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      07-12-2015, 09:30 AM   #316
bigjae1976
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Drives: 11 E90 M3 Individual
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Houston, TX

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Garage List
2004 BMW M3  [4.50]
2011 BMW E90 M3  [5.25]
2013 BMW 328i  [5.00]
With BMW's push to sell more cars and the creation of 1-8 series, I cars, GTS and SUV coupes...BMW Is seeing a significant shift in its customer base.

BMW includes more consumers and a decreasing percentage of enthusiasts. These consumers don't give a rat's ass about a manual transmission. It's this group that is driving BMW's sales growth and ability to survive as an independent car manufacturer.

As M cars become more mainstream, the voice of the enthusiast will become less influential and the death of the manual will follow. Driving experience and involvement is becoming irrelevant.

Hopefully BMW will continue to acknowledge it is the enthusiast who has given the BMW and M brand its reputation. IMO, that's the only reason why M cars still have manual transmissions.
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