced rant’? Of the three substantial responses to this query, I consider mine to be the least rant-like and more of a measured opinion. As to the criticism of prejudice, my opinions are based on personal observation. Our questioners friend will have to work hard to break the mold set my a generation of BMW drivers and ingratiate himself with his social circle.
November 11th, 2009 at 10:26 am
No Con C. I think you are missing the point. What both G and myself are trying to suggest is that people may have that opinion but are they right to believe that. The article you highlight (from 2006 I note) lists the order of the other vehicle drivers people do not like and unsurprisingly Merc, Audi and other high end cars follow BMW. However if you look at the statistics for accidents (http://www.themoneystop.co.uk/062009/claims-figures-show-bmw-drivers-not-worst-on-road.html) it is Ford drivers that are the worst (I don’t know if this figure has been corrected for number of vehicles on the road).
The point is that you are judging folk by the car they drive rather than anything else which is not common sense.
November 11th, 2009 at 10:37 am
Times change. It used to be Volvo drivers who got the bad press. Go on, say that now !
November 11th, 2009 at 11:36 am
It transpires it’s too late; my friend has bought the BMW. I didn’t even get a chance to kick him in the balls (but I think I’ll do it anyway, just to make me feel better).
Prevention is now not an option. How can I best manage my friend’s opinion of himself?
November 30th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Following detailed reviews of cars over the last few weeks I am happy to announce the results (mainly because I am bored of recording it now) of which drivers are the biggest w$&kers. I do not claim that this is scientific in any way as it is not correcting for numbers on the roads, or miles driven by those types but it can be seen as a snap shot.
One mark has stood out from all the others and it is Audi with 9 counts of w$nkerish behaviour. On three counts I have Volvo, Rangerover and Citreon. On two I have Mazda, BMW, Ford, VW and Jag and then a stack on one count (including a Smart for overtaking at 85 on a windy day in the wet when he (and I saw it was a him) clearly had little control over the car other than a generally forward momentum).
In conclusion I would say that Audi does deserve the new reputation as the new idiots on the road.