Quote:
Originally Posted by ///M4ster Yoda
Quote:
Originally Posted by JCZ5
People keep saying "manuals are all but gone"...well, again that depends on perspective. Sure, there are much less MT options nowadays compared to 20-30 years ago, but there are still options readily available. Not all cars need a manual transmission option. For example, I am fine with regular 3/4/5 series without a MT. However, BMW has been great by providing the M2/3/4 with a MT because they're more catered towards the driving experience. Also, there are still plenty of car enthusiasts working at C-suite levels at BMW, etc. I think we will be good for some time.
In the value oriented category, you still have the venerable MX5, the mustang, Hyundai N series, etc in MT. If you want to step up, there are Porsche, Lotus, Aston Martin. If you want very niche brands, there are Morgan, BAC, Aerial, etc.
Let's give another example. During the quartz crisis, people thought mechanical watches were going to disappear. Nowadays, there has been a resurgence and mechanical watches have increased in popularity. Similar parallels can be drawn with typewriters, record players, Hi-Fi systems. Each example, people thought it was going to disappear. But in each, there were a resurgence of interest. Either by people who have previously experienced the analog pleasure of these items or new generations who have come to appreciate it.
An let me add, the car enthusiast crowd is a lot larger than the watch, typewriter, record player and Hi-Fi system crowd...
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While I agree with a lot of what you posted the manual transmission "issue" is more complex than say mechanical watches.
I'll pose this question. Who are BMWs "core" customers these days? Simple question. It's soccer moms, granny's, and non-enthusiast badge seekers. Let's not forget the chinese. Non of these people care about manual transmission cars. This is most likely the last generation for them in BMW land. Honestly, I don't care and I'm more pissed about cancellation of ED, huge fugly front ends, Lexus rear ends, and loss of DCT.
Back on topic. We have a wall in our Den of framed pics of all our EDs with a Zoll plate from each trip. Amazing memories. My wife just yesterday said to me how pissed she is they cancelled it and we won't get to bring our little guy on an ED adventure. Pretty much the nail in the coffin for out time with BMW. I almost could have leased a bugs bunny ///M just to do ED but now that is cancelled. Fuck no. I'll go with a CPO 911 and ED on a Merc for the wife. Such a shame. |
I appreciate your thoughtful response. I guess we shall see in 7 years time? I'm assuming that's the average lifecycle of the next gen car.
And I too I'm disappointed on ED being cancelled. It was high in my bucket list. Would have made my M2C pickup just that much more special. Luckily, I have previously visited Welt and the museum. But wow to walk down those staircase and see your car on the turnstile...
Glad you and your wife had a fantastic time and a memory that will be with you two forever.