BMW: 80% of 1-series Owners Don't Know They Have Rear-Wheel-Drive Cars

[Guerc]

I'm less worried about FWD in small cars than I am about the loss of manual transmissions. I'd rather have a fast, nice handling FWD car with manual trans (think Mini) than a powerful RWD vehicle with nothing but slushbox. Think Pontiac G8 GT.

Last fall, needing a larger family vehicle, I was intrigued by the G8 GT, which promised a Corvette engine in a 4door car. However, the only way to get the 6MT was to find a GSX, w/ $42k sticker price. There were loads of V8 GT's clogging the dealer lots at $24k. The GSX 6MT's were hard to find, & dealers unreasonably asking for premium to MSRP due to "rarity". (On a Pontiac? Please).

Bought a CPO '06 330i 6MT instead. Those Pontiac showrooms are now being converted into mini-marts.

[E30Kaiser]

I'm less worried about FWD in small cars than I am about the loss of manual transmissions. I'd rather have a fast, nice handling FWD car with manual trans (think Mini) than a powerful RWD vehicle with nothing but slushbox. Think Pontiac G8 GT.

Last fall, needing a larger family vehicle, I was intrigued by the G8 GT, which promised a Corvette engine in a 4door car. However, the only way to get the 6MT was to find a GSX, w/ $42k sticker price. There were loads of V8 GT's clogging the dealer lots at $24k. The GSX 6MT's were hard to find, & dealers unreasonably asking for premium to MSRP due to "rarity". (On a Pontiac? Please).

Bought a CPO '06 330i 6MT instead. Those Pontiac showrooms are now being converted into mini-marts.

I agree with this, as I want a manual Fiat 500, so I can go get my cappuccino and say ciao all that time, while getting 45mpg. Who cares if BMw makes a FWD car? It will just get some of the status mongers out of the 3 and 1 series hopefully.

[lennon]

You shouldn't even need to be an enthusiast to know that sort of thing. People are just plain dumb.

indeed!

[ALYKZANDYR]

BMW will be making a FWD? My belief system is destroyed.

On second thought if nukes fly on 2012, the human race will end, and BMW will never be able to make a FWD... think about it..

[firstRWD]

Wait... BMWs are rear wheel drive??

No, I think just the 1 series is rear wheel drive, not our E30s, so we're safe from those scary loose rear end situations...

[Wh33lhop]

(tangent, 4 door 3er's piss me off...you need 4 doors, get a 5er).
</rant>

Shut up.

[lennon]

1) the 1er is the most economical bmw.
2) most consumers (those purchasing a bmw) merely want to purchase the brand and can give a crap about the heritage (tangent, 4 door 3er's piss me off...you need 4 doors, get a 5er).
3) so bmw slots a more economical ride (i'ma call it the .5er) to sell more roundels
.....and thats how we have 80% of ppl not knowing they're layout

<rant>
now this trend i feel is occuring with all automakers. as parts move from mechanical to electrical to reduce costs, we sacrifice the soul of the automobile-- that connection the we feel with our cars is going to be harder to replicate. i feel as e30 enthusiasts, our only recourse is to stay with these older vehicles where a connection is better felt....which can further bring us back to the main point, where we're ultimately discussing consumerism here but thats another rant.
</rant>

dude none of this really makes sense

[Lurker27]

This just proves what we all already new: BMW stopped making cars for the 20% a long time ago.

[shiboujin]

[TexasTerp]

I'm thinking this is the stage for an Isetta comeback!!

[raafhimself]

dude none of this really makes sense

it does to me!

[Chabs]

i heard about this. bunch of idiots haha

[Mde36]

wait so you're telling me my e30 isn't fwd either??? No wonder it didn't work when I was trying to go tray sliding with my honda buds

[87e30]

wait so you're telling me my e30 isn't fwd either??? No wonder it didn't work when I was trying to go tray sliding with my honda buds

Dude, tray sliding is fun!

[Kershaw]

Shocking, but at the same time, really not at all.

yep.

OT: pontiac g8 gxp is 6 speed manual.