216d Gran Tourer review.

[Zonda_]

While the 4 Series is having it's wiring harness replaced I've been given a 2018 7 seater 216d Gran Tourer. You always hope for a decent model loan car and I was secretly hoping for the M4 GTS in the demo bay but alas, no. The lady pressed the button on the fob and the lights flashed on this. I wanted to hate it I really did, I mean, a front wheel drive BMW, and on leaving the car park and nearly piling into another car that was completely obscured by the massive A pillars I nearly did! It goes without saying that it's slow, over 11 seconds to 60mph but once your on the move it's a decent drive.The cabin feels airy due to the massive, very tall windscreen and in 5 seat configuration there is loads of space in the back. Reversing into my drive I was pleasantly surprised to see a rear view camera appear on the screen.

I took it into town and with it being the weekend I decided to stock up on beer. Pressing the boot button revealed it to be powered, a useful feature I've missed since the Gran Coupe. It was then that I clocked the extra seat belts in the back and the 3rd row of seats folded flat then I spotted 2 switches on either side of the boot and in true Bruce Dickinson style "What does this button do?" I flicked one, the driver side of the rear seat back instantly folded flat electrically, wow! A minor thing but I've never seen it on a car before and can imagine it being useful. With the rear seats folded flat it has a massive luggage area, as much as a small van.

What don't I like about it, well, those A pillars are borderline dangerous and the steering is heavy but I put that down to it being front wheel drive. It's laughably slow, the 3 cylinder engine is noisy and the styling is just a bit to mundane minivan. I have seen a few of the top model X drive plug in hybrids on the road and I can see the attraction for those with kids with a bigger engine and the M Sport styling.

I'd still have preferred the GTS though.

[GG.]

Please hand in your username and password. Your forum privileges have been revoked.

This is the equivalent of having erotic feelings for your cousin: the very least you could have done is keep it to yourself.

[Simon]

Is your name Roy Lanchester?

[Mito Man]

I saw a BMW X2 today and almost violently vomited over my mole black alcantara roof.

I do still have a cashew nut’s worth of respect for BMW though as despite making such ugly cars there’s no design fakery that I have spotted yet. By which I mean those terrible fake exhausts that are afflicting the Audi and Mercedes peasant mobiles with peashooters poorly hiding underneath!
I think I saw a Q3 or Q5 which actually just had a bit of silver trim glued over the rear bumper to mimic 4 exhausts! They didn’t even cut out the bumper ffs.

You can look at the crappest BMW and it usually has quite chunky brakes and a thick exhaust. And who doesn’t like it chunky and thick?

[Zonda_]

Please hand in your username and password. Your forum privileges have been revoked.

This is the equivalent of having erotic feelings for your cousin: the very least you could have done is keep it to yourself.

Well I give credit where its due, I had an X1 loaner last year and it was a hateful piece of shit I couldn't wait to see the back of. At least I can see the point of this one.

[Swervin_Mervin]

I've had 2 as loaners. An active and a grand whatever the difference is.

If you're the kind of person that feels the need to ferry your spawn about in a van then it's by far the least hateful I've ever had the misfortune to drive. In fact I'd say it's actually nicer than the abysmal Q3 we had on holiday this year.

[Zonda_]

I've had 2 as loaners. An active and a grand whatever the difference is.

If you're the kind of person that feels the need to ferry your spawn about in a van then it's by far the least hateful I've ever had the misfortune to drive. In fact I'd say it's actually nicer than the abysmal Q3 we had on holiday this year.

I'm not sure there is a grand version unless that's how they define the 7 seat over the 5 seat.

[nuttinnew]

It's Gran Tourer for the seven seater, Active for the five.

[Swervin_Mervin]

I saw a BMW X2 today and almost violently vomited over my mole black alcantara roof.

I actually don't mind the X2, apart from it being fwd.

In fact, the other 'alf is quite taken by them.

[Zonda_]

I saw a BMW X2 today and almost violently vomited over my mole black alcantara roof.

I actually don't mind the X2, apart from it being fwd.

In fact, the other 'alf is quite taken by them.

Yes, the X2 isn't bad looking at all. Is there no X Drive option?

[Swervin_Mervin]

If you go for a filthy diesel, yes. But we wouldn't. Also I'm not sure that would make it any more acceptable - it's just more dead weight to lug about imo. I don't get BMW's sudden switch to xdrive for so many models, and it's a bugbear of mine at the mo. They increasingly seem to only offer the warm (i.e. hottest non-M) models in xdrive which is 4rse.

[nuttinnew]

Maybe to smooth the way into fwd in core models; get people used to awd in warm models now so it'll become the new normal and they won't care - or know - that's it changed to a transverse engine (and fwd in more mundane versions).

[Zonda_]

If you go for a filthy diesel, yes. But we wouldn't. Also I'm not sure that would make it any more acceptable - it's just more dead weight to lug about imo. I don't get BMW's sudden switch to xdrive for so many models, and it's a bugbear of mine at the mo. They increasingly seem to only offer the warm (i.e. hottest non-M) models in xdrive which is 4rse.

Purely emissions related imo.

[Rich B]

If you go for a filthy diesel, yes. But we wouldn't. Also I'm not sure that would make it any more acceptable - it's just more dead weight to lug about imo. I don't get BMW's sudden switch to xdrive for so many models, and it's a bugbear of mine at the mo. They increasingly seem to only offer the warm (i.e. hottest non-M) models in xdrive which is 4rse.

Purely emissions related imo.

going four wheel drive is emissions related? How so?

[unzippy]

MIL has one of these.. Had no idea it was FWD until I tried to drift around a gravel car park