[Bimmerfun82]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

Your Motor1 article is quoting the one from BMW Blog that I posted yesterday as the source.

Maybe he’s really ChatGPT in disguise

[BMWGirlFL]

Originally Posted by ynguldyn

Wish I'd been able to see mine in this way.

[DDS2015]

Originally Posted by ynguldyn

BTW I'm not seeing manual Z4s for any other markets.

What about Canada? Or does that fall under USA?

[ynguldyn]

Originally Posted by DDS2015

What about Canada? Or does that fall under USA?

It does but whether the BMW management for the country offers it for sale I can't tell.

[mjposner]

Assuming these US numbers for Z4s sold are correct:
2021 2.367
2020 2.371
2019 2.941

And assuming the take rate for a manual is 25%, is BMW going to go to the trouble to add a manual just to sell 500 cars?

My two cents says unlikely

[Bimmerfun82]

Originally Posted by mjposner

Assuming these US numbers for Z4s sold are correct:
2021 2.367
2020 2.371
2019 2.941

And assuming the take rate for a manual is 25%, is BMW going to go to the trouble to add a manual just to sell 500 cars?

My two cents says unlikely

Yeah agree…. Unless…. it would steal share from Supra and Boxster and be additive? My guess is they would charge the same price and it’s less cost

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by Bimmerfun82

Yeah agree…. Unless…. it would steal share from Supra and Boxster and be additive? My guess is they would charge the same price and it’s less cost

If the 8 speed automatic transmission is standard they might charge more for the MT knowing that there are people craving it and will pay extra.

[jdhiro]

Originally Posted by mjposner

Assuming these US numbers for Z4s sold are correct:
2021 2.367
2020 2.371
2019 2.941

And assuming the take rate for a manual is 25%, is BMW going to go to the trouble to add a manual just to sell 500 cars?

My two cents says unlikely

I get so frustrated with this BMW Z car policy of:

1. Make something people don’t want.
2. Say something like “people just don’t buy roadsters anymore”.
3. Shrug.
4. Do nothing.

Yes, if they don’t add things like enthusiast engines and transmissions to a 2-seat “sports car”, they won’t sell that many. This is self-defeating behavior.

[Bimmerfun82]

Originally Posted by jdhiro

I get so frustrated with this BMW Z car policy of:

1. Make something people don’t want.
2. Say something like “people just don’t buy roadsters anymore”.
3. Shrug.
4. Do nothing.

Yes, if they don’t add things like enthusiast engines and transmissions to a 2-seat “sports car”, they won’t sell that many. This is self-defeating behavior.

On the one hand, this is the most “naturally attractive” of all BMW’s (quoting the article shared), so they did something right plus soft top reduced weight…

On the other hand, they co-developed with Toyota, and I assume in doing so they had certain stipulations - my guess is one or two of those explain why we don’t have 1) a manual option 2) m coupe. Probably never intended to from the start.

Yet BMW creates numerous variants of the higher volume M3/4 and X’s while doing the bare minimum on the Z. It’s a missed opportunity with engineering passion pushed to the background for marketing and sales and finance priorities…

All that being said, it’s a compromise and a very sweet one. I much prefer the Z to the Boxster or SL or Miata for the blend of price, ride quality, enjoyment, comfort, etc. I really hope they keep selling it through 2030+.

[ynguldyn]

Originally Posted by mjposner

My two cents says unlikely

I post the screenshot of an actual test item (I should add - one of several), and your two cents are still "unlikely"? OK.

[DDS2015]

Originally Posted by ynguldyn

It does but whether the BMW management for the country offers it for sale I can't tell.

So it’ll probably come here also. We have a fairly good take rate of Manual cars. I recently spoke with my wallet on an individual M4 with manual. I’d love to add the Z in its last year of production.

[ynguldyn]

Originally Posted by Bimmerfun82

I really hope they keep selling it through 2030+.

Here's the bad news: I see no hints of a replacement model anywhere. Not even the little things that pop up first, 3-4 years ahead of the models' production start.

[Westside Guy]

EOP is supposed to be 2025.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Originally Posted by mjposner

Assuming these US numbers for Z4s sold are correct:
2021 2.367
2020 2.371
2019 2.941

And assuming the take rate for a manual is 25%, is BMW going to go to the trouble to add a manual just to sell 500 cars?

My two cents says unlikely

Don't think they will make 20%. Big chunk of the potential consumers can't even drive a manual. The Corvettes had dropped to the 20% rate with the ending of C7 production. The C8 is 100% DCT.

Not as hard to do from scratch. They will just leverage the Toyota pieces. Expect the only real extra cost would be EPA mileage & pollution testing.

[StanDiego]

Originally Posted by ynguldyn

In case you think this is a production car, look at the I-Level.

Sorry but, other than the obvious data, I don't understand what I'm looking at here nor the significance of the I-Level.

[BMWGirlFL]

Originally Posted by StanDiego

Sorry but, other than the obvious data, I don't understand what I'm looking at here nor the significance of the I-Level.

Screen shot looks like a BMW system. I don't know which one. Showing a vehicle built for testing.


This is AIR. Ask your SA to show or here for $$:
https://bmwtechinfo.bmwgroup.com/#/login

[AustinPowers007]

Originally Posted by ynguldyn

I post the screenshot of an actual test item (I should add - one of several), and your two cents are still "unlikely"? OK.

This guy (mjposner) is a Negative Nelly who’s been saying there won’t be a manual Z4 for the past two years. (Check out his comments on an earlier thread.) I hope he’s wrong as much because I will be the first to buy a manual Z4 if it does come out as I want this arrogant tool to be proven wrong.

[mjposner]

The picture proves nothing, they already sell a manual Z4 in Europe, the i20, http://www.drive.com.au/reviews/2020...-manual-review. Could just be for that or not.

Good news is tat manual sales are up: www.theautopian.com/manual-gearbox-popularity

Bad news is that the take rate is only 1.7%

I am not a negative nelly, but a realistic ron. I also hope I am wrong.

To help I'll make everyone this offer:

I will create an escrow agreement for a $100 - $1,000? deposit, with all funds held in my law firm trust account as a downpayment on a manual transmission Z4 (s30i or m40i?). If we get at least XX (10? 50?) deposits, I will reach out to my contacts at BMW and BMWCCA and show them the demand. Time to put your money where your mouth is, especially AustinPowers007. Will hold for xx months, and if no manual, then the money gets refunded.

[jdhiro]

Add an S58 and I'll throw in a 10k deposit

[n55f15]

It very clearly says B58 in Ynguldyn's screenshot. There's no B58 manual Z4 in Europe

Originally Posted by mjposner

The picture proves nothing, they already sell a manual Z4 in Europe, the i20, http://www.drive.com.au/reviews/2020...-manual-review. Could just be for that or not.

Good news is tat manual sales are up: www.theautopian.com/manual-gearbox-popularity

Bad news is that the take rate is only 1.7%

I am not a negative nelly, but a realistic ron. I also hope I am wrong.

To help I'll make everyone this offer:

I will create an escrow agreement for a $100 - $1,000? deposit, with all funds held in my law firm trust account as a downpayment on a manual transmission Z4 (s30i or m40i?). If we get at least XX (10? 50?) deposits, I will reach out to my contacts at BMW and BMWCCA and show them the demand. Time to put your money where your mouth is, especially AustinPowers007. Will hold for xx months, and if no manual, then the money gets refunded.

[stlcdr]

I'm a bit of a 'negative nancy' myself. everything looks promising based on the previous posts, but until there's a proper photograph or video of a stick in an actual Z4, I'm still a bit dubious.

Of course, if (when!) they do, while I'm not speculative of the value or classic status, I think the manual Z4 will definitely be a collectors item.

[StanDiego]

Originally Posted by BMWGirlFL

Screen shot looks like a BMW system. I don't know which one. Showing a vehicle built for testing.

Thanks. That's the part I didn't understand, the context of the screen shot and what it represented (vehicle built for testing).