Quote:
Originally Posted by Gatte
Quote:
Originally Posted by m34m
I realize everyone is thinking about their own situation and what this news means to them but I want to take a step back and say this is a great day for enthusiasts. BMW is doubling down on the M brand and broadening the range with some potentially seriously kick ass cars. This is awesome.  |
This is actually true. However, if BMW was really trying to look out for the enthusiasts, they should be making these cars with a manual transmission. Porsche equipped the new GT3 with a manual transmission even though it's half a second slower to 60.
I can't believe Van Meel actually said manual transmissions are bad from an engineering perspective because of whatever reasons he gave in his interview.
That's the sort of thing someone from the i-department of BMW should be saying, not the head of the M division. Just my opinion. |
I can give you a list of reasons why an automatic transmission is better for the manufacturer.
1- charge additional Markup on sale
2- not as easily damaged on test drive/loaner
3- when out of warranty - a higher failure rate than manual = more sales in service department
4- shorter lifespan than manual - see above
5- less likely for wear /tear on a lease vehicle
6- when a failure occurs - they connect a computer to it and tell you a solenoid has failed- Diagnostic time measured in minutes compared to diagnosing a failing manual transmission
7 - replacement parts are more expensive and more $$ money $$ for service departments to replace an entire transmission for $ 6-7K than to replace a clutch, a clutch master cylinder, clutch slave cylinder , or throw out bearing .. any of which could be replaced for a fraction of the price of an auto trans - let alone DCT-auto
( even MO money ... ).
8 - buyers with sticker shock from an proposed auto transmission failure tend to trade in and buy.... another auto transmission
So.. in addition to being " bad " from an engineering perspective according to Van Meel... manuals are HORRIBLE from a profit perspective when it comes to new car sales, parts department sales , service department sales .. pretty much the entire dealership !
Don't believe the hype - that "customers don't want manuals " ... in sports cars.
Manufacturers have been trying hard to sell sports car customers on their autoboxes with fancy names like " Tiptronic" and "DCT... and after decades they even made the autobox faster than a manual.
And yet still... Spots car Customers are leading a REVOLT and manufacturers are having to give way... and continue to offer manuals.
BMW has been trying to kill the 5 speed in the US M5 for decades ... they have finally done it by making it as big as a 7 series and making it AWD.
