BMW May Eliminate 5 Series Wagon in Favor of New GT Crossover

I love it. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." I think the GT version is better looking, but I still wouldn't buy it.

What a horrible decision.

It's not surprising though. Remember when Karl talked to BMW's chief of NA and took our questions to him? I explicitly remember one of the questions pertaining to a 5-door 1-series coming to our shores. The president of NA said that he doubted it'd make an appearance because of America's adversity to wagons.

I think it's flawed logic on BMW's part. If they're not making money selling their 5- and 3-series wagons, maybe they should lower the price a bit. Build them here if they have to. They have the factories to do so.

Yeah, all the car manufacturers say "wagons don't sell in the US" but then they do stuff like limit the engine choices in their wagons (can't get the diesel or the 3.0 TT in the 3-series wagon, the 5-series wagon is 3.0 TT w/ AWD only, Audi has never let you get an A6 Avant with the V8 unless it was an Allroad, and of course now you can only get the A4 Avant with the 2.0T and a 6-speed auto with all-wheel drive. No wonder people don't buy wagons! The choices are so limited!)

^ Agreed. As ugly as the 5 series GT is it will probably sell better than the currently sold wagon in America. I must say I've never been fond of the look of the 5 series wagon. The 3 series wagon and GT look much better, now all we need is the 35i engine in the 3 and a V8 in the 5. And what's with just the 2.0T in A4 avant? Does anyone else think the new A4 avant looks uglier than the previous model? What I wouldn't do for a RS4 Avant or a E65 Wagon.

Nooooooooooo! Where's the petition? I'll sign it, even with my real name. Doesn't anybody else think the 5 Series GT is BMW's Aztek, or R-Class?

One more reason why moving out of the U.S. might be a good idea...

Wow, another example of Germans not getting it...

The number of families willing to spend $55k on a wagon that isn't measurably nicer or larger than a comparable SUV from any number of manufacturers is small. It's the same phenomenon that led M-B to drop the price of the R-Class (which didn't help sales much, anyway).

It'd be interesting to hear if Oldham sees any real reason for his family to opt for a 5-Series wagon over their Passat wagon...

I can't see why anyone would buy the 5 series GT over the wagon but then I also can't see why anyone would buy a X5 over a 5 series wagon.

It's hard to understand people who buy for an image.

Dude an X5 kicks ass!
The X5 4.8i is simply majestic to behold. (It's much more decorated and detailed than the 3.0i. The 3.0i is kind of, eh.)

Why someone would buy an X5 over a 5-series?
Well remember SUV "size" classes are one size larger than sedan "size classes". So a "midsized" SUV has the passenger room of a "large" sedan.
That makes the X5 a screaming bargain, priced the same as a 5-series, while having the passenger room of a large sedan.
60" shoulder room across. Won't be finding that in a "midsized" sedan.
To think about it further, you won't find 60" shoulder room in a large sedan either. Screeeeeeeeaming bargain!

The 5 GT looks pretty good too.
That 5 wagon side profile looks stupid. It doesn't flow. Then again the 5 GT side profile doesn't flow either. Out with the poor selling old, in with the ? selling new.

I guess styling is subjective. I think the X5 looks silly. A poser SUV at best, not a good truck or a good car.

It may have a little more rear shoulder room but it's still really a 4 seater. The extra space isn't put to good use.

The Gt looks cluttered and awkward. The wagon is nice and clean with a timeless look.

"The extra space isn't put to good use"?
You know how rich people like you to not stand right next to them?
When I stand right next to them, they give me this all funny look and get pissed off.
And I'm like, what? This is how we do it. I don't understand why you're pissed off that I'm right next to you in line. I did brush my teeth but I can't garantee it is still fresh this late in the afternoon.

Rich people like their "personal space". Nothing should be within 10 feet of them. Because that's how they roll. They're used to their mega houses where the wall is at the other end of the universe, and it takes a chauffeur 10 minutes to drive up their driveway.

Space. Above and beyond.
That's why you want the shoulder room. Stay the hell far far away from me.
Perfectly good use.

The E61 is nice! They better not replace it with the 5 Series GT!!!

Or else...

I'll bet manu's like Subaru, Volvo and VW (strong wagon models) love reading stories like this.

If BMW manages to sell more GT's than wagons I'll print this post out and eat it.