09-19-2020, 12:34 PM | #2 |
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Its the same old story. No business case or enough sales to make one, even in EU, the manual is still paired to more "economy" engines and not the performance trims.
The roadster segment is sadly dying, however, Porsche will gladly sell you a Boxster and a manual transmission regardless of trim or engine. |
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09-19-2020, 03:06 PM | #3 | |
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09-19-2020, 03:30 PM | #4 | ||
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09-19-2020, 08:50 PM | #5 |
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09-20-2020, 08:41 AM | #6 |
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The MT is only offered on the smallest engine version (20i), not on the 30i or 40i.
Given the small sales number of the Z4 to begin with going through the certification process for a MT version for the U.S. seems pointless.
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09-20-2020, 12:49 PM | #7 |
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Then BMW should seriously consider incorporating a 6MT option into the larger engine versions of the Z4. Enthusiasts like myself (and there are many of us) would be ecstatic. Currently, manual transmission roadster buyers have only two choices: the Mazda Miata and the Porsche Boxster.
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09-20-2020, 01:14 PM | #8 | |
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I have always had manual transmissions (except for a 540i) and really disliked automatics. While I thoroughly enjoy the 6MT in my M4, I was totally surprised by how much I like the Z8F in my Z4. I think it is a great transmission.
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09-20-2020, 03:05 PM | #9 | |
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09-20-2020, 04:17 PM | #10 | |
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09-20-2020, 04:36 PM | #11 | ||
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09-20-2020, 05:15 PM | #12 | ||
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09-20-2020, 05:40 PM | #13 |
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My disagreement is based on the fact that 17% is not an insignificant percentage. It means nearly one in five M4 buyers opted for a manual transmission. Roadsters tend to be purchased by people who are true driving enthusiasts, so it stands to reason that the 6MT preference would be even higher on the Z4 than the M4.
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09-20-2020, 06:18 PM | #14 | |
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09-20-2020, 08:04 PM | #15 | ||
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09-20-2020, 09:03 PM | #16 | |
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So yes, it is my OPINION that demand would be there for a Z4 with 6MT based on having owned BMWs for more than 25 years and being in touch with a great many fellow BMW owners. Unlike you, I don't automatically assume that BMW knows best in having made the decision (so far) not to offer a 6MT option in North America. Last edited by AustinPowers007; 09-20-2020 at 09:10 PM.. |
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09-20-2020, 09:31 PM | #17 | |
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BMW must have each engine and transmission combination certified for sale in USA, which includes meeting emissions and fuel economy testing. This certification is time consuming and expensive. Limiting the combinations makes sense. You have the perfect right to your opinion, but you don't make BMW's decisions.
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09-20-2020, 10:38 PM | #18 | |
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All cheekiness aside, I don't accept your "BMW knows best" premise. While I think they make really great cars for the most part, I don't hold the company in the same institutional reverence that you seem to. In other words, the fact that BMW has chosen (thus far) not to offer a Z4 with 6MT in North American doesn't mean that we should assume BMW made a wise corporate decision. Corporations make bad decisions all the time. I may not have been around as long as you, but I'm old enough to remember the "New Coke" fiasco of 1985. Nuff said. Last edited by AustinPowers007; 09-20-2020 at 11:53 PM.. |
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09-21-2020, 05:50 AM | #19 |
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This is not at all about defending "BMW knows best". It is a reality though that Roadster (especially 6-cylinder combustion engine) are a dying breed and will soon go the way of the Dodo (SLC and TT are already gone).
The Z4 would not even exist without the Toyota collaboration. For BMW it makes no economic sense to go through the U.S. certification process for to sell 500+ cars more. M3/M4 are BMW's sports car icon. Hence, here it continues to make sense to at least offer one model with MT for the halo effect. Done & out.
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09-21-2020, 10:59 AM | #20 | |
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09-21-2020, 11:08 AM | #21 |
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For those of you that want one, I wish that BMW would sell it to you; me, I'm very happy with the ZF8 and would order that tranny regardless......especially if the 6MT was limited to the 4cyl.
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09-21-2020, 02:24 PM | #22 | |
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