[-EndOfAnEra-]

Originally Posted by ssuene93

Congrats on the new ride and very thorough write up. Stay healthy and enjoy the ride!

Thanks and you too!

Originally Posted by Shift_Vas

I know I couldn't go from an enthusiast spec BMW (rwd,manual,m-sport) to a new BMW. Mostly because all the new cars are just not special. They are dime a dozen now.

Enjoy the new ride.

I've been there. This was a completely unthinkable move until a year ago. Kids change everything, and doing everything I could to safeguard my son and family overruled even this.

I went out driving in my "new normal" today, auto-hold on and driving only with the paddles. It's very different in around town driving but the essence of what made manual special (the absolute control) is still there if a bit muted. I'm confident as my skill increases, the gap will shrink. There is no replacement for the clutch pedal though, that's just a casualty of war for me. I miss heel and toe...

Originally Posted by GioM3

Thanks for sharing, I had 2007 335i manual, great car but, after 4 years and 160k miles, it had to go, after that I bought 2008 e92 M3 manual, after small exhaust modification it transformed from good car to great one, now I have a dilemma, we have two cars in family, our f31 320d estate and my M3, we need to switch to one car from next year, reading your story and many others, I still can't decide to go for F80 M3 CP Manual or M340i xDrive auto, why didn't you go for F80 M3?

Oh boy. I came THIS close to ordering an F80 M3 at the end of production. The numbers didn't align for a new one, but what ultimately killed it for me was the lack of adaptive cruise, another feature I never thought I needed until I took some 14 hour road trips in cars with it. Never ever arrived at my destination feeling more fresh and alert than that before, it made it a must-have.

I even considered it with DCT when I realized my wife needed to be able to drive it. The real one that almost broke me was the M2 Competition. If I didn't need 4 doors, I would have gone for that and NEVER looked back!

Originally Posted by TheM3Boy

Thank you for the Amazing post and Congrats on the purchase!

There are so many similarities that at times it felt like I am reading my own story!
I still haven't let go of the E90 and I know I will cry when I do!

Stay safe!

Thanks so much, you as well! Good luck!