You're right in that nostalgia definitely does funny things to people, and all cars feel number than they used to. Having said that, I really think what made the older generations truly standout, apart from their driving characteristics, is that their designers just nailed that aesthetic so well and for so long. They had that perfect teutonic design language...taut and athletic, yet crisp and restrained. An athlete in a great suit.
We all have different tastes, but I just don't see many people looking back at BMW today and pining for this design language. It's overwrought, angry, and disjointed. That iX to me honestly look like the Chinese knockoffs we used to laugh at a decade or two ago. But hey, maybe time does soften our perception, as I'm starting to think even the Chris Bangle designs are looking decent in comparison, and that was when things started going downhill.
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