BMW M4 & No Manual
 

"Drive will be sent to the rear wheels through BMW M’s seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, essentially the same transmission as found in the M5 and M6. A manual version is understood to be off the cards for the first time in the M3’s history"

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/pe...ed-latest-pics



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Sad sad day when a MT is no longer offered in an M3 (idk why they called the 4 door one the m3 and the coupe an m4, so silly)

Gotta say, I LOVE that color!

all hail the puke green

Well at that price point and the current tech.; autos are starting to best manuals...

Stupid move. I would never buy a car like an M3 without a manual.

+1

I hate to say it because I've always owned manuals, but BMW's DCT Transmission in the previous M3, and in the new M5/M6 is absolutely phenomenal on the track. Off the track it's getting better, still a bit iffy, but that wouldn't stop me from buying one. Completely dry this car is supposed to be under 3300lbs with 400HP+, and with this transmission should be a big winner here.

Yes, awful in that color, but who cares :bonk:

"Better" maybe for performance, but I dunno, it just feels like something is lost. I prefer being clutch connected.

Bummer there's no manual option. Ruins it for me.

There is something to be said for the spirit of driving. When all you're doing is turning a wheel and giving gas/brakes, it feels like you're racing in an arcade game. Even if it is faster.

Only thing that really stands out is the I6, only reason to get the damn thing!

Good curb weight though...

One would think that on a forum for a vehicle known for its driving dynamics far more than its speed, that one wouldn't need to explain why it's not all about speed when it comes to which is the 'better' transmission.

Face only a mother could love.

No manual, kinda saw that coming.

It has to do with dollars & cents. The M4 will be more expensive than the M3 and in BMW tradition the higher the number the more higher on the model line up. It's just as simple as that. BMW afficianados will understand that.

I skipped the E92 M3, after my not so good experience with the E46 M3, but I'm thinking of going back. The one in that picture might have be in a nasty color, but you can't argue against ANYTHING that's got an M on the trunk. My next car will be a toss up between the Cayman S or a M4. The BRZ is my first and last Subaru for sure. Don't get me wrong, it's a fun little car, but IMHO it's more of a weekend/project car than a DD. If you're used to driving cars in the Sports Luxury category, it's difficult to do without the luxury part of the equation. This hit me in the face when I got into my friend's recently purchased RS5. Sure it isn't 2700 lbs. and yes it costs more than double of what a BRZ costs, but once you've been coddled in sport luxury, it's hard to go back. Just my 2 cents.

I must be the most ignorant BMW afficianado then.


Eh, its not all its cracked up to be. I came from a newer BMW with all the luxury and all the power, I still enjoy the 'drive' of the FR-S more. I miss the blinding speed of my 135i with ~430whp/~500wtq though.

Then again, I'm only 25, so maybe I have to get all this sports car fever out of my system.

You had one Bimmer and call yourself an afficanado? :iono: I've had over 8 and still dont' consider myself one. To each their own. In either case, when it comes to 4 door or 2, majority of the time the coupes are more expensive. Or higher up on the model line up. Even though they're easier and cheaper to make. Go figure... That's why I was pointing out that the reasoning behind why the coupe is the 4 instead of the 3. Did you have a point on the matter?

Car culture and aficionado does not work well together.

Ah yes lets go have some wine and cheese with my M3.

I'm sure everyone here is foaming at the mouth at your 8 bmws you've owned. :laughabove:

I was being snarky because apparently me asking about the M4 nomenclature was a no-brainer. If you frequent e90 post at all you'd know where I'm coming from. The name makes no sense, as you know Mr. I've-owned-8-BMWs, the E46 only came in a coupe and that is considered one of the best M3s made, along with the E30.
Besides, saying the price difference is the reason why the M3 and M4 are named the way they are because of price is asinine. They're both "3-series", technically, in everything but name. The pricing is about the same.

I consider myself an "afficianado" because I like BMWs. Do YOU have a point?

Bah! I came from an E60 550i Sport that I tracked thrice. Yes, the 550i's amazing seats and Logic 7 stereo are better. However, as a driver's and modder's car, there, there is no comparison. None at all.

I can see myself installing Recaro ventilated seats, or making grabbing the ventilated seat out of a Kia Forte. I can see myself upgrading the stereo, brakes, and suspension then installing a turbo or supercharger. I cannot see myself going back to a BMW unless they come out with a 135i under 3000lbs or if some injury makes me to frail to use the FR-S.

Sounds fun, actually.

Well Mr. 400 hp 135i afficianado hahahaha. I guess you no read very well does you? I think I've made my point on two different occasions if you were able to put the letters together above. Should I waste my time on another attempt??? I'd rather not.

You sound like a very respectable individual, and we all are blessed by your presence. Please return sometime soon to bestow on us more precious tidbits of information, so we peons with only one prior bmw ownership can become true 'afficianados'.

That's different for everyone... I have a E39 530i and my father has an E93 M3 (which I've put 9K miles of the 13K it already has) and I don't lack anything in my FR-S apart from leather seats and auto dim rear view mirror...

Of course, everyone is different in terms of what they can and cannot do with in a DD, but man when you get into a car with a nice interior there's a noticable difference. It's also true that every time I come accross a stretch of twisty roads I quickly forget all that, but I live in the land of bumper to bumper traffic. So having some luxuries does play a part.

Did no one else notice the M1 Concept in the background?

Aside from the missing leather... what's nicer in a BMW? I honestly can't find one single thing I would put into my FR-S...

It's more of a subjective thing, but it's one you can easily feel when you sit in nicer car. Not just a BMW. I guess I just miss that part. I'll keep the BRZ as a weekend car to enjoy, but as a DD, that I spend hours each day in, I'd prefer something with a bit more luxury along with the sport.

That's you then...

My mother has a lexus GS350, and it's very "luxurious" (wood panels, leather, touch screen) and hate being in that car...

Both cars have:
Soft touch dash
Dual climate control
Touch screen radio (better on the FR-S since the climate control isn't part of the goddamned touch screen)
Aux in
Ipod in
Bluetooth


Lexus over FR-S:
Leather
Fake wood panels (lol)


And as far as DD goes, the FR-S is a much better DD than the M3... I'm sorry... but a 2 hour drive will leave you thrashed in the M3... whereas the FR-S has a much more subtle and comfortable ride.


I will tell you that between a Mustang and a BMW the difference is night and day.

I bought my BRZ manual because generally manuals take better power modification. The auto appears to be pretty good in our cars so if in a few years they are shown to be able to handle increased output reliably I would gladly trade mine for one.

For me the driving experience is about getting a car to its limits around corners, braking at the right spot and putting the power down at the right moment. My stick shift driving ability, and I'm sure many others, could never best a computer when it comes to those areas (mainly because of heel toe im bad at).

But regardless I do enjoy shifting my gears everyday right now but driving a good higher end sports car auto would take nothing away from my enjoyment of driving a sports car.

I'll agree that the M3 had a pretty rough ride, but why in the world would you bring your mom's GS into this? I was referring to cars like the Cayman, M3 and the new M4. Not luxury cars.

I guess what I'm referring to is the overall build quality and craftsmanship of the cars . Honestly, the BRZ does the job, but it sure isn't my definition of sports luxury. But again, to each their own.

Damn that thing looks nice, even with the Grey Poupon Dijon mustard yellow paint.

After seeing my buddy Khoa from khoalty.com countless issues with his past M3's, I wonder how this M4 will pan out.

You still haven't defined what makes the BMW luxurious over the BRZ or FR-S... I've driven plenty of BMW's and I feel right at home driving the FR-S :iono:

The most interesting part of this equation probably will be the new Mustang next year. Rumors of 400 lb weight loss and being reduced by ~15" in length, and we all know it's getting IRS and will keep the 5.0 V8.

So M3 performance for ~30-35 grand? Again? Can't really lose with that one, now can you. :D

If they do make it IRS, I may consider it as an option...

Hah! You ever owned a luxury car? There IS a difference. Just not what I want right now. Maybe not ever again.

2002 BMW E39 530i (mine), 2011 BMW E93 M3 (my father's, but I drive it more than him), 2008 Lexus GS350 (my mother's)

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps76855b26.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...s/L1020588.jpg

It's the minutia and impalpable things that make a luxury car a luxury car. The heavy thunk when you close the door, the absence of wind noise, less road noise, cool little gidgets and gadgets that spoil you like the ventilated seating and heated steering wheel.

The twins (high spec GT86 and BRZ Limited) have many of the things you'd find a luxury car, but not executed to the level of a luxury car. What do you want at $30K OTD? In any case, it's kind of obnoxious that you can't really find many good sports cars that aren't also luxury cars or executive/businessman cars. The BRZ does well in regard; BMW...well, they're not so sporty outside of their muscle cars (///M) and their muscle cars are quite luxurious as well. Thankfully, those who pine after and enjoy Euro cars can easily afford them after a few years of depreciation.

I like getting into and driving Spartan sports cars more than luxobarges, personally. BMW should make luxobarges, of course, but they should also make at least one smaller, lighter-weight sporty car as well. I hope they build something more like the 2002, or even the E30 again sometime. Even if the new M3/M4 are 3300 lb., that's still way too Buick-like for me. Hopefully they'll learn something from Toyobaru and develop something more minimalist, but I'm not holding my breath...

People forget that the e30 was jammed packed with every luxury available the time. It just happens to be light because it was small and there wasn't that many "luxuries" in the day!