Interesting read...GTS content

[Trawler]

Agree with this.

Was reading this thread earlier which argues a different (but related) topic.....

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=1441631

Just read the first page then gave up. The mrs loves the look of the R8 over so called super cars

[MarcM]

I think the crux of the problem is that unlike the Porsche and the 911 all of BMWs hot offerings are based on models that can trace their linnnage back to boggo 3 and 4 series. They are therefore not considered 'proper' ground up sports cars and people baulk at spending the high sums of cash BMW ask for the halo models. There are good reasons Porsche won't let you buy a £20K 2.0L Diesel 911.

If BMW really want to beat Porsche at the GT3 game they need to come out with a model that never offers anything less than M/// levels of performance and moves forwards and upwards from there. The minute you offer the same 'model' car with a 2.0 Diesel you kill it's cache.

BMW had the chance to do this with the i8 but went the hybrid route. Imagine instead if they'd ditched the batteries and put the 4.0 V8 from the E92 M3 in the back of the i8 and called it the M1. They could have then offered a light weight track orientated M1 with the 4.4 V8 from the E92 M3 GTS, called it the M1 GTS.....

You make a good point. Although the 911 is bankrolled by the cayenne, panamera and the boxster which saved porches bacon.

Bentley, Jag and Aston are all looking to SUV's to make a business case for their sports cars. I'll let Lamborghini off since they made the LM002.

I agree that BMW should have a stand alone performance car

[cslsuperfan]

You make a good point. Although the 911 is bankrolled by the cayenne, panamera and the boxster which saved porches bacon.

Bentley, Jag and Aston are all looking to SUV's to make a business case for their sports cars. I'll let Lamborghini off since they made the LM002.

I agree that BMW should have a stand alone performance car

Back in the day the lacklustre sales of the E46M3 CSL put the mockers on BMW continuing with the E9/E30/E46CSL brands and what they stand for.

[Brandtner]

Back in the day the lacklustre sales of the E46M3 CSL put the mockers on BMW continuing with the E9/E30/E46CSL brands and what they stand for.

This!

[Trawler]

Back in the day the lacklustre sales of the E46M3 CSL put the mockers on BMW continuing with the E9/E30/E46CSL brands and what they stand for.

I believe the sales of the E30 M3 were also poor. I think BMW attract a different customer.

[Mike RT4]

I believe the sales of the E30 M3 were also poor. I think BMW attract a different customer.

Not true, they only had to build 5000 to homologate the car for racing, but demand was so great that they built more than three times that. Where Ford just stuck with the 5000 limit for the 3dr Cosworth. Despite the Sierra being a MUCH rarer car, the current values are still similar.

[Trawler]

Not true, they only had to build 5000 to homologate the car for racing, but demand was so great that they built more than three times that. Where Ford just stuck with the 5000 limit for the 3dr Cosworth. Despite the Sierra being a MUCH rarer car, the current values are still similar.

Cheers. I never knew they built that many.

[alexk]

The first homologation run of 3500 Escort Cosworths had water injection back in 1993, so not a first on a production car.....

And that's 23 years ago Mike, so everyone forgot about it by now :hahaha:
Almost everyone...

[Yanto_csl]

'M'aybe, 'M'aybe not the answer is:

Get rid of all that M sport nonsense

Expand Variant models to map to Porsche:

M3 to Carrera - cooking
M3 GTS to GTS - GT jnr
M3 GT to GT3 - GT
M3 CSL to RS - GT+ / lightweight
M3R to R - low vol / halo model of regular range

Make more / sell more (demand is clearly there).Dealers benefit from more servicing / parts throughput.

Get a road car designer that doesn't just 'stick' bits on.

Get a Motorsport Boss and / or brand Ambassador that are truly passionate and obsessional about the brand.

Le Mans (wth spin off road legal variant / GT1) to give the wealthy punters a halo car
M3 GTR cup cars / series for petrolheads (a la Carrera cup)
Jnr race series (M2) to get the kids into brand

Both of the above on a regular racing card, promote accordingly.

Simples :thumbs:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motorsport-le-mans/bmw-confirms-le-mans-return-and-formula-e-entry

:whistle: