Unfortunately, the only reason why they push out so many automatics, is because the majority of the buyers don't want stick. Otherwise, we'd still see many manual options as standard on the luxury sports cars.

The only car I'm surprised that came only in auto is the GT-R :okay:

You can get Mercedes with "AMG" styling (ie. AMG bumpers, side skirts, grille, etc...) but they don't label those cars with the AMG emblem. Mercedes only labels true AMG cars with the "AMG" emblems. It's those idiots that go on e-bay or whatever and get badges and stick them on their regular version cars and douche them out.

The reason for so many autos is,many people don't know how to drive a manual car,or they have gotten lazy.

I have a friend that purchased a Porsche instead of the GTR due to the lack of a manual transmission as a option.

Even if the latest and greatest autos shift faster than any human can, manual transmissions have always been about having control over the car. Most people don't keep their Bimmers after the warranty period now anyway, but I wish any future owners well when that transmission needs to be serviced.

Man > Machine.

M stands for MOOOOOO? The death to the M already came when they put it on their fat SUV's. Simple fact, no human can ever shift faster than a DCT and I know because I had it in the Evo! I absolutely hated it in slow traffic, but it was amazing at higher speeds. The fun factor vs manual however was completely destroyed.

For all those who use the excuse of how F1 cars and racers all use paddle shifts, please watch this video and the punch line at the end. For the lazies, 11 minutes is the best quote regarding manuals.

Looks like these manufacturers are going the way of what Toyota did.

Start selling "TRD" branded merchandise, accessories and "packages" if you will. Then again, the same idea saved Harley-Davidson from bankruptcy.

yeah and that probably means I may see M cars almost everywhere in Richmond, just like taxi cabs...that's sad.

I still like how they do that during the E30 generation also. It was cool and also more rare compare with the regular models.

but Toyota never sold exclusive TRD tuned cars. what they are doing is more akin to domestics, with their Mopar divisions and whatnot.

+1 drove my friends 6MT E92 M3 and it felt slow, like the engine is too fast for the gearbox to catch up if that made any sense... the DCT is so direct and so mechanical and lightning fast... I wouldn't get an M any other way. I mean going from 7th gear to 2nd gear and shoving you back in your seat in the same time it takes for you to blink is pretty awesome.

Banging through the gears in S6 with DSC off is every bit as engaging and visceral as a manual if not more overwhelming. Its easy to live with once you get used to it and has pretty much all the comfort of an auto + all the performance of a manual.

Manual is fun, but the DCT is just as fun in a different kind of way and frankly if I could only have one, I'd still take a DCT.

Back on topic... BMW is a relatively small company in the car world so they're doing what they need to do to survive in a world of higher fuel prices and more demanding consumers who want their cars to become personal computers.

It seems that the 1M was the last stand for the engineers and driving enthusiasts left in the company. If I had 70K lying around, I would buy one of those cars and store it for the next decade.

^ id probably buy three.. haha.

So which ones the M5?

http://f10.m5post.com/forums/attachm...1&d=1346107729

http://f10.m5post.com/forums/attachm...1&d=1346107658

Not to be a dick; but I don't think you're driving the 6mt anywhere near it's potential.

saw the intercooler part and i almost went

http://images.thetruthaboutcars.com/...alSpitting.png

the right one! right?

the one with the fender grill. you cant get that on any m package.

Btw, BMW bastardized the "is" moniker when it started using them to denote all 3-series coupes in the E36. The "M-performance line" is just a rehashing of what they did 20 years ago.

The "is" moniker used to mean something in the days of the E28/E30: LSD, sport seats, on-board computer, upgraded stereo, leather wrapped tri-colour wheel, BBS basketweaves. The only E92 I'd consider owning is the 335is - at least it is different than your run of the mill E92 with options.

I also disagree. I've driven a 2012 BMW M3 DCT and a 2011 M3 manual. The DCT is no doubt faster, and yes, with the sportiest setting has lightning quick shifts. But it feels do disconnected from the driver. It's great that it blips throttle when it downshifts automatically when you slow down...but it's just removing even more driver involvement.

I'll take the 6 speed manual any day. BMW IS somewhat listening though. They still offer the manual on their new M5 and had to bring it back on the old M5 after people complained.

white one.

great example that shows real M and M PKG comparison..

Real M vehicles don't seems to be UNIQUE as much as the older ones before..

The aero mirrors, grille, BBK, wheels and fender flare are a giveaway.

I just look at the front air dam. The shape of the openings (especially the wrap around outside edge) is immediately recognizable of an M and is consistent throughout the current M line; I love that consistent lineage BMW designs have always had like the hofmeister kink and "round" headlights.

http://www.carspride.com/wp-content/...nt-Picture.jpg

http://www.carvegasus.com/wp-content...-Car-Front.jpg

http://f10.m5post.com/forums/attachm...1&d=1346107658

http://automotorcar.com/wp-content/u...oupe-Front.jpg

http://www.bmwblog.com/wp-content/up.../bmw_swSEm.jpg

http://www.carzi.com/wp-content/uplo...x6_m_front.jpg

I disagree. I've tried the DCT on a 335is and while it is fun for awhile and definitely shifts much faster than I ever could, not having a third pedal makes it feel really disconnected. Its like playing a playstation game where you just press a button and that's it - how fun is that? DCTs are good on the track for the few extra tenths of a second but in real world driving who needs that? A lot of people don't even bother with the paddles and just leave it in full auto mode too lessening the amount interaction you have with the machine. That's fine for a family car or SUV but to fully enjoy a sports car I believe it has to be a manual.

You don't have to drive fast with a manual transmission to have fun - that's not the point. Nailing a perfect upshift or downshift is just so gratifying. I find that the results are always more pleasurable when you have to work for it or play a part to get there - you don't get that when you just press some paddles. Rev match downshifting and heel toeing really up the fun factor of driving a bimmer too. The fact that not a lot of people are capable of those or of even driving a manual makes it even more special because it took time and practice to get there while any 17 year old mainlander can take mommy's m3 and shift super fast.

Well the next big thing for BMW might be the reported M7 in 2015/16 which should make things quite interesting in a segment were you have Mercedes wiping the floor with the S63/S65. Part of me doesn't want BMW to go ahead with the M7 because it'll kill off the Alpina B7 which is an amazing car and such an exclusive car. I own the 750i, it's fast enough but it should never wear the m badge. It's a luxury barge, it's not a track car or a car you drag race.

In a prefect world I would only want to see BMW produce the M3 and M5 and maybe the M1 and M6, scrap the useless X5m and X6m and any other M models but it's not going to happen. You have an on going German horsepower war between Audi, BMW and Mercedes and they're going to keep producing M series cars in every model segment until someone says enough.

^
Agreed.

BMW should just keep the 7 series as-is and let Alpina live on with the B7.
(By the way, I recall an Alpina B7 at Autowest BMW on their showroom. Did that ever sell?)

When I got my alpina lip installed last month they had two white ones parked upstairs, went in a few weeks ago for a service appointment and they had one of the white ones sitting on the floor so I don't think so.

On the topic of the b7...here's the 2013 with full LED headlamps and different front spoiler and a nice hp/torque bump (540hp/538lb-ft) giving it a nice 0-60 sec time of 4.3secs. Absolutely stunning car and imo the most underrated luxury sedan hot rods.

http://shows.autospies.com/gallery/2...g/JX3C4962.jpg