Quote:
Originally Posted by M4TW
Politicians never let facts get in the way of a good argument. Let's leave politics behind.
First off, the F8x does not make fake exhaust sounds. The exhaust sounds emitting from the tailpipes are as real as any other internal combustion engine has produced. Fake exhaust sound isn't being piped in to the cabin either. Induction sound that would otherwise be muffled by turbos is enhanced as a driver's tool. Most are untroubled by this. The few that are troubled, simply have it unplugged.
Nor has the ride gone soft, limp or virtual. Lots of useful information awaits you in the sticky threads should you wish to brush up on the topic about weight-saving measures taken and doing hard-edged things like bolting the suspension directly to the frame without using bushings. The result is a capable weekend track car that can handle DD duties with aplomb.
On the contrary, the knock on these cars has not been about being too soft, but that they can be too much of a wild child at times. Not for amature drivers as advertised. Yet to me they remain a nimble and capable machine deserving of its heritage.
I swear, this car can't win from winning at times.
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Ok, I'll go with the political thing too...why not.
"Define Fake?"
Ok, I guess you can say that an enhanced breasts are not faked because it's real skin with an implant boosting it. So, I will call it audialy challenged? Enhanced?
The point as it relates to the post is that Car and Drive also found it annoying and disconnected it. To their dismay they also lost the radio because BMW does not let you simply turn it off. Did you read the review?
Secondly, if you turn it off you significantly reduce engine feedback because BMW invested their time enhancing it through the speakers instead of through the intake and exhaust system. The 1M was also current model twin turbo 3.0 inline six just like the M3 but it has great sound because they put time into it so it is possible.
Third the car is very capable and still a great machine but you can see the emphasis has shifted on all new BMWs much more to comfort and infotainment than pure dynamics. CD was also making the same point. The M3 remains one of the best but it is drowning in the overgadgetization including cameras everywhere and stuff that brings no value, only weight and distraction to the driving experience.
Luckily, you can still order M3 without most of these except for iDrive and the awful screen in the line of sight. Luckily it is still rear drive, and offers manuals so it still remains legit but C&D is right to call it out on the nonesense.
At some point you have to have a threshold and if the stereo is being used to pipe engine sound and the sound engineers are digitally adjusting the tone to make it "pleasant" then it has crossed the threshold.
There are two basic types of guitars...acoustic and electric. If you put a pickup on a guitar it becomes electric...period. Not acoustically optimized or induction amplification, it's simply an electric guitar. I applaud CD for calling it out just like they called BMW out on the weight of the E90 M3.
Ironically, or sadly I guess, you are touting weight reduction on the M3 which came about because CD and other BMW fans griped. We ended up going to 1M after years of waiting to buy an M3. Now they have made an effort at weight and I love that so again, my hope is that BMW will not take the cheap way out with the next M3 and improve the sound acoustically and remain a leader in that not following VW and Ford down the cheap path.