[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by Bobby_Drake

So what M car does the OP drive to be complaining about exclusivity?

The thing about exclusivity is ...
The people who want it, are the very people excluded when it happens.

[GuidoK]

If you want an exclusive car, buy a yugo.
There are probably less of those around anymore than ferrari's.

And if you want to impress others, do it by showing what you can do, not by showing what you can buy.

[Performancedieselpros]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

Yeah, but that's kind of like saying a Ferrari 488GTB is just a Kia with custom mechanicals and finishes. Yes but .... similar things are not the same, and it's the "little" differences that frequently provide the core value.

That having been said, I can't speak for Rolls, but I was recently driven to the airport in this custom Bentley - it was nice and all, and I liked it more than a comparable Benz, but I can barely imagine renting one for 5 minutes much less buying one. Definitely not the normal way I travel, and having done it I wouldn't ever pay more for it ...

Those vehicles all fall into the but-what-is-this-for? category for me.

Valid, I'm mainly talking to the powertrain and platform..... Rolls are interesting birds considering it's basically 2 seperate companies coming together to make one. VW and BMW both contribute to the build. Not to mention the transmission is the same as a Dodge Hellcat lol!

[SCOTT26]

If that Aftermarket thing is what you drive in your Avatar?
Then you are driving an "exclusive" one of a kind model. Congratulations.
Personally I wouldn't be seen in a clown car.

[Refined]

Anyone who even considers something like exclusively needs to check their self esteem. That's awfully shallow and materialistic. Our cars don't dictate our social status, even though simple people might convince themselves otherwise.

Buy and drive what you like because you like it, not because someone else might.

[irishbimmer]

In the long run, performance is what counts. You may have the only Yugo in Orange County if you seek exclusivity.

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by irishbimmer

In the long run, performance is what counts.

What do you consider performance?

[FlaPatsFan]

I’m not sure I would ever fall into exclusive as this post covers, but I do like the fact that I drive a BMW unique to itself because I made it that way.

I personally think BMW was genius when rebranding the M in different modes...M-package and M-sport. It gave ppl a chance to experience at least some of those features.

On top of that, having the same chassis and platform to interchange parts and upgrade certain areas is brilliant!

In my case and I’m sure a lot of others I was able to put together a track worthy DD’r by adding better suspension, braking, power mods and interior stuff because all these were designed to fit one chassis.

I know my car isn’t an M, but it’s like an M+ because of all the upgraded M products installed.

For me it’s simple.....1) I enjoy looking back at my car as I walk away after I park it. 2) I know when I’m at a stop light no one is going to pull up in the same car as me! 3) People look at my car as they pass it. That’s “exclusive” enough for me.

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by FlaPatsFan

I personally think BMW was genius when rebranding the M in different modes...M-package and M-sport.

Sure but "M" used to stand for Motorsport.
Every "M" model used to have a LSD and semi floating brakediscs (the last 2 decades at least). All sub "M" models that have M packages is more optical frippery now. Looks like you're going fast and stuff
M for ///Marketing.

[FlaPatsFan]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

Sure but "M" used to stand for Motorsport.
Every "M" model used to have a LSD and semi floating brakediscs (the last 2 decades at least). All sub "M" models that have M packages is more optical frippery now. Looks like you're going fast and stuff
M for ///Marketing.

You left out the rest of that quote, which is why BMW did that....to give others a taste of some M features. If you want the stuff you mentioned and can afford it get an M1 M2 M3 etc....

There will be some ppl that enjoy those features and will upgrade to the high end M models which is exactly what BMW wants, returning customers.

But I understand what you’re saying.

I’m definitely going fast! Drive it like you stole it! 😛

[Performancedieselpros]

Originally Posted by Refined

Anyone who even considers something like exclusively needs to check their self esteem. That's awfully shallow and materialistic. Our cars don't dictate our social status, even though simple people might convince themselves otherwise.

Buy and drive what you like because you like it, not because someone else might.

Top to bottom exxxxxactly!

[Questofthetune]

Originally Posted by ASAP

I live in a different country called Miami... let's just say there may be less regular BMWs here than M cars...

I work in the city and on fisher island from time to time. I see more Maserati’s then M cars.

[drgmt]

If they don't sell cars they go broke. Whats so complicated?

M badging on non M cars is critical to the companies survival.

[BeEmVe]

We bought one of those "diluted" M-Sport pkg vehicles cause that was the only way to get the seat color we wanted. Damn you BMW.

Oh and to piss off some we stuck an M-badged license plate frame on the back. Though OEM it was crap as the black paint flacked off in less than a couple of years.

[Hasser]

its not what you drive, its how you make it your own.

- Motech

[shay2nak]

I don't really see any M cars. Not even AMG or V. The ones I do see are ones I've already seen before.

[FlaPatsFan]

Originally Posted by Hasser

its not what you drive, its how you make it your own.

- Motech

This 👆

[romemmy]

Wow, so much hate for the op

I kinda see where he’s coming from tho... I definitely did not buy an M3 for exclusivity, and the more M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, etc, they sell doesn’t bother me at all. However, using the M badge on a non-M does do a couple of things:

1) it blurs the lines to the point that laymen have no idea the difference between an M-badged car and a real M
2) this one should bother all of you - it potentially has the ability to depreaciate your real M faster!

Number 2 is probably my biggest issue with it (not that I spend too much time thinking about it at all). With so many M-badged cars, people on the used market have more choice, and because of #1 above, they may buy an M-badged one instead of a real M because they don’t think it’s worth the premium. Otherwise they might save up and lust after the real one. That means we now have to price down our real M’s to compete with badged M’s!

So, exclusivity aside, BMW’s shenanigans could possibly affect us all.. and think about it - if the M-badge really is helping BMW shift more cars, then that badge DOES have a tangible value we should all care about...

Thanks!

S.

[Spa2k]

You don’t think the buyers of real Ms know the difference between the real thing and a badge M? Used-car sellers, dealers and the pricing guides certainly do.

[romemmy]

Originally Posted by Spa2k

You don’t think the buyers of real Ms know the difference between the real thing and a badge M? Used-car sellers, dealers and the pricing guides certainly do.

Someone specifically looking for a real M, yes. But - good or bad - a lot of buyers are posers and want the M badge for looks and “prestige”. If they can get that with an M-badge vs a real M, they will not pay the premium that they would have paid had the M-badge not existed. Again, BMW are seeing tangible value from the badge so that value is real.

[Spa2k]

Anybody who buys a Badge M is paying more, but the value certainly is questionable. Let them think they have something cool; I couldn’ t care less, because I know the value of the real M, and I generally don’t criticize what other people buy - who am I to intrude on their happiness with my opinions, unless asked? The situation really isn’t much different than it was all the way back to the ‘50s and ‘60s, when people spent their hard-earned cash on chrome accessories instead of performance parts. Did you ever hear the phrase, “If it don’t go, chrome it”? It’s the same today, whether it’s an M, AMG, SS, ST or R (although a red R on the back of a Honda Civic is worth 5 horsepower).

[fullstack]

I find that there are only two types of people: people who can tell the difference between an M model and a sport model with M features and people who cannot. The latter are not going to be impressed that you're driving a full blown M. They're already impressed/jealous because you're in a BMW.

I drive an m240i and i wish it was called the 240is. However, I do understand that some of the performance features were designed by the M team and just using the 'is' badge doesn't make this known.