[Trued]

SUV´s can never substitute a real low slung sportscar.... ;-) Not even a BMW SUV. Sportscars are a unique mix of grace/beauty/raw power/ that "WOW" factor can never be found a big boxy hunk of steel.

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by X2Board

My X5 M gives me an "M rush".

Fortunately, we still have choices. I will never own an X-anything and personally dislike the pickup/SUV world we have become. I am glad that BMW and others still provide vehicles for those who feel the same way.

[X2Board]

Originally Posted by SakhirM4

Fortunately, we still have choices. I will never own an X-anything and personally dislike the pickup/SUV world we have become. I am glad that BMW and others still provide vehicles for those who feel the same way.

Yes, choice is always good. I got the X5 because in a logical world, it just would not exist. It is a fun vehicle, and there is just something about a 4 second run to 60, in a 5,000 Lb. wagon.

Now that I've grown tired of it, I made the choice to go back to what I love even more. I can say with conviction, that I will never own another SUV, until I need something to pull my race car to the track.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by Trued

The collaboration with Toyota on jointly make a sportswear could mean that the present M3/M4 might be the "last" real BMW gasoline racer.

Probably not. We've got at least another generation of gasoline powered M vehicles, and probably at least three more where there is at least some ICE in the picture.

Also, although pure sports cars have dropped in popularity, sport sedans and sport coupes, which is what all current M passenger cars are, remain popular. They are also easy to make business cases for because they share many of their components and tooling with the more staid siblings. So these types of vehicles are going nowhere. In fact, in the luxury high performance category, the number of entries seems to be growing steadily.

[nicknaz]

We never know. Toyota $ might make the carbon intensive construction of cars like i8 and i3 available for mass production sporty cars (fingers crossed for lighter Z4 replacement!)

[RocketBoots]

Z4 (price) has gotten out of hand. Who would seriously buy that over a boxster or cayman??

M3/M4 are chasing the 911 (performance wise); have you noticed the jump in 911 prices over the last few years, with the 991?? Crazy. They used to be near where the M3/M4 are now.

Hopefully the M2 will be the one to bring BMW back to it roots a bit. A more affordable, much more sport oriented, nimble car lacking in the 'refinement' bestowed upon M cars these days, that still carries the prestige or whatever of the BMW ///M brand, but is for a much more cult following that doesn't mind a suspension that's too "stiff and bumpy, waaahhhh" for the masses. Just IMHO.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by RocketBoots

Z4 (price) has gotten out of hand. Who would seriously buy that over a boxster or cayman??

When I was shopping, Z435 was 13% of MSRP with residual of 67% for 3 year lease, and Boxster S was sticker price and 54% residual for 3 year lease

Do the math, it is a huge difference in cost. Z435 lease was similar from 135 lease at the time