Today I am mostly wanting......

I don't, and never have had, an iPad and hate reading things on my phone.

Greta's fine - I don't buy the papers or magazines either. I read it all on-line, just not via an iPad.

I just never found a use for one. It seemed an unnecessary and expensive purchase given we have a MacBook at home and two iPhones each. I do have a Kindle though - perhaps best explained by the fact that I have no objection to reading a book on a digital page that's approximately the same size as a normal book page, but I don't have any remote desire to sit watching films or video footage on a small screen with headphones on. That's what the TV is for.

You clearly haven't bought CAR mag in the last 6 months or so, the paper quality is poor and the letters pages are full of such comments (egged on by the editorial staff!).

I've had a Kindle for years - I'm on my second now - and never felt the need to move on to an iPad or similar tablet. I'm sure it's because I prefer to read than watch given the choice. 

When travelling, I need to take my work laptop anyway, which is one of those slimline ones that folds over and becomes a tablet if necessary, though I almost never use that function. So an iPad is just another thing to carry and I always have a burning desire to carry around as little as possible. I really dislike having any form of bag with me if I can possibly help it - they are just tedious encumbrances.

The one I sampled in a showroom had a particularly nasty chromed plastic knurled turnwheel for adjusting the centre vents where the F30 has a more expensive feeling rubberised black plastic one.

Ok, thanks

Yes, it would be two steps back for you!

I think the current situation with BMW is partly their fault, partly not their fault. People complained about the Bangle BMW’s, but they looked miles better than the current 3, 7 with the absurd grille, X5 and X7. It’s one thing to introduce a new styling direction; it’s another to produce cars with such dreadful details. The 8 looks rather good in the flesh, especially the 8 CG. But I’m not sure where it sits, the segment isn’t exactly brimming with competitors. It can’t be that lucrative – Merc are not replacing the current S-Class Coupe. And just like the slow-selling 6-Series, big discounts are being offered already.


With mainstream stuff, the peak of the ICE car has passed. GPF’s and the ever greater legislative safety requirements are making cars sound worse and making them heavier. We now have a 3-Series Tourer with a straight six weighing almost two tonnes. Which isn’t great for the environment, but that seems to be forgotten with the proliferation of high-riding cars generally, whatever the powertrain. Now, the ICE car is seen as a planet-polluting inconvenience, and it will only get worse.

And in 10 years time there will be a rising resistance to battery powered cars due to all the earth's rare metals etc being used up in battery packs and the rising problem of recycling dead battery powered cars and their lifetime energy cost. What we need is a bit of "Beam me up Scotty" technology.

It’s a problem with legislators in Europe, forcing something on consumers that either the state or the EU finds acceptable. Diesel was championed for years, so manufacturers and consumer’s alike adopted diesel. Then diesel was found to be the evil of all sins, so now we need battery vehicles. Which ignores the negative environmental aspects of EV’s.

The harsh reality is that without tax breaks and government discounts, the EV market would be even smaller than it is. The government knows that fleet sales are bigger than private sales, so if they can incentivise the former, slowly EV’s will become more commonplace on our roads.

I find the Japanese approach interesting. They might be building EV’s, but their caution and commitment to a powertrain mix might see them with an advantage in the future. Toyota said a few weeks ago that they will produce EV’s for Europe and selected parts of China, implying that elsewhere the market is limiting. But even in China, EV sales have slowed, despite the state discounts which are available. It won't be an industry that gets much sympathy, but at present the manufacturers are supposed to be selling products that customers don't really want. Europe's auto industry is something incredibly valuable, but right now, its being treated as part of the problem rather than part of the solution. 

Dunno if they still do it but I liked the one month free trial period because you didn't have to give them any payment details until after it had ended. Much better than the upfront version where they hope you forget and make the first payment accidentally.

There was an article on the local news the other day saying how fuel cell cars are becoming popular in Swindon.

Well, they would do, seeing as that is the only place from there to Lands End where you can fill one up!

Leaving aside the bonkers pricing on the first car, I really don't like the wheels on those M4's. They are probably expensive BMW options, but they look like the sort of after-market ones people buy to barry their beemer.

Not an M340i, but I’ve just driven 170 miles in a 330i M Sport on 19” wheels with adaptive suspension.  It’s not comfortable and it’s not particularly quiet.  I’m not comparing it with mine, that wouldn’t be fair, I’m comparing it to the Golf.  The Golf has a better ride in comfort, normal is similar to BMW comfort and Race is usable, whereas Sport in the BMW is awful.  The BMW only has the two settings for the suspension and the seats don’t help the feeling of comfort.   Road noise and general refinement is about the same as the Golf (surprisingly) and I really don’t like the variable sport steering, it feels dead at straight ahead and as soon as you have about 1/8th of a turn of lock on it’s too sharp and feels at odds with the rest of the car.

Further thoughts to follow.....