Anyone else get banned from the G8X section for making fun of its looks?

[///M4ster Yoda]

Originally Posted by CT_M3

LMAO, its dizzying and annoying. I guess I need tats on my neck and be brooding and be able to hold fire in my hands. That's who they're gunning for?

But seriously, it really feels like they are trying to sell the cool factor associated with the M3. This tone is very different from the ads of the past. It's not about the car, its about the image of owning the car.

Therefore we can conclude, that motorsports and driving nirvana is not what the G8x platform is marketed for. I can almost say and it sounds like heresy, Ford and GM are going a more bang up job than BMW with their latest performance offerings.

That makes sense now if we look at all the recent ads. See all the other ads, BMW's ads feel like they were made by the same agency that made Apple ads. It should be product, then a lifestyle wrapper. Instead, BMW is preaching a lifestyle around their cars. End of an era folks. Welcome to the new BMW.

Agree with everything except your last statement.

It's not welcome but goodbye BMW.

[///M4ster Yoda]

Originally Posted by stein_325i

A new weird commercial, with more dizzying camera shots, fire everywhere and screaming behind the wheel, albeit this time in an uglier M3.

Just showed this commercial to my wife. The look on her face was priceless. She goes "who the hell are they marketing to". I go "dunno, 20 somethings with no money".

She then says aren't BMWs supposed to be about having some class, sophistication and style?

Apparently not any longer

[Cajun1]

[/QUOTE]

That makes me embarrassed to be associated with M3/M4 vehicles and this abomination of a car is a cheap looking atrocity.

[Arcades]

Originally Posted by ///M4ster Yoda

Just showed this commercial to my wife. The look on her face was priceless. She goes "who the hell are they marketing to". I go "dunno, 20 somethings with no money".

She then says aren't BMWs supposed to be about having some class, sophistication and style?

Apparently not any longer

Your wife is awesome lol.

RS6 wagon and now this :P

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by CT_M3

I actually went there to drive the M5c/M8c/M2c. Had to pay for this event, but you get to beat M cars round the track. Not bad actually.

The M8c is brutally fast but the weight over the M5c was evident. In turns, you felt the weight of that car just push you into slight understeer (with the nannies on) vs the 5. It took more throttle management. I would take the M5c over the M8c on that alone, though if you sat in the car, examined the interior and thought about who this was for, these cars are unlikely to see track time.

As far as I know the M8C is lighter than the M5C...

[CT_M3]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

As far as I know the M8C is lighter than the M5C...

CanAutM3

I stand corrected! I remember looking up the specs of the cars after I got back and must have gotten the numbers mixed up.

That said, I went with a friend that day and we both preferred the dynamics of the M5c. We were fully expecting to prefer the m8c but between the both of us (about 10 laps total), we liked driving the m5c. It just felt more direct and dare I say it? agile?

After my session, I actually asked our BMW instructor who was leading us what he preferred and he concurred with our opinion. Maybe lack of seat time? The m8c felt that it needed a little more attention than the m5c.

I thought it was the weight, but its lighter by 85lbs than the m5c. Weight bias?

P.S. I forgot to add; the exhaust notes from both cars were awesome! That was one thing we both loved; the deep growl of the v8s

[secretanchitman]

Originally Posted by stein_325i

A new weird commercial, with more dizzying camera shots, fire everywhere and screaming behind the wheel, albeit this time in an uglier M3.

Holy crap...I'm speechless.

[Mavus]

m3 aka angry bird

[minn19]

Fast and Furious 27 Munich Drift

[FlyingLow78]

Originally Posted by stein_325i

A new weird commercial, with more dizzying camera shots, fire everywhere and screaming behind the wheel, albeit this time in an uglier M3.

There isn’t a single track-focused element in this entire mess. What the hell is this supposed to be?

[f80er]

I got an M235i loaner and it has more M badges and M colors slapped on it than my M3 does. I know its obvious the direction BMW is going in doing so but it really is a bummer. I do enjoy some level of exclusivity with cars and it seems like BMW has decided that exclusivity has now become wild iterations of their flagship cars. What are the chances the next gen M2/M5/M8 get those ridiculous grilles, skirts and body lines? Meaning are they going to market them to kids as well?

[secretanchitman]

Originally Posted by f80er

I got an M235i loaner and it has more M badges and M colors slapped on it than my M3 does. I know its obvious the direction BMW is going in doing so but it really is a bummer. I do enjoy some level of exclusivity with cars and it seems like BMW has decided that exclusivity has now become wild iterations of their flagship cars. What are the chances the next gen M2/M5/M8 get those ridiculous grilles, skirts and body lines? Meaning are they going to market them to kids as well?

Exclusivity at BMW used to mean something but it clearly doesn't anymore.

I'd say the chances of of the next-gen 5 series and 8 series having a massive ugly grill are decent, if the new 7 series renders are any indication. The marketing will probably be toned down since typically 7 series aren't bought be young teenagers and adults but again, this is BMW in 2020 so anything is possible.

Next-gen 2 series *might* be okay since we have some leaked shots of it already, but who knows - BMW may just say fuck it and give the M2 a fugly grill to "make it stand out".

I know I'm sticking with my F82 M4 until it breaks, but I honestly don't know what car to get next after. May have to stick with Toyota/Honda, step up to Porsche or just get over not having a stick and hope that BMW doesn't ruin next-gen 2 series and 3 series since 6MT will most likely disappear after the Gxx generation is done.

[admranger]

Originally Posted by minn19

Fast and Furious 27 Munich Drift

Nice stick and puck Gopher logo! Hats off to the!

[admranger]

Originally Posted by FlyingLow78

There isn’t a single track-focused element in this entire mess. What the hell is this supposed to be?

YO! Drifting. Yo!

[CT_M3]

secretanchitman

I'm with you. The M badge sticker madness used to be tolerable, now its really getting out of hand. BMW has been on this slippery slope for years and now the genie is out of the bottle as we say.

Look @ Doug De Muro's M440i review, even he noticed it and made light of it when he was reviewing the car. I was always cynical of BMW's intentions with the use of it and over the years, with each new generation, the M badge means less and less.

As for next cars, let's just enjoy our F8x cars and see how it rolls out. There are options:
1) Porsche: better platform but likely more expensive to maintain/mod. If I were to do it, 991.2 or 992. 991.1 is almost a lateral move, unless its a GT3 or Turbo.
2) Ford: GT 350/500: aside from the carbon rim craziness, pretty good platform.
3) GM: We've always got the C8!
4) MB: The worry here is that they are just going hybrid 4 cylinders . C63 here ( this one is really the only M3/M4 direct substitute)

BUT, there in lies the problem, in all the examples above, about 1/2 of them are 2+2s while the rest are really purely 2 seaters (excluding MB). Nothing offers the same balance of performance, driver engagement and daily driver friendliness. Shame that BMW has contracted its version of COVID insanity and has embarked on this silliness that will take them 4-8 years to sort out at least.

One highlight here is that the F8x community is awesome. So much knowledge and wealth of vendors here available to owners.

I plan to keep my car long term as I'm generally frugal and there's nothing out there that is substantially better. We all sometimes chase 0-60, 1/4 mi times, but in all seriousness, how often do you really get to use all that performance? Most of the time, we're stuck in traffic . I really don't care if the other car has a 0-60mi under 3 secs. It's nice and ego boosting but unless you race for slips, it, to me, is not the joy of driving.

Originally Posted by secretanchitman

Exclusivity at BMW used to mean something but it clearly doesn't anymore.

I'd say the chances of of the next-gen 5 series and 8 series having a massive ugly grill are decent, if the new 7 series renders are any indication. The marketing will probably be toned down since typically 7 series aren't bought be young teenagers and adults but again, this is BMW in 2020 so anything is possible.

Next-gen 2 series *might* be okay since we have some leaked shots of it already, but who knows - BMW may just say fuck it and give the M2 a fugly grill to "make it stand out".

I know I'm sticking with my F82 M4 until it breaks, but I honestly don't know what car to get next after. May have to stick with Toyota/Honda, step up to Porsche or just get over not having a stick and hope that BMW doesn't ruin next-gen 2 series and 3 series since 6MT will most likely disappear after the Gxx generation is done.

[kss]

Originally Posted by Cajun1

That makes me embarrassed to be associated with M3/M4 vehicles and this abomination of a car is a cheap looking atrocity.[/QUOTE]

Wow! I could understand if that was a commercial fir a souped up (dressed up civic), but what the hell was that??? Are they trying to go fir a fast and furious type image??? Even than it’s a fail!! The car is just too ugly!!! So over the past 25 years bmw went from briefly being the Bond car to a car for a nut cases??? Audi is the car in Marvel. Chevys for transformers and Alfa hit a home run in 6 underground.

BMW??? Just for horrible commercials for ugly cars!!

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by CT_M3

we can conclude, that motorsports and driving nirvana is not what the G8x platform is marketed for.... Instead, BMW is preaching a lifestyle around their cars.

Of course the BMW lifestyle stuff isn't new, especially considering BMW's approach to breaking into the SUV market with the "SAV": marketed to a people around a sporty lifestyle (mountain biking, surfing, etc). Of course most people use their SAVs to get groceries and go to soccer practice - but that's ok because the SAV is aspirational: "Maybe this weekend I can get some time in the woods ..."

And that's the problem with this new BMW M-car stuff, they're doing a quasi-lifestyle thing, but more, trying to make it an experience & identity thing: "You're a badass doing badass things having badass experiences all the time!" "You do a lot of posing. You look in the mirror a ton and you're doing meaningless things with HUGE urgency!"

Ironically, BMW is marketing a-road-to-nowhere lifestyle, where the greatest aspiration is posing glory.

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by CT_M3

secretanchitman

I'm with you. The M badge sticker madness used to be tolerable, now its really getting out of hand. BMW has been on this slippery slope for years and now the genie is out of the bottle as we say.

Look @ Doug De Muro's M440i review, even he noticed it and made light of it when he was reviewing the car. I was always cynical of BMW's intentions with the use of it and over the years, with each new generation, the M badge means less and less.

As for next cars, let's just enjoy our F8x cars and see how it rolls out. There are options:
1) Porsche: better platform but likely more expensive to maintain/mod. If I were to do it, 991.2 or 992. 991.1 is almost a lateral move, unless its a GT3 or Turbo.
2) Ford: GT 350/500: aside from the carbon rim craziness, pretty good platform.
3) GM: We've always got the C8!
4) MB: The worry here is that they are just going hybrid 4 cylinders . C63 here ( this one is really the only M3/M4 direct substitute)

BUT, there in lies the problem, in all the examples above, about 1/2 of them are 2+2s while the rest are really purely 2 seaters (excluding MB). Nothing offers the same balance of performance, driver engagement and daily driver friendliness. Shame that BMW has contracted its version of COVID insanity and has embarked on this silliness that will take them 4-8 years to sort out at least.

One highlight here is that the F8x community is awesome. So much knowledge and wealth of vendors here available to owners.

I plan to keep my car long term as I'm generally frugal and there's nothing out there that is substantially better. We all sometimes chase 0-60, 1/4 mi times, but in all seriousness, how often do you really get to use all that performance? Most of the time, we're stuck in traffic . I really don't care if the other car has a 0-60mi under 3 secs. It's nice and ego boosting but unless you race for slips, it, to me, is not the joy of driving.

Here's to hoping the Cadillac Blackwings are excellent (which they most likely will be). I'd add those to your list whenever they come out.

[CT_M3]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

Of course the BMW lifestyle stuff isn't new, especially considering BMW's approach to breaking into the SUV market with the "SAV": marketed to a people around a sporty lifestyle (mountain biking, surfing, etc). Of course most people use their SAVs to get groceries and go to soccer practice - but that's ok because the SAV is aspirational: "Maybe this weekend I can get some time in the woods ..."

And that's the problem with this new BMW M-car stuff, they're doing a quasi-lifestyle thing, but more, trying to make it an experience & identity thing: "You're a badass doing badass things having badass experiences all the time!" "You do a lot of posing. You look in the mirror a ton and you're doing meaningless things with HUGE urgency!"

Ironically, BMW is marketing a-road-to-nowhere lifestyle, where the greatest aspiration is posing glory.

Philosophically, this love affair with lifestyle is partly due to the popularity of social media (ahem Instagram/FB), where its all about ‘look at me, what I’m doing and how cool I look/am’. Its temporal and lacks substance. I don’t want to go into the implications for society at large but suffice to say, its not positive. Take a look around to look for empirical evidence.

[BzsBimmer]

Originally Posted by CT_M3

Philosophically, this love affair with lifestyle is partly due to the popularity of social media (ahem Instagram/FB), where its all about ‘look at me, what I’m doing and how cool I look/am’. Its temporal and lacks substance. I don’t want to go into the implications for society at large but suffice to say, its not positive. Take a look around to look for empirical evidence.

How dare you! Your sentiment of social media is wrong and unjustly misplaced. I am now going to unfollow, de-friend, un-tik, and de-tweet you!!

[Arcades]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

Of course the BMW lifestyle stuff isn't new, especially considering BMW's approach to breaking into the SUV market with the "SAV": marketed to a people around a sporty lifestyle (mountain biking, surfing, etc). Of course most people use their SAVs to get groceries and go to soccer practice - but that's ok because the SAV is aspirational: "Maybe this weekend I can get some time in the woods ..."

And that's the problem with this new BMW M-car stuff, they're doing a quasi-lifestyle thing, but more, trying to make it an experience & identity thing: "You're a badass doing badass things having badass experiences all the time!" "You do a lot of posing. You look in the mirror a ton and you're doing meaningless things with HUGE urgency!"

Ironically, BMW is marketing a-road-to-nowhere lifestyle, where the greatest aspiration is posing glory.

For me, it is only a lifestyle until you start labeling it as one.

Those who openly says they are in a "BMW lifestyle" will get laughed off the face of the Earth. We don't go around saying this even in a BMW meet.

I don't really... care a lot for social media. I use it as a way to connect to people, to see what my friends are up to or car buddies if they are doing anything.

Those who say it is a lifestyle actually need to get a life.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by CT_M3

‘look at me, what I’m doing and how cool I look/am’. Its temporal and lacks substance. I don’t want to go into the implications for society at large but suffice to say, its not positive.

Kind of a posing gloryhole then you might say.