Why such disagreement over the M4 GTS?

h_bakken · 12-15-2020, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delfunk

It's a piece of garbage. I have never been so dissapointed in my whole life as a life long BMW owner. Not anymore! Bye!

See ya!

redrumm3 · 12-15-2020, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delfunk

Quote:

Originally Posted by 786

Interesting article, apologies if it's been posted before

WHY SUCH DISAGREEMENT OVER THE BMW M4 GTS?
I adore the Hardcore GTS but it seems not everyone is a fan...

https://drivetribe.com/p/why-such-di...Q4CvqnKEsvWfwA

There seems to be some disagreement in the world of motoring journalism. 'Shock, horror' I hear you cry. Of course the design and dynamics of cars can be polarising. Yet broadly speaking road testers tend to agree. You'll always get the odd curmudgeon or wilful renegade, but they're usually outliers in the grand scheme of things, even if they're gobby ones. However, one car is currently threatening to create the sort of schism not seen since Urban VI and Clement VII clashed over who had the real popemobile. The divisive car in question? The BMW M4 GTS.

You might, quite reasonably, think 'what's not to like?'. It's a BMW (often good) with the (light)weight of the M Division thrown behind it (even better) and it's largely unsullied by considerations of practicality (excellent). Generally the press gushes like a holed sump over such things.

I love it. In fact I love it so much that before I left for DRIVETRIBE I voted it top of my list in evo's Car of the Year test. The polish of the damping, the feel of the steering, the sound of the engine and the balance of the handling all make it sensationally thrilling in my eyes. It's the sort of car that, at the end of a drive, makes you turn off the engine slightly reverentially and just sit in the bucket seats for a couple of minutes soaking in all that's just happened, committing to memory every slide, every moment of lightness over a crest, every sustained hit of angry acceleration.

That wasn't the first time I'd driven one either – this adoration was no brief romance, no one-test stand. Having spent several long days in one driving around Europe, I can say that I would happily live with a GTS and put up with any shortcomings in comfort. Not that there really are any; with sat-nav, a radio and air con, it's hardly an R26.R. It's a bit noisy, but not unpleasantly so. in the same vein as the current generation of GT3 RS, this is now a hardcore car that can feasibly be used every day without it feeling like a chore.

Anyhow, I'm not a lone voice writing in the wilderness about how much I adore the M4 GTS. Others like it too. Jethro Bovingdon is one and I trust his judgement. Mauro Calo (a professional driver, who helps out on various TV programmes you might have heard of) has tweeted in perplexity at people disliking the GTS. evo's erstwhile Editor, Nick Trott, also voted it top of his eCoty list. Yet it was so distasteful to others on the eCoty panel that it ended up only joint 6th out of 12. Autocar voted it LAST in its Britain's Best Driver's Car test. It was beaten by… well, a lot of good cars actually, but it still seems crazy that it came last.

So, why the disparity? What's not to like? Well, it can be a little tricky in the wet. Alright, more than tricky. In fact if you're not in the mood then it can feel a little like there's a price on your head and it's keen to claim the reward. When there's moisture around, the lightly treaded Michelin Cup 2 tyres seem to become as slippery as a 500,000mile leather steering wheel. As a result you need to discover new levels of right foot sensitivity if you want to avoid spinning them up or melting the traction control. If you turn off the ESP then you will need the hands of a gunslinger to wind lock on in time.

Now, I rather admire this uncompromising nature. I happen to like a challenge. Plenty of the most exciting pastimes demand skill, respect and a willingness to dance with danger and I think the limited edition, clearly extreme, M4 GTS falls into that particular category. But others are apparently less keen. Particularly in a wet Scotland on the first couple of days of eCoty…

Next problem: the set up. The M4 GTS has adjustable suspension and this can lead to a certain amount of discrepancy in the handling characteristics of different cars. The BMW UK press fleet has two M4 GTSs, a white one and a grey one, and having driven both I can attest that they are set up differently (or they were when I last drove them). In simple terms, the white one was much more secure and found much greater traction, which is a nice way of saying that it was very hard to do big skids in it. Being surprisingly hard to slide might not have enamoured it to certain road testers...

So, there we go. Mystery solved? Probably not. But it's a theory. I'm sure some just objected to the lack of a manual 'box and others think that on principle the engine must be a travesty for not being NA (for what it's worth, I think a dual clutch paddle shift suits the hard-charging character of the car and the bombastic, water-injected engine is pretty blooming special in spite of the turbo-charging). Whatever the reason, I shall continue to lust after one and place it snugly in my fantasy garage. Between the imaginary 3.8 GT3 RS and the Caterham R300, since you ask.

It's a piece of garbage. I have never been so dissapointed in my whole life as a life long BMW owner. Not anymore! Bye!

Give it a rest dude. We've heard it from you for months now. We get it, you don't like the car.

786 · 12-17-2020, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delfunk

It's a piece of garbage. I have never been so dissapointed in my whole life as a life long BMW owner. Not anymore! Bye!

lol, i love mine, bye!

anthemavm · 10-30-2022, 10:41 AM

Thanks for a great thread, found alot of good information. Wish they were still going for 80k.

4play · 10-31-2022, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anthemavm

Thanks for a great thread, found alot of good information. Wish they were still going for 80k.

They are? Auction from last week:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2016-bmw-m4-gts-33/

schnell325 · 11-01-2022, 01:47 AM

I’m happy with my GTS. Bought it brand new (in Canada at $159,900 plus taxes, so call it $200k all in). Blown threw a few sets of tires, water injection filters and tanks of high octane.

She has 27,000 kilometres on her, and she’s no trailer queen. Would I sell her for $80,000 usd (108,000 cdn)? No way. I bought her cash, and she owes me zero.

One of fifty in Canada.

gnx · 12-05-2022, 11:27 AM

I am really surprised that the GTS sells at these low prices in the US. It's nuts, these cars are the best value for money M cars.

SYT_Shadow · 12-05-2022, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gnx

I am really surprised that the GTS sells at these low prices in the US. It's nuts, these cars are the best value for money M cars.

It is completely nuts! That's why I have two!!

gnx · 12-05-2022, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

It is completely nuts! That's why I have two!!

Haha, good for you man!

Osiris · 12-09-2022, 08:00 PM

Just found this

https://youtu.be/AGIfGwmBd2M

anthemavm · 12-10-2022, 09:45 AM

Nice see the GTS do well.

JustAnothaM4 · 12-19-2022, 01:05 PM

I just saw this GTS at a local dealership sitting the parking lot.

https://www.gphonda.com/inventory/us...s9c55gk578772/

Osiris · 12-19-2022, 08:43 PM

Another one showing GTS beating CSL

https://www.bmwblog.com/2022/12/19/b...-m4-gts-video/

anthemavm · 12-20-2022, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustAnothaM4

I just saw this GTS at a local dealership sitting the parking lot.

https://www.gphonda.com/inventory/used-2016-bmw-m4-2dr-cpe-gts-rwd-coupe-wbs4s9c55gk578772/

I saw that, always get worried that a salesman would beat it up on a joy ride.

10-30-2022, 10:41 AM	#70
anthemavm Captain 570 Rep 844 Posts Drives: X3MC Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Huntington Beach iTrader: (0)	Thanks for a great thread, found alot of good information. Wish they were still going for 80k.
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11-01-2022, 01:47 AM	#72
schnell325 Bored at work.... 890 Rep 5,388 Posts Drives: 2016 F82 M4 GTS//2022 M235iGC Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Comox Valley iTrader: (8)	I’m happy with my GTS. Bought it brand new (in Canada at $159,900 plus taxes, so call it $200k all in). Blown threw a few sets of tires, water injection filters and tanks of high octane. She has 27,000 kilometres on her, and she’s no trailer queen. Would I sell her for $80,000 usd (108,000 cdn)? No way. I bought her cash, and she owes me zero. One of fifty in Canada. __________________ Grey Matter:2008 E92 M3:608/425. SG/PS SOLD! Dark Matter:2015 F80 M3:495/505. SOLD! Anti Matter :2016 F82 M4 GTS What next?!? A 2022 M235i GC- I must be getting old
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12-05-2022, 11:27 AM	#73
gnx Όλα ρόδες 760 Rep 559 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: May 2008 Location: Athens, Greece iTrader: (0) Garage List 2004 e46 M3 Convert ... [7.50] 2023 M4 CSL [8.17] 2007 E86 M Coupe [0.00] 2008 e93 M3 [0.00] 2019 M2 Competition [9.67] 2017 f48 X1 xdrive 25d [6.00]	I am really surprised that the GTS sells at these low prices in the US. It's nuts, these cars are the best value for money M cars.
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12-09-2022, 08:00 PM	#76
Osiris First Lieutenant 65 Rep 302 Posts Drives: 1M Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: MD iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 1M [10.00] 2016 M4 GTS [10.00]	Just found this https://youtu.be/AGIfGwmBd2M
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12-10-2022, 09:45 AM	#77
anthemavm Captain 570 Rep 844 Posts Drives: X3MC Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Huntington Beach iTrader: (0)	Nice see the GTS do well.
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12-19-2022, 01:05 PM	#78
JustAnothaM4 Major 885 Rep 1,261 Posts Drives: 2016 M4 GTS Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Cumming, GA iTrader: (4) Garage List 2016 BMW M4 GTS [0.00]	I just saw this GTS at a local dealership sitting the parking lot. https://www.gphonda.com/inventory/us...s9c55gk578772/ __________________ 2016 M4 GTS Alpine White 2021 X5M Competition Marina Bay Blue Instagram: @JustAnothaM4
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12-19-2022, 08:43 PM	#79
Osiris First Lieutenant 65 Rep 302 Posts Drives: 1M Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: MD iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 1M [10.00] 2016 M4 GTS [10.00]	Another one showing GTS beating CSL https://www.bmwblog.com/2022/12/19/b...-m4-gts-video/
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