Good analogy and report from the EVO side of the world. I think it is a general trend. The manufacturers are getting better at making the car "better" in all regards simultaneously and often this means removing some rough edges. The funny thing we have already seen on the M3 side is the M-DCT. Folks (and folks here) are already complaining that the M-DCT will be "too smooth". Not to mention its superior performance in almost all conditions. That option will definitely make the new M3 a real limp/softy/GT car and it clearly won't be much fun
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