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      01-22-2014, 01:59 AM   #1
128Convertibleguy
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Smile % BMW owners that are "enthusiasts"?

I've seen an estimate of 20% here, I've seen 5.

Somewhat arbitrary definition.

Anyone who's made a performance mod to their current BMW that involved taking off a perfectly good whatever, except tires (the RFTs are just too easy a target). Air intakes and exhausts are included, strictly cosmetic mods not.

Anyone who has ever participated in a competitive event in their BMW. Track days and rallies count, as do BMW sponsored events where you drive your own BMW, unchaperoned.

There were, give or take, a quarter of a million BMWs sold per year recently. How many owners do you think qualify (above) as enthusiasts?

Last edited by 128Convertibleguy; 01-22-2014 at 02:06 AM..
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      01-22-2014, 07:35 AM   #2
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I can't say I agree with your definition of enthusiast then. I absolutely consider anyone passionate about their vehicle an enthusiast. Doesn't have to be modded or changed in any way.

Respect to everyone who just enjoys their car and driving!
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      01-22-2014, 07:58 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by morningscifi View Post
I can't say I agree with your definition of enthusiast then. I absolutely consider anyone passionate about their vehicle an enthusiast. Doesn't have to be modded or changed in any way.

Respect to everyone who just enjoys their car and driving!
I agree. Modifications are not necessary to make you an enthusiast. Simply being proud of your ride, enjoying meeting with other BMW "enthusiasts", and simply being passionate about what you drive! I don't feel you need to track or race your car to be an enthusiast.
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      01-22-2014, 08:03 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by morningscifi View Post
I can't say I agree with your definition of enthusiast then. I absolutely consider anyone passionate about their vehicle an enthusiast. Doesn't have to be modded or changed in any way.

Respect to everyone who just enjoys their car and driving!
i agree. i've been down the modding past in the path and was underwhelmed by it. i'd rather buy more kickass cars out of the box now! It's lame to classify enthusiasts based on criteria.....part of the reason these days i 'cringe' at the stereotypes propogated by car enthusiasts, in general.
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      01-22-2014, 08:06 AM   #5
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Enthusiast -

: a person filled with enthusiasm: as

a: one who is ardently attached to a cause, object, or pursuit <a sports car enthusiast>

b: one who tends to become ardently absorbed in an interest
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      01-22-2014, 08:31 AM   #6
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Appox. 2.58374% of BMW owners are enthusiast !

I pulled that number out of thin air!

Seriously as long as driving a BMW makes you feel good, and you find yourself just staring at your car for long periods of time, or if you roll down the windows in 20 degree weather to hear your exhaust your an enthusiast!

Do you take the long way just to drive a little more? Your an enthusiast.

A real % i do not know but most of BMW sales are "luxury" based cars which dose not mean they are not great cars, but in the grand scheme of things, M cars and 1's are probably the smallest slice of the BMW sales pie.

I've met E92 and E46 M3 drivers who did not even know what engine is in their car. Not talking engine codes here, but simply how many cylinders or the displacement. Thats more money than interest in a great car!

In my opinion this is why each new chassis is getting bigger, fatter, and more numb feeling. The average person purchasing a new BMW is not an enthusiast of any sort, regardless of definition.

Now 1M owners on the other hand......always know whats under the hood!
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      01-22-2014, 10:14 AM   #7
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-3.2%, the few enthusiasts are outweighed by the masses of stance, M-badge posers, and guys who throw 20" chromies onto a M6 convertible
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      01-22-2014, 10:17 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by morningscifi View Post
I can't say I agree with your definition of enthusiast then. I absolutely consider anyone passionate about their vehicle an enthusiast. Doesn't have to be modded or changed in any way.

Respect to everyone who just enjoys their car and driving!
I agree with the above, the OP's definition is wrong.

But, the % that are enthusiasts, in whatever form, is very low. Certainly less than 10%, but impossible to know with certainty.
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      01-22-2014, 11:50 AM   #9
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well i guess you can add a tick to that list but not for my 1. My Z gets all the tricks so it is the one that go on the ralleys. its been a while so i guess it is getting time for another.
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      01-22-2014, 12:29 PM   #10
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My 1er is not modified.

My Rsx-S was heavily modified.

My motorcycle is modified.

Does this make me only 1/4 enthusiast?
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      01-22-2014, 12:36 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Billup View Post
My 1er is not modified.

My Rsx-S was heavily modified.

My motorcycle is modified.

Does this make me only 1/4 enthusiast?
Yes
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      01-22-2014, 01:19 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Billup View Post
My 1er is not modified.

My Rsx-S was heavily modified.

My motorcycle is modified.

Does this make me only 1/4 enthusiast?
Nope. 2/3rds
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      01-22-2014, 01:28 PM   #13
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Nope. 2/3rds
Shhhhh, OP was supposed to answer.


Well you passed the test, the guy before you failed miserably.
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      01-22-2014, 06:43 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 3002 tii View Post
-3.2%, the few enthusiasts are outweighed by the masses of stance, M-badge posers, and guys who throw 20" chromies onto a M6 convertible
Lol, I did roll down my windows in 10 degree weather the other day to hear my exhaust and intake right after I removed my carbon filter. I also have an M badge license plate bracket so I'm not sure what this makes me.

But god I do love to drive this car on windy back roads with the windows down!
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      01-22-2014, 07:34 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 128Convertibleguy View Post
I've seen an estimate of 20% here, I've seen 5.
So with a join date of sometime in the last 3 weeks and a grand total of 10 posts, you reckon you have sufficient knowledge of the thousands of users on these forums to make an estimate on the number who are "enthusiasts"?

Srsly?


Oh, and the easiest definition of an enthusiast is someone who buys a car because it does/has something they WANT rather than NEED.

You don't need to spend a lot of money. You don't need to mod. You don't need to race or track it.

If you bought a car that is bigger, better, faster, prettier, etc - than what you need - simply because you WANTED it, then you're an enthusiast.
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      01-22-2014, 09:44 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Harlequin View Post
So with a join date of sometime in the last 3 weeks and a grand total of 10 posts, you reckon you have sufficient knowledge of the thousands of users on these forums to make an estimate on the number who are "enthusiasts"?

Srsly?


Oh, and the easiest definition of an enthusiast is someone who buys a car because it does/has something they WANT rather than NEED.

You don't need to spend a lot of money. You don't need to mod. You don't need to race or track it.

If you bought a car that is bigger, better, faster, prettier, etc - than what you need - simply because you WANTED it, then you're an enthusiast.
Eloquent and extremely well put..
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      01-22-2014, 11:02 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Harlequin View Post
So with a join date of sometime in the last 3 weeks and a grand total of 10 posts, you reckon you have sufficient knowledge of the thousands of users on these forums to make an estimate on the number who are "enthusiasts"?

Srsly?


Oh, and the easiest definition of an enthusiast is someone who buys a car because it does/has something they WANT rather than NEED.

You don't need to spend a lot of money. You don't need to mod. You don't need to race or track it.

If you bought a car that is bigger, better, faster, prettier, etc - than what you need - simply because you WANTED it, then you're an enthusiast.
+1

I bought the 1er because I fell in love the moment I drove it. It's completely stock except for CDV and mid-cat/resonator delete.

I don't do track days or autocross, but I go to the Tail of the Dragon couple times a year. I definitely consider myself an enthusiast.
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      01-22-2014, 11:52 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Harlequin View Post
If you bought a car that is bigger, better, faster, prettier, etc - than what you need - simply because you WANTED it, then you're an enthusiast.
Playing devil's advocate for a minute here. Your definition also includes those who buy BMWs primarily for their value as luxurious status symbols. Often, their knowledge begins and ends with "gas pedal make car go." They, too, want the car. They don't need it. Are they enthusiasts? I think many would argue they are not.
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      01-23-2014, 01:32 AM   #19
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Playing devil's advocate for a minute here. Your definition also includes those who buy BMWs primarily for their value as luxurious status symbols. Often, their knowledge begins and ends with "gas pedal make car go." They, too, want the car. They don't need it. Are they enthusiasts? I think many would argue they are not.
Exceptio probat regulam in casibus non exceptis....

ie:

"Why would you spend that much money on a car when you don't care about cars?"

The above statement assumes buying a car that you don't need when you don't care about cars is outside the norm.
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      01-23-2014, 06:11 AM   #20
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Enthusiasm being a fairly broad and abstract modifier suggests that there's a wide range -- as well there should be. Is the 29 year-old grease monkey messing with the timing ratios on his 135 a "better" or "more enthusiastic" owner or driver that the 62 year-old retiree who simply breathes a well-earned sigh of relief when he or she starts up their marshmallow and floats off to bingo? I think not. Brand identification and alliance is an interesting animal... the only population that sits outside the scope of enthusiasm, I think, are probably people who don't know what they're driving and don't care -- and fine for them. Though we will pass them. On the left. And quickly.
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      01-23-2014, 07:10 AM   #21
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All of these comments made me smile, I have no performance mods but I considered myself an enthusiast because every car in my garage makes me happy when I drive them.
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      01-23-2014, 07:15 AM   #22
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If you are interested in your car enough to join a forum, I would say you're an enthusiast.
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