[desinole]

The 2005 BMW 3 Series (E90) was judged to be the first that the presenters couldn't be bothered to put it on the wall, described as just "a lump of car" and being like "mild cheddar".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_gear#The_Cool_Wall

Second line of the second paragraph.

So what do you guys have to say about this ?

[vleivo]

Top gear is such BS, hello my name is jeremy and im english and only like english cars.

[desinole]

Allrite, I disagree. If you ever watched an american car show, you would know how good top gear is.

But again, the cool wall is just a fun thing. But to acctually call the E90 "a lump of car" ???

And here is more insult to injury...

The 2005 Top Gear Awards were given to:
Biggest Surprise - Audi RS4
Ugliest Car - BMW 3 Series
Best Car - Bugatti Veyron
Best Engine Noise - Aston Martin V8 Vantage
Gas Guzzler - Ford GT
Coolest Car - Aston Martin V8 Vantage (according to Clarkson), Porsche 911 (according to Hammond and the script)
The Golden Cock - James May

[vleivo]

Havent watched any american programs. But still Jeremy usually likes english cars just because they are english. For example Car magazine which is english loves the new 3 series.

[obLu]

He bought a Ford GT ... is Ford considered English now that they own Jaguar and Aston?

[imageWIS]

Originally Posted by vleivo

Top gear is such BS, hello my name is jeremy and im english and only like english cars.

Dude, you do even watch the show?

And do you understand his criticism regarding the new 3-Series?

Jon.

[Karr]

You can see a review of the e90 in TopGear in the media section, link here: Top Gear E90

As for the opinion of Jeremy/TopGear, I compare it to the critics I read about movies: If they are bad, then I really want to see the movie and guess what: 9 out of 10 times I like it and many people do. TopGear is just fun to watch, I don't care about their opinion. Just my 2cts....

Karr

[icedragon]

Watch Top Gear for laughs from inexperienced drivers.
Watch Fifth Gear for accurate information from former race car drivers.

[aarnt]

People, the english don't generaly like BMW. It has to do with the buying and then dropping of some of the english car manufacturers. Do you remember the BMW in a James Bond film? Have you seen another? I was a student in the UK back then and I remeber the hatred of english people to BMW after that. But not all are like this. As said before there are english magazines that are fond of BMW...

[rss]

I think you are completely wrong there. You only have to look at how the 3 series has performed, even outselling the Ford Mondeo at times.

People have short memories. Rover is forgotten about by all but those who were most affected.

Everywhere I look there are BMW's. They are a desirable car and righly so.

Originally Posted by aarnt

People, the english don't generaly like BMW. It has to do with the buying and then dropping of some of the english car manufacturers. Do you remember the BMW in a James Bond film? Have you seen another? I was a student in the UK back then and I remeber the hatred of english people to BMW after that. But not all are like this. As said before there are english magazines that are fond of BMW...

[Robin_NL]

Originally Posted by rss

I think you are completely wrong there. You only have to look at how the 3 series has performed, even outselling the Ford Mondeo at times.

People have short memories. Rover is forgotten about by all but those who were most affected.

Everywhere I look there are BMW's. They are a desirable car and righly so.

I TOTALLY agree with you on that. E46 3 series were sold way better than Mondeos and Vectras at a given moment in your country.

[330m]

Exactly, Top Gear is a fun program and JC is a funny journalist / presenter. They mock the E90 in a way that is appropriate to the show. They talk about emotional aspects etc, which perhaps the E90 doesn't stir their soul like a Veyron does.

Also JC constantly mocks the UK car industry and acknowledges they we were in the s##t until the Americans & VW put some money (and direction) into them.

The pragmatic car review magazines like What?Car etc. rightly give the E90 a great review because it is a great car and performs well in all the practical areas of modern ownership.

You watch Top Gear to laugh at their perspective, but you buy What?Car etc to check the detail.

[Robin_NL]

Originally Posted by 330m

Exactly, Top Gear is a fun program and JC is a funny journalist / presenter. They mock the E90 in a way that is appropriate to the show. They talk about emotional aspects etc, which perhaps the E90 doesn't stir their soul like a Veyron does.

Also JC constantly mocks the UK car industry and acknowledges they we were in the s##t until the Americans & VW put some money (and direction) into them.

The pragmatic car review magazines like What?Car etc. rightly give the E90 a great review because it is a great car and performs well in all the practical areas of modern ownership.

You watch Top Gear to laugh at their perspective, but you buy What?Car etc to check the detail.

Exactly. I have a subscription on EVO for that matter.

How is United doing?

[magik]

Interesting discussion, couple of points from an Englishman:

1) BMW is a very popular brand in England. To think that BMW is hated in England is not true at all.
2) There is very very little sentiment regarding Rover. Having owned a new Rover (make that 2 as I rejected the first one) within the past two years (the ZT260 V8), I can comment that they deserved what they got. Poor build, poor service, etc etc.
3) Top Gear vs Fifth Gear: Top Gear is extremely popular. Fifth Gear is err....not. JC is not to all tastes, but try staying awake during Fifth Gear.
4) Poor E90 review. Just wait and see what they say about the new V8 M3. It'll be very very different.
5) Not actually aware that there are any decent English cars around now, just small low volume producers. TVR was the last, now its owned by a Russian. English petrolheads got used to the idea years ago that we have no great UK-based car manufacturers anymore.

What do I drive? Oh yeh, an E90 330.

[carnuts3]

Originally Posted by 330m

Exactly, Top Gear is a fun program and JC is a funny journalist / presenter. They mock the E90 in a way that is appropriate to the show. They talk about emotional aspects etc, which perhaps the E90 doesn't stir their soul like a Veyron does.

Also JC constantly mocks the UK car industry and acknowledges they we were in the s##t until the Americans & VW put some money (and direction) into them.

The pragmatic car review magazines like What?Car etc. rightly give the E90 a great review because it is a great car and performs well in all the practical areas of modern ownership.

You watch Top Gear to laugh at their perspective, but you buy What?Car etc to check the detail.

Fine. But to call the E90 ugly?...Very strange indeed. No credibilty, IMO.

[DonnyGirl]

To be fair Jeremy did acknowledge it had very good engineering. He just thinks it looks prety dull - and I have to agree with him somewhat, but looks did not stop me oreering one.

He is funny to watch, but not to be taken seriously - as stated above What Car gave the E90 Best car award 2006, not just in Small Executative (sp) but best car overall. Similiary loads of other English reviews rave the car.

As for Rover, it was run down well before BMW attempted to save it (c.f British Areospace ownership !) and BMW put a lot of mone into it. - And at least we got decent Mini out of it.

[vladinecko]

i don't care about him. he's a really good entertainer, but his remarks often cross the line. i think he's a moron.

[com_mander]

Originally Posted by vleivo

Top gear is such BS, hello my name is jeremy and im english and only like english cars.

Nicely timed ...

For anyone interested in Jeremy's thoughts on why anyone would buy english cars ...

http://www.topgear.com/content/featu...ries/01/1.html

[imageWIS]

Originally Posted by vladinecko

i don't care about him. he's a really good entertainer, but his remarks often cross the line. i think he's a moron.

I would have to chalk that up to the generalized American mentality. I think he has a right to speak his mind and even incidents like the famous “Mini / BMW Nazi turn signal salute” are indeed funny AND for the most par just the releasing of frustration by the English, because well the Germans lobbed V2 rockets at them and you know, basically tried to take over their country.

Jon.

[330m]

Never bought an english car in may life!

But most of JC's comments are meant to court public opinion and get some people upset. That's why he does it, and I find it refreshing along side other more factual programs.

The E90 is a bit ugly, but in a fat-girl-come-good kind of way. The older she gets the more beauty people will see in her. I just think of myself as someone who spotted the talent earlier than most!!

[Ghunger]

The other thing to remember about that cool/not cool wall is it's not about quality or how a car drives. It's more like what car poster would a little kid more likely put on his wall. While the 3-series is a great car, it's rather common in most the big markets so it just doesn't have that stand out from the crowd cool factor in a lot of places. Think of a Vanquish in those same terms now. At least it makes their wall make a little more sense

[obLu]

Fine. But to call the E90 ugly?...Very strange indeed. No credibilty, IMO.

It is ... get over it.