Have You EVER Driven A Vehicle And HATED It, Then Driven It In Another Form Factor And LOVED It?

One of the more perplexing vehicles in recent memory is the all-new BMW 8-Series. There's a few reasons for this but let me keep it to the key ones.

In coupe form it isn't exactly good looking. In fact, it bears a lot of resemblance to the Ford Mustang. And when you get inside and see the comical backseat with room for a couple torsos that will be sitting upright at a 90-degree angle, the Mustang theme continues. This is hugely problematic given that the first-gen 8-Series was a groundbreaking car in its day. It was a revolutionary design that looked like it was from 2020 versus 1990. The all-new 8-Series Coupe just looks like an evolved 6-Series.

And then there's the drive. One of the best form factors BMW has consistently produced over its history is the big body coupe. With the M850i Coupe though, the Bavarians whiffed. The M850i Coupe has a float-y suspension, even when dialed up. The steering is numb and when you're pushing it that certain precision I've come to expect in a BMW product just isn't there. It's all very disconnected. Except, of course, when you hit a pothole. For whatever reason, BMW's engineers have outfitted the M850i with rubber band thin tires on 20-inch wheels. So, even if you like the comfort provided by the suspension, it gets ruined anytime you experience an imperfection in the road.

Simply put, I hated the M850i Coupe.

But after seeing a pre-production M850i Gran Coupe, something told me I needed to drive one. It looks 100 times better with its stretched appearance that eliminates the coupe's Mustang vibe.

I wanted to give it a second shot. So, I did. And it was lovely.

That comfortable suspension works much better with the longer wheelbase and while the M850i Gran Coupe doesn't remedy its uncommunicative steering or have that laser-sharp precision I was hoping for, it does drive with more sporting intentions than a 7-Series. With much more room than its coupe sibling, the Gran Coupe can fit five easily.

This is where the M850i Gran Coupe starts making sense. Unless you need the limo-like rear seat of the 7-Series, the 8-Series Gran Coupe is the car to have. While it may not be the most sporting Ultimate Driving Machine, the 8-Series Gran Coupe is a luxury vehicle with attitude. Just put down the pedal of its twin-turbo V8 that's good for just over 520 horsepower and you'll see what I mean.

One more thing: Switch out the 20-inch wheels for the optional 19s.

All that said, I've got to ask: Have you EVER driven a vehicle and HATED it, then driven it in another form factor and LOVED it?

valhallakey - 12/14/2019 1:04:15 AM

+2 Boost

I can't think of one in which driving one was significantly different than the other when similarly equipped , however I like the looks of the gran coupe designs in the 3/4, 6 and 8 series BMWs.

mre30 - 12/14/2019 8:14:19 AM

0 Boost

BMW Gran Coupes are handsome - best looking vehicle in the current BMW lineup is the last gen (but still in production) 440i GranCoupe - its really a beautifully proportioned vehicle.

jeffgall - 12/14/2019 10:54:48 AM

0 Boost

Not form factor, but remember having a front wheel drive A6 loaner and thinking how awful it was compared to the Quattro version I was driving.

Agent00R - 12/14/2019 11:25:50 AM

0 Boost

Yeah'p.

FWD will do that.

TomM - 12/14/2019 2:00:45 PM

+2 Boost

Way Back just past the mid 20th century - At a time when gas got a little expensive -GM came out with a the X car - specifically for me the Pontiac Phoenix 4 door hatch. The car came with a 4 cylinder engine and 3 speed automatic standard - I do not remember if the 4 broke the 100HP barrier - and it was a real slug to drive - even though it sold very well initially. The 4 door hatch was more like a small Station Wagon - really had good room for carrying things - and you could actually get a small person in the back seats - as uncomfortable as they were. But the car simply could not get out of its own way.

GM had an optional 2.8 Liter V-6 - 120HP !!! - and at the time - no American Manufacturer had anything that could compare with the combination. It reved freely - had good power, seemingly was a completely different car - and mine lasted 275,000 miles - getting about 30mpg on the highway which was GREAT then.
I know it had got a bad reputation - but except for the Front Seat breaking (The lower cushion was held on only with a few widely spaced round metal bars instead of a pan) - which by then I could get used all over the place - I cannot complain.

Truthy - 12/14/2019 6:01:46 PM

0 Boost

I drove a turbo-4 Kia Stinger and it was very nice. I then drove a Turbo-6 and it was outstanding. It is worth the money for the 6.

cidflekken - 12/15/2019 5:50:51 PM

+1 Boost

In other words, you expected the 2-door to best an AMG GT 2dr but your expectations of the Gran Coupe was to be a sportier 7 Series. The Coupe failed. The Gran Coupr succeeds. It’s all about expectations.