BMW cheap but expensive car for Australia

As the years go by the Automotive industry apparently moves forward.

There are new improvements in technology, manufacturing methods that make their way to every day cars or "shopping trolleys" as referred to by many.

Some brands are well known for implementing 'state of the art' features that are years ahead of the 'every day car' car manufacturers. Some of these cars are made by Mercedes, Porsche, Ferrari

Styling is also a very important aspect of motor vehicle design, as the market identifies the style to the manufacturer without having to read the badge.

There are specific 'eras' of car styling, for example the 'finned' cars of the 50's, the 'muscle' cars of the 60's and early 70's, the box shape cars of the late 70's to early 80's and the like.

(The number plates have been changed to protect the innocent parties concerned.)

In today's market, the hatches of the Mazda MPS, Mitsubishi Lancer, Subaru's Impreza and the BMW 1 series all look very similar, from just about any angle. The only real differences are the subtle changes that each marque carries.


Another aspect is the quality of the vehicle. For example comparing a BMW X5 to a Toyota Lexus shows that the two cars are worlds apart.

From the inside the BMW looks like a cheap Ford Taxi, whilst the Toyota looks and feels like luxuriously designed interior.

In this example corpau has taken photos of the current model 5 series BMW, and also the current model Toyota Camry.


A BMW 5 series vehicle with a 3.5 litre engine has a list price of approx $113,000, and on the road in Victoria it is worth $142,000

A Toyota Aurion with a 3.6 litre engine has a list price of approx $50,000 and an on the road price of $55,000.

Toyota's Camry is the same shape as the Aurion, but come with a smaller 2.4 litre 4 cylinder engine. a Camry can have a list price of approx. $30,000.


From these illustrations the $140,000 BMW looks like a cheap $35,000 Camry.


BMW is also so cheap that the current advertisements on Australian TV show an overseas model, i.e. that being a left hand drive.

BMW has gone to the extent of cutting back costs on advertising.

Truly becoming a cheap marque.