Quote:
Originally Posted by seis-speed
We do not know, my hunch is that they will still offer a manual since they (BMW) have intimated thoroughly that they will, but there has been an adjustment of sorts, where the Pure, Base, Comp has been rearranged and a variant might be eliminated, probably Pure or Base.
The insider said he will no longer confirm manual, but take rates on 6MT F80's was ~ 30% in North America the largest M3 market in the World, so it would be asinine not to offer the M3 in a manual. The take rate for M2 has been ~ 50% so 6MT is doing well recently, as opposed to Audi dropping it from the S4/A4 where take rates were below 10% in North America which is sad.
IMO, no way BMW tells ~ 30% of NA buyers to check out the competition, it makes no sense to not offer a 6MT, but it does not hurt to let your feelings be expressed. BMW! Give us three pedals!!!
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16,000 F80 M3 sold in USA...roughly average around 3,000 per year
4,500 Manuals total
Or less than a 1,000 a year average.
For a Company that sells roughly 2,000,000 cars a year.
Peanuts.
Less than 1,000 cars a year isn't even noticed on the financial books.
In fact, the added platform parts cost savings probably make it a wash.
Likewise, you have made an assumption not based in facts that BMW will lose all 4,500 MT buyers to another brand.