The Ultimate "Dry-ving" Machine.

I have a bone to pick with BMW, more specifically their ///M Division. This is all just my opinion and some of you may agree, and some of you may think I have completely lost my mind. I'm no expert nor have I been able to experience every model ,so bear with me as I attempt to explain what my issue is.

For most people, BMW has been synonymous with, mildly expensive, luxury filled, well-engineered great driver cars. For those who don't just like to get from point A to point B, but rather to enjoy the feelings, smells, sounds, and dare I say emotions of the experience of driving. I mean they have self-proclaimed to be the Ultimate Driving Machine.

I'll be the first to tell you I agree with that statement, or so I did. I have had the pleasure of owning and operating what I think is the best example of this Ultimate Driving Machine built by BMW; The one and only mid to late 90’s BMW M3. The E36 Chassis is the pinnacle in my opinion. With its mechanical driving feel, its sports luxury blend and its fifty- fifty weight distribution. When it comes to all the cars I've had the pleasure of experiencing and the conversations about some of the best driver cars ever made with other people, this one is always on their list.

You know what, you would have to drive one to understand, so given the chance, don't pass it up!

That is all fine and Dandy. Now let's fast forward to the present 2020. The world has changed so much, on all different fronts. Especially with the challenges of this COVID 19 thing gripping all our minds. But please let's not let that distract my fellow "car" people from the fact that BMWs, well honestly pretty much all of the affordable cars of today that claim to be built for the driving experience, have gotten dry and boring.

I'll elaborate. Earlier I was, though briefly, raving about the late 90s M3. How it is almost perfect at making myself and anyone be able to have an emotional experience while driving, or even riding in it. It is not the fastest, most luxurious, or most expensive but it and its lesser, sister cars all deliver progressively better or worse ( depending on where you start) driving experiences. None of them bad.

But nowadays, or at least since about 2015 give or take a year or so BMW has lost that touch, spending more time making an array of cars that are good, yes but don't have that Ultimate Driving Machine, look or feel. They are all too soft, dry, boring. Yes fast, cool, and comfy but not drivers cars. Especially the renowned ///M division, who seems to think that plastering their badges over anything that BMW makes somehow makes it better or even somewhere close to what they were originally formed for. Building road-going, "racecars" and the best versions of their vehicles in each series class.

The line has been blurred, the rush has been taken away in my opinion. The experience has been traded for more sales, an overwhelming amount of options, and configurations from BMW. Yes, this means more people can have a BMW and that means more money in Sales. I just wish all this had not been done in the sacrifice of what BMW and more specifically in this belligerent rant, the ///M division's dropping of the ball on building cars that evoke emotion when you drive them.

In closing, I beg of you the reader who I assume, the ones who find this topic interesting are auto enthusiasts such as myself. Rise up in protest with me at BMW, and many other companies that have made their, sports cars for every man or woman who loves to drive. Too soft, too dry, too expensive, or boring to stop and consider us. Those people who don't have upwards of $70k to spend on a car that evokes that emotion. Give us some middle-ground options of real drivers cars!

P.S. I know there are examples of vehicles who don't fit this opinion perfectly but if you know what I'm yelling about you get it.

#bmw #mseries #cars #carblog