Quote:
Originally Posted by c63er
Do not take BMWs rationale for no manual at face value. While the numbers are surely correct, do not forget that the reason the number of people wanting manual is dropping is because very large numbers of people have simply left the brand to go to Mercedes AMG and Porsche. Countless former BMW fans are there right now.
No wonder both brands have been selling more now then ever in their history. No coincidence I'm sure.
But BMW is not unhappy about this shift. They care purely about maximum profit and nothing more. It is far more cost effective for them to sell M cars to undiscerning customers who only care about the badge and a bright colored car, similar to a child. It is more cost effective because engineering effort does not have to be put into innovation or the ever elusive "feel" of a car, as parts can be recycled across he entire BMW range as well as platforms. It's quite easy money. The same way vw/Audi has been operating since the 90s.
Of course BMW will learn the hard way that undiscerning customers are by definition fickle customers. They will quickly leave the brand for 3 reasons. (A) they are by definition sheep and lemmings so they will (b) follow the crowd. The leaders of any crowd are the dedicated and knowledgeable. The dedicated and knowledgeable car enthusiasts have either already left BMW or are waiting for a unicorn to re-emerge, which it will not and so they will also eventually leave. (C) finally, another manufacturer will figure out how to make something even more shiny and ridiculous then current day bmws are and the fickle idiots will go there. When that day comes well then it's game over. No enthusiasts and no idiots to keep things moving.
That's when bmws conversion to Toyota is complete. BMW has already lost all zeal for making a market (the way great companies like BMW of the past, apple, etc do), and now wait until others have carved out a market then they join in to bite at the periphery. Take for example the x2 and fwd 2gc. Shameful for BMW and will be totally forgettable products as a result. Do you remember when the x5 first came out. An SUV that drove like a BMW. It was a remarkable concept for its time and the product showed the amount of effort that went into it. A true feat and the x5 lineage was guaranteed for many years to come (and indeed up to present day). The same can be said for the 3 series and m3. Is this same mentality there with the x2 or 2gc? Of course not and after the newness of those products wears off people will continue to gravitate towards Mercedes and Audi offerings. A leader shapes the market.
Porsche on the other hand has figured out how to do it. Make something the enthusiasts love. The rank and file superficial idiots follow them and fill porsches coffers, but make no mistake it's because Porsche stays laser focused on the enhthusiast.
Take for example when the 991.1 gt3 was having serious engine failure issues. What did Porsche do? They invited enthusiasts to Porsche HQ. treated them well. Flew in a top executive from Germany who demonstrated the fixes being proposed and topped it off with a warranty for 120k miles on all engines, no matter who owns the car. That's how you treat enthusiasts. Keep them happy and they keep singing the praises and the lemmings follow.
BMW on the other hand takes a different approach to us. When an issue arises they obfuscate, ridicule or marginalize customers and sometimes (at least in the case of scott) throw out racist slander.
Of course enthusiasts are a drop in the bucket in sheer numbers, but we are no question the moral authority on cars and to take our opinions and our fandom for granted is the ultimate stupidity. While BMW ridicules, Porsche and Mercedes AMG are laughing all the way to the bank. Notice that as BMW is phasing out manuals Porsche is distilling manuals across their lineup in the coming generation. No coincidence I'm sure.
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Wow Amen. Such an ominous but true post from the heart.