First Post - Odd 2013 750i Question Please!

Hello All -

Been lurking for 6 months here and you all don't even KNOW how much you have helped me already!

Here's a weird one:

I plan to lease a new 2013 750i in the next month or two. I test drove one with the M-Sport package and I love it! I'm 6'2, 200 and had plenty of room.

My wife is 5'2 and small. She won't test drive it. It's my car but I travel a lot and am probably gone 4 months of the year in total. I'd like her to drive the car when I'm not here. She says she's way too small to drive such a large car and the dash will be too high, etc.

Do any of your women drive the 7 series? What are their thoughts? I figure the seats can be adjusted 20 ways so there's going to be a position that works for any body size.

I just wanted some assurance that a petite woman can drive one of these beasts successfully!

Now all I have to do is come to grips with the lousy run-flats and the fact that I'm going to get flat tires. We have two cars down here in SoCal for the past 15 years and in 250K miles we have exactly zero flats. I noticed on the Edmunds long-term review of their 750i they had FOUR flats in less than 12 months on the same roads I drive all the time!

Why do you want her to drive something she doesn't want to? Marital problems? My wife is 5'3" and she doesn't like driving big cars, including the 750. She has her Mazda6, and always gets a mid size when she rents. It's a little silly to do something you don't want or have to if you have the option. The 7 series is a very long and wide car, with a low bumper. So expect her to curb some wheels parking and cutting tight corners, not to mention the odd front bumper scrape.

Conversely my wife loves being a passenger in the 750, and it's a great family car.

Nah, not so much marital problems (LOL) as the fact that she thinks it will be too large. I tell her that every one of her similarly-sized friends drive Suburbans, Denalis and Tahoes without issues and even though you're higher up in those SUVs they're still beasts.

Just trying to garner some real-world advice....

So have you ruled out a 5 series? My wife "wouldn't let me" get a 7 because of its size but she jumped right on board with a 5 and she even loves driving it. I think a person of your size would fit fine in a 5er.

Regarding curb rash another fester mentioned, with the surround cameras that doesn't really happen anymore.

Originally Posted by JD5150

I tell her that every one of her similarly-sized friends drive Suburbans, Denalis and Tahoes without issues and even though you're higher up in those SUVs they're still beasts.

A lot of mothers over here drive RX330s and Pilots. Not that many Suburbans. Is it a value for money thing or need to carry a lot of people?

I'm guessing, but I think those women would be better served with a smaller car, and then renting a hauler the 4 times a year it's needed.

You remember that jacket you bought on sale that you thought you would wear a lot more of? Don't turn the car into that for your wife.

Originally Posted by chrischeung

Why do you want her to drive something she doesn't want to? Marital problems? My wife is 5'3" and she doesn't like driving big cars, including the 750. She has her Mazda6, and always gets a mid size when she rents. It's a little silly to do something you don't want or have to if you have the option. The 7 series is a very long and wide car, with a low bumper. So expect her to curb some wheels parking and cutting tight corners, not to mention the odd front bumper scrape.

Conversely my wife loves being a passenger in the 750, and it's a great family car.

Agree... Don't force her into something she doesn't like or is apprehensive about. Let her enjoy the car as a passenger and maybe it will grow on her. Maybe she will ask you for the keys some day when you've blocked her in the driveway! Lol

My fiancée is 5'6" and loves the 7 but Preferes her 6... But her daily driver is a sizable QX56. After she drives any of the cars including the Infiniti, and I try to get in I almost impale myself on the steering wheel because she has the seat so far forward! I think it's a girl thing! Lol Obviously the car can be adjusted to a driver of almost any size but the comfort factor to drive a car that size has to be there!

On the other hand... I have met very few woman that don't treat cars more like a means from getting from point A to point B... ie curb strikes and front end damage are inevitable... So her not driving it may work out in your favor!

My wife had a 5 series and really liked it but one day while it was in for service she was given a 750 and thought it was the best car ever. (She is 5' 4"). So the following year we traded here 5 for a 7 because she could not get that car off her mind. Well after about a month of driving the 7 she was regretting it, not because she could not see or had any issues other than its a BIG car, so I listened to that for a year or so and when the 650 Gran Sport came out we traded and she has had it since October and thinks its the perfect size, go figure.

Tried sitting in a very loaded 335 F30? The current generation is about the same size as the early 90s E34 5 series. You can get a fully loaded F30 M Sport for about 56-57k MSRP. They're not cheap or chintzy optioned up, good size.

No 3's and 5's but I won't say my reason as it's way too shallow.

I guess it's going to be my car and a rare occasional driver for her. She drives a QX4 now and it's perfect size-wise. Oh well.......

Originally Posted by JD5150

No 3's and 5's but I won't say my reason as it's way too shallow.

Haha! So basically you don't want to be associated with riff raff like me who drive lowly 550's.

Kidding of course

OP...
I hear you. This will be your car and wife will drive on occassion.
Get it as she will be fine after a few laps around the blocks.
My wife is 5'4 and she has no prob with the 7. She actually loves driving it.

My wife loves driving the 7, except when it's time to park! Even then she has gotten pretty good at using the parking sensors (we don't have cameras on our 7), I am sure with time your wife will get used to it! I say get what you want, she will adapt and end up wanting to drive it more than you!

Happy Easter.

Funny, women don't want to drive big cars, but they jump right in their SUV tanks. My wife says the same thing, but then drives a 400hp SUV, but I did buy it for her.

My wife is 5´4 and gladly takes the 7 to a shopping trip, even though her own 325xia is right next to my car.

Never heard any complaints about the size.

The 7 is my car and my partner loves riding in it, he's too afraid drive such a "big" car. I want him to feel comfortable driving it on trips etc. but in a year, he's never once been interested in driving it. It's an L. We got a Forester last yr; it's his car. I love it and he's happy. But I cannot see a day when he'll ever drive the 7. Says it's the size and I believe him. Although he works nonprofit and I'm "all profit," I suspect another reason he doesn't want to get too comfortable behind the wheel is because he'll get hooked like the rest of us and want his own BMW.

Originally Posted by 06Black550i

The 7 is my car and my partner loves riding in it, he's too afraid drive such a "big" car. I want him to feel comfortable driving it on trips etc. but in a year, he's never once been interested in driving it. It's an L. We got a Forester last yr; it's his car. I love it and he's happy. But I cannot see a day when he'll ever drive the 7. Says it's the size and I believe him. Although he works nonprofit and I'm "all profit," I suspect another reason he doesn't want to get too comfortable behind the wheel is because he'll get hooked like the rest of us and want his own BMW.

Haha they are contagious! Drove in a friends' 1M coupe and it started from there, ditched domestics from now on...

Originally Posted by ChrisF02

Haha they are contagious! Drove in a friends' 1M coupe and it started from there, ditched domestics from now on...

So true. I actually hated BMW's until we got an E60 for my wife who wanted one. After sitting and driving it, I was like damn, this aint bad. 18 months later there was a F01 parked in my spot in the garage. Go figure!