BMWThe manual transmission is dying. There is no other way of looking at it. The rise of electric vehicles has certainly had an impact on this, but many consumers prefer the convenience that an automatic transmission can bring. Yet BMW is finding out that there is still huge demand for the M3 CS Handschalter with a manual transmission in America, so much so that it is struggling to meet demand.The BMW M3 CS is one of the last bastions of the manual transmission still standing. The final version of the G80 generation M3 is, of course, a lightweight CS with a manual, and naturally, BMW enthusiasts have been praying that they can somehow get their hands on one of these cars.However, there is a catch. It is estimated that just 600-700 units of the car will make their way over to America. In fact, most dealerships already have a waiting list longer than your arm. So the chances of getting hold of one are slim for a lot of people.AdvertisementAdvertisementBMW is now struggling to meet the demands that the M3 CS is, well, demanding. Everyone wants a slice of the manual pie, but how many are actually going to get to taste it? We think some people are going to be left feeling quite disappointed.Why Everyone Wants a Manual BMW M3 CSBMWAmerica buys more manual M cars than any other market, and that is instantly a problem for BMW. With it likely this could be one of the last, if not the last, versions of the M3 to have a manual transmission, everyone wants to get their hands on one and enjoy it while it lasts. The car, which in its full name is the BMW M3 CS Handschalter, is an exclusive to the American market.On top of the manual transmission, the M3 CS is lighter than the standard M3 and has a track-focused chassis setup. This means it has stiffer dampers, springs, and anti-roll bars, and it sits 6mm closer to the ground compared to the M3 Competition. Plus, it is rear-wheel drive, as opposed to the previous four-wheel drive M3 Cs. Power is slightly down on the regular M3 CS, but it is still a very healthy 473hp. The reduction of 69hp in the total power output doesn't seem to have deterred customers.What could deter them, however, is the price. Not because the car is expensive at MSRP, but because some dealers are charging up to $25,000 over the sticker price. This is at least consistent with how companies such as Ferrari and Porsche handle limited editions, but it is certainly going to price the M3 CS out of the range of some people.A Fond Farewell to the Manual TransmissionBMWWhen BMW launched the M3 CS Handschalter in America, it did so for two reasons. One, it was a thank you to North America, and two, it was also a goodbye. It is a thank you to all of those in the country that have bought BMW M3s, in particular manual ones, and it allows the G80 generation to bid a very fond farewell. In fact, it is also a fond farewell to the manual transmission as a whole.AdvertisementAdvertisementWhile the M3 isn't going anywhere, as BMW is working on a new generation, the manual transmission is. This looks to be the end of the line for the stick shift M3, as the future generation is set to offer automatic transmissions only. You may not even see the return of a rear-wheel drive M3, as all trims are expected to have all-wheel drive. They say you don't know what you had until it's gone, and we feel like this will be the case with the manual M3.If you want more stories like this, follow Guessing Headlights on Yahoo so you don't miss what's coming next.
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