Quote:
Originally Posted by pbonsalb
I agree that the majority of M car owners never come close to exploring the potential of their cars. I agree most buy them for the status. And that is OK.
I like the performance of the M cars, though so can’t say I have explored all aspects of the potential. I have rarely tracked, for example. To me, the M cars are a better starting point for modding. I could start with a lower model and end up in pretty much the same place, but it is a lot of work to swap engines, transmissions, differentials, suspension parts, brakes, etc.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Phillies8008
I mean, it's pretty hilarious how some M people get all worked up, defensive and so on, trying to convince someone that only one particular type of car should ever have The Lord's Blessed Badge, and that all others are heretics against the Holy M. But here we are.
Listen: I have both, so I don't have any axe to grind on the whole issue. But there are definitely times and situations where an "M Lite" makes more sense than a full-on M. Some people are going to use the car as a commuter 95% of the time and will virtually never see the difference, other when they gaze upon thy holiest of badges. Believe it or not, the number of people that will ever track a car, M or not, is a rounding error, and the number of people who will ever go run the Tail of the Dragon is vanishingly few.
And while I'd agree that an M3 beats an M340i by every performance metric, those are not the only metrics that exist. For the vast, vast majority of people on this Earth money is a finite resource, and we have to allocate where we put it. For a car that's never going to be pushed, I'd argue that it makes a whole lot more sense to go with the Diet M, which will handily meet any excitement you want 98% of the time, rather than paying the significant premium that an M car represents, in purchase price, insurance, and upkeep. I mean if you just have money to burn or can raid Mommy and Daddy's trust fund whenever you like, then sure, get that M even if you only go to the grocery store twice a week and never break 30mph, if that's what makes you happy.
To be clear: I couldn't care less what car you buy, and I'm not telling anyone they're right or wrong for buying whatever the hell they want. I don't really care if you buy a Schwinn and tape M badges to it. But to say that "at least 80% people buy m lite car because they dont have/cant find financial reasoning for M 3/4/5" is equal parts reductive and arrogant. Lots of people with sufficient means to buy an $80k car don't because it doesn't fit their needs, use-case, doesn't make financial sense, or they would prefer to put that particular wood behind a different arrow. Maybe not over-buying when they don't need to is why they can buy an $80k car, no?
Honestly, this whole attitude is why a lot of people find BMW enthusiasts to be completely insufferable.
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In 2020 when the Ford Bronco was revealed, it wasn't even on my radar; I only found out about the Bronco from this subforum - LOL. With the E90 very long in the tooth and me coming up on retirement, I wanted one, last, new vehicle that I didn't need to wrench on constantly so I could wrench on the ones I have in the fleet (all are long in the tooth) - now just down to two Bimmers. Queue the Ford jokes...
So, I reserved a Bronco in September 2020 and finally took delivery in August 2022 after it was built in March of 2022 (thanks COVID). The near least-expensive trim, a 3-pedal Black Diamond with just one option, the Advanced Track auto transfercase. Do I need all the capabilities of the Bronco? No; I'll not rock crawl it ever, nor go bashing through the woods bouncing off trees and such. I will use it to run the local fire roads and get out of my property when the river floods. And mostly, pull the top for the summertime and drive it on nice days. Is it sort of the topic of M3 overkill? Yeah probably, but it was just $39K in 2022.
Could I have bought an M3 at the time? Sure, but I saved $40K, got the manual in a new vehicle I wanted, and now have the funds to pick up a new BMW K1600B for 20% below MSRP. 160 HP naturally aspirated BMW inline 6, 6-speed manual transmission, and 4.7 pounds per horsepower vs. the M3 at 8.1 pounds per horsepower.
Guess what was the better move for the quiver, a single M3, or a Bronco and K1600B Beemer? LOL.