Perhaps the BEST B1G Forum anywhere, here at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

BMWs today are largely living on reputation of being a "driver's machine" kind of thing.  They softened them up a lot in the last redesign to appeal to more people.  They lost the edge.  The redesigned 530i appears to have gone back to their roots.

HOWEVER, it is a rare driver who can both tell a difference and make that difference amount to anything on the street.  Most Bimmer owners drive them the same way Accord owners drive Accords.  

When I rode my bicycle a lot, I would pass other students going up hills easily because they were plodding along in the wrong dang gear.  I yell "down shift!" as I went by and they appeared to have no idea the bike had "gears" for some reason.  They had expensive bikes and no clue how to use them.

Cars are the same way.  A Honda Accord is a very nice car, plenty fast with the turbo, and handles well for a FWD car.  Don't pay $15 K extra for a Bimmer unless you know how to drive it and appreciate that aspect of it.  It likely doesn't accelerate any faster if you bought the 330i versus the Accord 2.0 T.  Both have the same size engines and the FWD drive train is more efficient.

I like to go out into the country on occasions or up in the mountains and push the car a bit, but not that much.  A deer could be around the next curve.  I'll save my fast driving for the track, which I have done twice in my life.

Why get a 460 hp Corvette when you can only really use 200 hp?  Heaven forbid you shell out for the ZR1 Corvette.

Some cars today are crazy.

Without meaning an ounce of disrespect, this is so antithetical to the way I was raised, thinking about doing it makes my skin crawl. (The trading and car newness, not your wife getting something nice).
Not that I’m right in any particular way, but it’s interesting the influence family weilds on our outlook.

It was actually a decision based on practical considerations. She loves the car, and her 2013 had 65K miles on it, and no navigation or safety (lane ID, blind spot assist, backup camera, etc.) upgrades.

Since she loved it so much, and M-B no longer makes the model, it made sense to get her a newer one with very low miles and some upgrades. The practical part is it will likely be her last car, ever. The trade was actually the only car we didn't keep for at least 12 years (minus one lemon), since we've been together. I drove my Volvo for 17 years.

i used to laugh and laugh at back up cameras... my super duty came with one stock- and i instantly fell in love with it... it's primary function for me was backing under the trailer tongue and lining up the ball on the very first attempt.  the boat trailer tongue allows zero margin for error due to its weight.  so.. things like that are fantastic. 

a buddy of mine has a brand new VW GTR which he immediately had tuned and adjusted... it registers close to if not over 500hp iirc.  the thing is WICKED fast in a straight line.  he still has a golf that is also tuned and adjusted, but a couple years old.  it only registers a bit over 300hp.  he enjoys the golf more than the GTR- as the golf isn't equipped with such things as lane assist ect... the golf is a 'drivers' car, where the GTR is a lot faster in a straight line it has to be fought in corners... 

the interesting thing about this is: the guy knows how to drive.  he's been through several levels of HRPP driving and anti-terrorist driving courses.  his knowing how to make entry into a corner actually contradicts what the car 'senses' is proper and it tries to adjust, making the experience more than a bit hairy. 

It was actually a decision based on practical considerations. She loves the car, and her 2013 had 65K miles on it, and no navigation or safety (lane ID, blind spot assist, backup camera, etc.) upgrades.

Since she loved it so much, and M-B no longer makes the model, it made sense to get her a newer one with very low miles and some upgrades. The practical part is it will likely be her last car, ever. The trade was actually the only car we didn't keep for at least 12 years (minus one lemon), since we've been together. I drove my Volvo for 17 years.

Fair enough. The old Volvo part resonates. My family bought to very used ones and got something like 18-19 years from one and 23 (and counting) from the other. Helps when you have a really trustworthy mechanic. 

What's the knock on Bimmers?

I've tried over and over to like them. I don't think the price tag comes with the value I'd expect. Over the years I've gone to a dealership twice expecting to be wowed and leave with a car. Each time I ended the day driving an Infiniti. I thought Infiniti provided a much better car for a little smaller price tag. I've rented a 5 series sedan and X5 in the last two years on vacation and still wasn't wowed. Maybe it's just me, but I just don't get the appeal and expect the quality to be much higher. 
On the opposite end, I've always been blown away by MB. I think they make a fine vehicle. A buddy of mine has an S550 and the ride is amazingly comfortable. 
For a slightly cheaper price tag, I've found that Infiniti makes a quality product as well. Their customer service has blown me away over the years. A few years ago, they replaced my breaks for free out of warranty with 40k miles on the car. 

I'll never understand it either. The kid was just balls. Was there a mistake here and there? Sure. Just like any human.

I thought "balls" was a negative marker:
Hey Joe, I hear you're sick, how ya feeling?
"Just ... balls."
Well Timothy, I decided you get the promotion.
"That's tits!"
EDIT: I got lost and thought page 1 was the most recent page, so Badge might not even remember this comment

I don't care for all the bells and whistles on new vehicles.  Especially the new safety features regarding lane changing and all that.

the back up camera on my truck I thought was a waste until I hooked up my trailer.  It's awesome for trailers and I also use it if I want to park within a few inches of something at my rear bumper. 

Heated seats and steering wheel........... I don't turn them on even when the temps here in NW Iowa get to 15 below.  I told the dealer back in 2008 that I always wear my long britches when it's cold outside.

Dealer was explaining the turn by turn directions feature of the GM on-star system that was free for the first year.  I told him that if I wanted turn by turn directions, I would have stayed married.