Autoweek STS vs. 545i
03-03-2005, 08:05 AM
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Well... got my latest issue of Autoweek last night and long story short. Its your typical BMW idrive/Bangle Bashing. <_<
Yeah, they hated the i-drive and thought the HUD in car is gimmicky. It was clear to me that the testers made up their mind before they got the car on the i-drive issue and didn't spend more than 30 secs using the i-drive.
They loved the STS on the looks and functionality and just about everything else
At the end, 545i won but not before they gave it a final kick on the i-drive issue. So its fair to say they were relunctant to give the 545i the upper hand but the STS didn't have a fighting chance once we get beyond the parking lot view of the car, and the cars started to move.
I will be writing them a letter and tell'em to wake up to the 21st century.
cheeers,
beewang
Yeah, they hated the i-drive and thought the HUD in car is gimmicky. It was clear to me that the testers made up their mind before they got the car on the i-drive issue and didn't spend more than 30 secs using the i-drive.
They loved the STS on the looks and functionality and just about everything else
At the end, 545i won but not before they gave it a final kick on the i-drive issue. So its fair to say they were relunctant to give the 545i the upper hand but the STS didn't have a fighting chance once we get beyond the parking lot view of the car, and the cars started to move.
I will be writing them a letter and tell'em to wake up to the 21st century.
cheeers,
beewang
03-03-2005, 08:09 AM
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Originally Posted by Bokke' date='Mar 3 2005, 11:06 AM
Bee - whats with the Sauber's, aka the Blue Ferrari's??
PdB
PdB
Here ya go Mr. Rip Vanwinkle
cheers,
beewang
03-03-2005, 12:44 PM
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My Ride: 2008 550, Carbon Black Metallic, Natural Brown Dakota Leather, Sport Package, Sport Automatic Transmission, Cold Weather Package, Power Rear and Manual Side Sun Shades, etc.
Retired - 2004 545 SMG, Black Sapphire Metallic, Auburn Dakota Leather, Cold Weather and Sports Packages, Power Rear and Manual Side Sun Shades
Is the article available on line anywhere?
03-03-2005, 12:50 PM
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Usually they'll put it up on the Autoweek website but they wait a few days so as not to beat the home delivery to subscribers, etc.
Here's a few interesting articles about BMW from last week:
http://www.autoweek.com/article.cms?articleId=101843
http://www.autoweek.com/article.cms?articleId=101850
Here's a few interesting articles about BMW from last week:
http://www.autoweek.com/article.cms?articleId=101843
http://www.autoweek.com/article.cms?articleId=101850
03-03-2005, 12:55 PM
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Originally Posted by beewang' date='Mar 3 2005, 12:05 PM
Well... got my latest issue of Autoweek last night and long story short. Its your typical BMW idrive/Bangle Bashing. <_<
Yeah, they hated the i-drive and thought the HUD in car is gimmicky. It was clear to me that the testers made up their mind before they got the car on the i-drive issue and didn't spend more than 30 secs using the i-drive.
They loved the STS on the looks and functionality and just about everything else
At the end, 545i won but not before they gave it a final kick on the i-drive issue. So its fair to say they were relunctant to give the 545i the upper hand but the STS didn't have a fighting chance once we get beyond the parking lot view of the car, and? the cars started to move.
I will be writing them a letter and tell'em to wake up to the 21st century.
cheeers,
beewang
Yeah, they hated the i-drive and thought the HUD in car is gimmicky. It was clear to me that the testers made up their mind before they got the car on the i-drive issue and didn't spend more than 30 secs using the i-drive.
They loved the STS on the looks and functionality and just about everything else
At the end, 545i won but not before they gave it a final kick on the i-drive issue. So its fair to say they were relunctant to give the 545i the upper hand but the STS didn't have a fighting chance once we get beyond the parking lot view of the car, and? the cars started to move.
I will be writing them a letter and tell'em to wake up to the 21st century.
cheeers,
beewang
[snapback]96635[/snapback]
03-03-2005, 09:38 PM
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My Ride: 2004 545i 6 spd Sports Package | NAV | PDC | Logic 7 | BT retrofit | SW V13.3
Originally Posted by beewang' date='Mar 3 2005, 09:05 AM
Yeah, they hated the i-drive? It was clear to me that the testers made up their mind before they got the car on the i-drive issue and didn't spend more than 30 secs using the i-drive.
[snapback]96635[/snapback]
My mother got one last week and I was truly expecting to see a system that was going to put BMWs I-drive to shame. I thought the Japanese did this better and that Honda was the ergonomic king. Wrong.
The system takes as long, if not a longer learning curve. the Navigation map was less clear, and not nearly as obvious. EG. There equivalent of Map, direction of travel is something far more obscure.
They have a Wheel like the BMW but still have buttons all over the place for Input and Cancel and MAP and Menu etc. For what? Adding destinations is the same process only with the option of using voice commands. ....And they too take 15 seconds to boot before showing a lawyer screen.
The voice command system requires you to push the prompt button for every command, unlike ours which beeps after asking a question so you can just answer. This i found particularly irritating.
Finally their Hands Free Bluetooth link sucks.
There is no such thing as Address book transfer. You store each number using voice commands into a phonebook that is independant of the phone. It cannot be displayed on the screen. You can only call a number by voice. So if you have voice recognition problems, good luck.
I can only comment positively on the fact that the system was responsive.. No sporadic 2-3 second delays when turning the wheel. Also the sound quality of the HF link was excellent. No echo whatsoever at any volume.
I welcomed the cockpit of my E60 and have developed a new found respect for the engineers that designed the system. BMW Just get the bugs worked out and you can give the Japanses a run for their money even in this arena.