ALT-5 Why Buy a Bmw
It seems to be argued that many car makers are dancing at the heels of some of BMW's class leading standards like the popular 3 series. In fact, there are now some very competitive alternatives for quite a bit less money. But working as a valet driver in downtown Boston and owning several cars over the years including Chrystler, Ford, GM, Volkswagen and BMW products, I have seen over and over again why BMWs continue to be the standard to which every luxury car company tries to match.
BMWs are built with a refinement that lasts. Every night working valet I drove a variety of vehicles and I can assure you that each has its strengths. Maybe this reveals more about the owners than it does about the cars, but most of the 10 to 20 year-old BMWs were in far better condition (i.e. cleaner, less squeaks and rattles, with more buttons and gauges still working) than even the 5 year-old Mercedes and Infinities which seem to feel like they're falling apart way before their time. To further this point, I recently purchased a 1989 BMW 325iX and despite the fact that it's nearly 20 years-old and currently has over 170,000 miles on its engine, it is still in like-new condition. It's mechanically solid, super clean inside and out, and about 99% of everything still works like it's supposed to. Sure: 18 years finally wore out the original clutch and the wheels needed a paint job, but you'd be hard pressed to find any 18 year-old car still working so well and still looking so good without reconditioning.
It's also my opinion that BMW designers put more thought into the driving experience as a whole. There seems to be no detail overlooked. While other luxury automakers impresses with complicated buttons and useless gadgets, BMW focuses on useful features, like automatic air circulation that keeps your car cooler while you grocery shop on those hot summer days. BMWs are designed to provide a pure, highly refined, unadulterated driving experience. They are truly the ultimate driving machines.
Lastly, need I even mention the standard service warranty that comes with all new BMWs? No other car company can match that, at least not yet.
So If you're looking for flashy gadgets or can't quite justify the higher price on a BMW, there are plenty of options out there now that won't leave you wanting for much. But if you're looking for a solid, reliable, highly refined driving machine that's guaranteed to last 20+ years and compromises nothing, or if you just want to try something you may have thought you'd never do, then buy that BMW. I highly doubt you'll be disappointed.
