Re: how to catch BMW

[ScharfR@aol.com]

In a message dated 97-04-03 06:46:30 EST, ampj@tiac.net (Allan Jones) writes:

<< What matters over here is acceleration and braking, NOT Autobahn
 speeds. Give me all the figures you can on STOCK EUROPEAN BMWs and STOCK
 EUROPEAN Audis performing the 0-100-0 MPH test that we care about...
        <SNIP>
... If you can show me  that stock European Audis would out perform stock
American BMWs...
        <SNIP >
 ...yes I'll admit most of my experience is from literature and
 conversation with other owners...
        <Snip>
...BMWs, however, don't just  'feel' quicker, they ARE quicker! ... >>


First of all, you need to try some real world experience and not trust
everything you read in the the books and magazines (that's not how you
learned about sex, is it?).  Here's an example of how you can go astray if
you believe everything you read:

The BMW European press kit quotes a 0-100 kmh time of 7.3 seconds for the
328i.
The BMW U.S. market press kit quotes a 0-60 mph time of 6.6 seconds for the
328i.

Here'e the funny part.  The European car has the exact same gear ratios and
the same final drive, but it has a slightly lower coefficient of drag (0.30
vs 0.31) and it's 209 lbs. lighter than the U.S. spec car.  So how did it get
so slow?  Are the BMW folks in the U.S. just lying sacks of dung?

Here's another:  In Canada, BMW quotes trunk room according to the German VDA
method.  Just about EVERYONE else in the North American industry uses the
SAE/EPA method.  Does BMW disclose that the arcane method they use "inflates"
their pittifully small trunk volume compared to the industry norms?  Gosh,
no.  In fact, they only recently ceased using this deceptive practice in the
U.S.

Similarly, BMW now finally quotes horsepower in REAL SAE numbers, instead of
misrepresenting DIN figures as SAE.  It should surprise no one that DIN hp
figures usually just 'happen" to be numerically greatet than the equivalent
SAE data.

So, if you insist on using second-hand accounts and manufacturer's data to
shape your opinions, I'd suggests that you might find comfort in the 800
section of your public library (providing that they still use the Dewey
decimal system ).