BMW 2 series Gran Coupe - the small saloon with an identity crisis

[@robtt997]

Your reviews are excellent. Honest and knowledgeable.

[@andymcafee8550]

"Didn't really need that knob actually" You wot now, #dontbringbackknobs ???

[@davenelson1474]

I thought he said "Just need that knob actually", as in all those other buttons are not needed for radio/media operation, put those in the touchscreen system. Turning on subtitles seems to pick up the same translation. Maybe just his Irish accent???

[@andymcafee8550]

@@davenelson1474 The subtitles hadn't rendered when I first watched but only say that if extracted mid youtube splutter and out of context lol.

[@Brego66]

Completely agree. I was given a M 235i yesterday as my 640d F06 was in for a service and I thought it was absolutely dreadful. The driving assistance needed turned off permanently and it too jerked all the time. Great honest review.

[@cristiandemirel1918]

The greatest cars ever made had nothing to do with customer input, because customers generally don't know shit about cars and this BMW is the best example for this!

[@jirikrajnak9047]

7:51 i think that sigh says it all.

[@stephendoherty8291]

Weird back due to spoiler. Bonnet release pushes up bonnet when it hits a pedestrian, hence complicated mechanism. Is there a bigger screen option? Reviewers are always moaning about having just a digital volume control. Audi sells a nice A3 saloon and its tiny, better looking if less practical or popular as the sportback. 48v hybrid is put in now to avoid this stopstart jerkiness. Harder to fit in a small car. This might work better as an electric? Good news is that bmw are about to cut lots of niche models

[@martinbowden5724]

Well done Bob, say it as it is, every car has its good, bad, and its ugly side

[@joelyons886]

Why make the end of the car look "big" it's supposed to be a fastback... should slant, for me the car is a mishmash and doesn't really hit the spot... M2CW

[@CarsofGlasgow]

I agree

[@DaveHammondDublin]

"they didn't really need that knob there to be honest with you'................BOB BOB BOB what happened to 'Bring Back the KNob' hahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahaha have you sold out ha ha ha

[@toneill3818]

Bmw have killed the 1 and 2 series. What an absolute shame.

[@CarsofGlasgow]

yeah it is a shame!

[@nudgenudgewinkwink3212]

You are right bob, the active tourer is a great car better than and better value than any SUV equivalent.

[@daviddenley3512]

Thanks for the review Bob, I'm not to keen on it myself...rather just get the Series 3

[@beefiron]

"it doesn't really need that knob" - Who are you and what have you done with Bob?

[@MiniEggs1999]

“This wireless Apple CarPlay works perfectly well”.....can you say that again Bob 😂

[@ericstorey1864]

Great review Bob.

[@Ramorvideo1]

Hi Bob, agree with you on this model. I have the X1 and would not change for this

[@stuartmchugh1754]

I thought you were bring sarcastic about the wheels, the alloys look too big but the tyres maybe too small. The back is awful. Up there with a Ssangyong! Good looking side profile, reminds me of a Mazda 3 saloon. What happens when you use wired CarPlay and wireless charging?

[@cathalburke6710]

agree about the wheels. the turqouise colour is the nicest.

[@NedNew]

Newbridge and now Kildare Town are infested with traffic lights. Kildare County Council just love them. I'm glad you mentioned it. I wrote to the council a few years ago making exactly the comparison you mentioned (Newbridge v Portlaoise, Traffic lights v roundabouts). I asked half seriously if Kildare Town could be ceded to Laois since Kildare council haven't a clue. Gits.

[@daraghmorrissey]

Nice video Bob. Always liked Beemers but your feedback on the lack of engagement/excitement seems to be common with other reviewers of their new cars. The previous 2 series was a great 'sunday' car with the M2 being a hoot to drive and much more analog in the driving experience. Agree with Eric, its weird to be doing a gran coupe for a car this size. Also not a fan of the new grilles - the new 4 series is really nice from the back and sides but the grille looks massive relative to the rest of the car.

[@mickles1975]

Nah, the wheels are fine as far as I'm concerned. The back reminds me of an Alfa Romeo 159 with upside-down lights. The front reminds me of the elephant man. He's not an animal. He's a modern BMW.

[@mrwilliamhope]

Lovely review as ever and wonderful to hear your views on the 1.5 petrol engine with the DCT. As a new 1 series owner it a much easier car to live with. I love the car on the open road but the fuel economy really suffers.

[@31770]

The back looks like Alfa were asked to finish the job.

[@rabit818]

The frameless door is neat. The grille-bumper assembly will probably cost you. The rear is ungainly. I’ll have to see it in person. So is this car “the ultimate driving machine”?

[@billpidding1300]

Bob Bob Bob you say there's not much wrong with this car then you reel off a list of the things you don't like. Lol.

[@billpidding1300]

And more a commentary on the traffic situation than a car review.

[@jeffcarter7197]

Boy, you take no prisoners. I wonder if BMW will let you road test another car!

[@BobFlavinVideo]

Well I've just dropped back the 840i and currently driving the 3 series so it isn't a problem. Always tell the truth, it's much safer

[@stuartmchugh1754]

Last year, they said “sorry we don’t have the car you wanted, have an M5”... I think he’s ok!

[@cristiandemirel1918]

look at the megane sedan and you will understand where BMW got its inspiration for this car!

[@garethtalbot8950]

Great review again Bob. Don't like alloys. Pain to clean that many spokes 😁. Road noise shows up in video. Bigger tyre smaller alloy needed. Back end as someone said already like an Alfa Romeo.

[@ironhorsehero1988]

Hi Bob, random question that’s nothing to do with this vid. Why do all car manufacturers test “new secret” upcoming models in bizarre camouflage ?, is it so that someone will photograph it and “leak” it to the media because if it was black, white or any shade in between nobody would even notice, interested in your take on it.

[@CarsofGlasgow]

Great video Bob, I seen one of these yesterday. I am still unsure about the proportions (I think the 8GC is super sleek!)

[@FelipeCerdaBarra]

Good to see it in "real life"! Doesn't look as good as in the promotional pictures and videos. It reminds me of a Toyota Corolla.

[@oiyou5870]

The rear reminds me of the old Alfa 159.

[@irishsoccerfan4055]

The wheels do look small, are they 17 inch alloys?

[@russcattell955i]

How about the arches are too big ?

[@irishsoccerfan4055]

@@russcattell955i fair point

[@MrConor159]

In theory would a 48 volt system smooth out the slow speed driving.

[@rentrentrentlettings4178]

Hey Bob, what Garmin watch are you wearing please? Forget the car I like it and want to buy one, seriously, thanks 🤔👍

[@BobFlavinVideo]

It’s a Garmin 235 with a yellow strap that I got off eBay. A new strap freshens up all watches.

[@rentrentrentlettings4178]

Thanks Bob 👍

[@51StPi]

The Gran Coupe is an Active Tourer for people in denial that they've grown up/fashion victims, everything about the GC seems to be worse, dash, space and looks. Also the proper autos on the 2l diesel are far nicer.

[@ericrochford3134]

It’s not just the wheels, the whole car just doesn’t look right! I think its really a niche car within a niche...

[@andymcafee8550]

Just makes me think it's a rebranded Peugeot. Surprised BMW sank R&D cash into it, perhaps a good sized platform for future EV version?

[@kishona69]

I'm definitely in the minority here but I love it.

[@woutersijtsma1232]

It is actually a great car, especially the M235. What let's it down is the nanny technology. Start/stop? Dreadful. Speed limiter? On a M car? Really? Lane keep assist? May work in Europe, but not in the US.

[@AdrianNelson1507]

38k .. electric windows optional? 😀

[@1701_FyldeFlyer]

Looks like an Insignia back end. And pillarless windows all round? Yuk.

[@jacobthompson8507]

Gonads1259 Never noticed before, now you’ve said Insignia I totally agree. I was sat behind a bright red one yesterday and it looked disgusting 😂

[@tyhabib]

BMW created a 2 series Kia!

[@robc5955]

Buying a BMW is surely about a number of things one being the design how it looks and makes you feel, this one just doesn’t (in my view) make me lust after it or even think, oh that’s a nice car, it’s just an odd looking thing that has no practical benefit.

[@andymcafee8550]

You said 'Siri' in a video hahahahaha everyone watching with an iphone will have the same experience as you did lol

[@stevenlong5888]

Awfully dark in the back there Bob.

[@seth1455]

in 2020 Android had 72% of the world market share, yet reviewers are obsessed with Apple. No mention of Android Auto

[@howie2084]

Seen a bright blue one of those in dundrum the other day, its one of the worst cheap looking cars I've seen on the road. Nasty looking yolk. Great vid as ever tho bob.

[@MrTayto63]

as bmw goes ,it looks ok but then again I'm not a bmw fan anyway but pricey for what it is. its not practical as ok boot and small back for room for adults for 38k. hmmm,

[@MrSpawn]

I just bought that car :(

[@robertdoyle7399]

Great review Bob, didn’t feel like a proper BMW. Especially when you opened the door handles. They seemed cheap and tinny. Same with the door thunk. Disappointed with it overall

[@markturner-smith5309]

#Bobflavin I get the impression you are saying and the feel you have with the car that's it's a car that does the job as a BMW but does not gel as a "drivers car" or a "engineered BMW" both things BMW's normal have as a DNA. That DNA missing Audi A3 saloon please. Strikes me that BMW doing what VW tried with the Jetta (which became too big in the end, Bora V6 4motion fantastic, and the top end MK5 with the rare 2.0TFSI Golf GTI good. Had a top end MK5/6 "facelift" GT TDI 140/150ps Jetta myself good drive - not GTI good buy still good, great for for hailing a trailer around the UK when racing karts). However BMW going after a market sector no longer around otherwise we would still have a Jetta choice in the UK.

[@darrenmcdermott6443]

WHY ?

[@2807Batman]

It’s a bit of a mutant shape about it starts off well and ran out of idea towards the back 👎🏻 on this one

[@dMoniker]

The flickering headlights is not a good look anyway...

[@andymcafee8550]

Did you notice the flashing light on wiper stalk? That would do my head in big time!

[@Silver-st2zq]

😂

[@MegaProtius]

Mobile phone should be in glove compartment,,, not were you can reach it while driving 😋😋🚗🚗

[@papugenas]

that hideous yoke is a garbage

[@richfixescars]

Junior estate agents car.

[@eroche913]

Not a well executed design. At all. The back end reminds me of some late 80s Maserati when they reworked the 400 body for the 20th time and ended up with some fat plastic square arse on it. The A3 is a much smarter and better proportioned car.

[@patconway7402]

It’s a Kia

[@podge5555]

So ugly but still not as bad as the 1 series it’s based on 🤢

[@Silver-st2zq]

Good honest review Bob 👍awful looking BMW 🤢🤮 and with that less then smooth stop start no thanks BMW.

[@eamonnmcdermott1939]

Looks like a Fiat Tipo! Awful.

[@Tec2Nut]

BMWvare not what they were BMW have ruined the image for profit , I will never buy one again