@Krusty-Walnut @e90m3 @davesaddiction Just to jump in here I agree with "coming around to a design" and I have done that before but never from so far back...
I actively disliked BMWs the first time I saw an E46 3 series. It was a sliver sedan parked out back of the local Chilis while I was leaned up against my Mazda Protege 5 and I remember thinking (to e90s part about boring). "Man, that is a car. A car shaped car! What a shape...of a car to be a car. Stupendous! If you were an alien and just arrived to earth for the debriefing, MFs would be like, "this is how humans get around, they call it a car.""
*Alien golf clap
Erik Goplen hit and absolute grand slam AFAIC with the E46. Gorgeously tame shape and lines.
Obviously, I liked the E46 as soon as I saw it. And while I liked the E9X less at debut I certainly didn't dislike it and I think they are about equal now with nods to either car for certain aspects. F chassis I liked initially and still think it looks good and very BMW although I'm not interested in any of these cars. The G80 M3 though, I hated it. It has grown on me but not enough to get my checkbook out. When I started to see trouble getting an RS3, I put a deposit down for a build slot for a G80 M3. When my number came up. I spent some time with my rep specing it all out (IoM green/Tartufo/6 speed). Then I balked. The "lookback" is so important to me. I knew the look back on this car would be one of constant uncertainty.
"It looks good right? Yeah... It's good, weird nose but that green!..Aye but that nose. Good thing this wasn't a major expensive purchase! Oh wait it was? Well then oh well I guess I think I dunno. I love it though right? It's so cool and like new M3 right? yeah! Whooooo! Let's go to cars and coffee! Awesome, ok I'm selling it.
*Relief