Quote:
Originally Posted by Jbmw98
Here is where BMW messed up
1- Do they bother reading these forums to actually see what there customers want, instead of pandering to the china markets with huge grills and very chic styling that looks awful?
2. The new M3 will have a ZF, if they bothered to look at these forums they would know people still want the DCT.
3. If they kept the continuity of the F8X style with updated parts and tech, then they would have a winning car.
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First off, forums are just large self-confirming circlejerks. Just because people on here don't like something doesn't mean that is what will sell. Forums are an extremely small microcosm of the car world. Even a lot of enthusiasts stay off forums because they can get annoying and filled with people who don't know much about cars asking stupid questions.
About the automatic transmission: IMO, an automatic is an automatic (DCT or torque converted). Automatic lovers who diss manual lovers always used to say that it was about performance. That DCT automatics shifted more quickly and were faster 0-60 (completely ignoring the fun aspect of driving). But the ZF 8HP loses no performance to the DCT and it is objectively smoother in every day traffic and can keep up on track. So what is the argument for keeping the DCT? An auto is an auto. It doesn't matter if it has planetary gears or constant mesh two-shaft gearbox. If the shift speed is comparable and there is no slipping past 1st gear, it's all the same thing. The only thing that is different is the manual. My wife's car has an automatic and it shifts very fast. The M5 Comp basically feels like a slightly smoother DCT and is a track monster. What justification do you have for the DCT?
There's a very simple and good justification for the manual (other than the low take rate of course). It is more fun for a subset of the population. You simply cannot replicate that with a DCT or any automatic. I'm not saying it's for everyone, but a manual is a manual and an auto is an auto regardless of the type of gears it uses.
Also, what makes you think the Chinese market is why they are making such large grilles? Audi has large grilles, Mercedes has large grilles, everyone is making large grilles and I am confused why you think China is the reason they're making large grilles. Most of the general buying public seems to like larger grilles. But if it was China that was dictating this decision, why shouldn't a large market for these cars dictate this decision? If that's what the majority of customers want, it's hard to argue against demand. Do you think Chinese buyers don't deserve a say in what their car looks like? In BMWs' eyes, all money is green (or whatever color Euros are).
We have no idea what the M3 is going to look like. Part of the reason why test mules have such heavy camouflage is because the design is not complete (but mostly to keep their design under wraps - literally). So you are jumping to conclusions.