[T_U_D]

Originally Posted by jhall1957

T_U_D
Need your honest opinion. How does the blue look in person? Do you think it will age well and become a well accepted BMW color? I was leaning that way but then thought a bit too baby blue and moved to Motorsport white but seeing your video has me second guessing. I like get cars in their exclusive colors. 1M is VO, M2CS is blue.

Thoughts please

Truthfully I do not care for it. I have expressed that repeatedly. I attempted to warmup to it while staring at the vehicle for three or four hours. I wanted to like ZB as I also wanted to order it given that it is the “exclusive color” but I cannot do it.

Note, the videos are not an accurate representation of the color. The DSLR photos that Caerus took are. https://g42.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1962749

Edit, While at the Performance Center multiple individuals stated that they didn’t mind the car, but they did not care for the color. This appeared to outweigh those that liked the color.

[02M3ForMe]

Originally Posted by aerobod

With large autoshows costing hundreds of thousands of dollars to rent space and equip and staff the booth, they would need the profit from hundreds of car sales to make it worthwhile. I'm sure the few sales that are just influenced by the presence at the show are not worthwhile.

From an IT perspective, a company I worked for in the past attended trade shows sporadically over the years, with the conclusion that the years we attended had no influence on sales volume and leads generated vs the years we didn't attend, just that we had an extra expense the years we paid for show booths. The main benefit was networking with peers, but that could be done at conferences where we didn't have any booth presence.

This kind of thinking is how you slowly cede market leadership to upstart competitors who “come out of nowhere”.

Yes, there’s not going to be much if any ROI in a mediocre booth; might as well stay home if you’re going to stand up a lighted sign, give away some keychains, T-shirts, and 1-sheets, and call it a day. I’ve attended many shows in various industries, and the correlation between companies that do actual meaningful and impactful activations at the shows and companies that see good general business outcomes is undeniable.

It’s like any form of marketing; showing up is great, but you still need to have a strong message delivered skillfully to see and maximize results.

Digital is super noisy because the barrier to entry is low. Everyone has a voice, which isn’t good when I’m a global multi-zillion dollar operation speaking at a similar volume to fly-by-night Instagram brands or whatever. Spaces where you can still talk to consumers without shouting over 1,000 others are extremely few and far between. Anyone not paying up and choosing to rest on their laurels and save a buck and expand margins by some insignificant amount is existentially vulnerable over a long enough time horizon.

If I were, say, Alfa Romeo, I’d seize the opportunity to double down on auto shows and as many real-world, non-digital placements as possible while they’re cheap and incumbents are walking away. Long-term ROI will be huge if done right.

Maybe if they had done that in 2015, I would’ve picked up a Quadrifoglio in lieu of the 8 F8x cars I purchased since then. (And that would’ve been the right choice; the Giulia QV is significantly better than all of the F8x I’ve owned, including the M3 CS.)

Originally Posted by samsamdar

Bob Smith told me it was gonna be a press car eventually once it gets plates! Looked absolutely stunning in person and way better than the official pictures…

Awesome - did they say how long it was going to be there?

[T_U_D]

Originally Posted by 02M3ForMe

This kind of thinking is how you slowly cede market leadership to upstart competitors who “come out of nowhere”.

Yes, there’s not going to be much if any ROI in a mediocre booth; might as well stay home if you’re going to stand up a lighted sign, give away some keychains, T-shirts, and 1-sheets, and call it a day. I’ve attended many shows in various industries, and the correlation between companies that do actual meaningful and impactful activations at the shows and companies that see good general business outcomes is undeniable.

It’s like any form of marketing; showing up is great, but you still need to have a strong message delivered skillfully to see and maximize results.

Digital is super noisy because the barrier to entry is low. Everyone has a voice, which isn’t good when I’m a global multi-zillion dollar operation speaking at a similar volume to fly-by-night Instagram brands or whatever. Spaces where you can still talk to consumers without shouting over 1,000 others are extremely few and far between. Anyone not paying up and choosing to rest on their laurels and save a buck and expand margins by some insignificant amount is existentially vulnerable over a long enough time horizon.

If I were, say, Alfa Romeo, I’d seize the opportunity to double down on auto shows and as many real-world, non-digital placements as possible while they’re cheap and incumbents are walking away. Long-term ROI will be huge if done right.

Maybe if they had done that in 2015, I would’ve picked up a Quadrifoglio in lieu of the 8 F8x cars I purchased since then. (And that would’ve been the right choice; the Giulia QV is significantly better than all of the F8x I’ve owned, including the M3 CS.)

[02M3ForMe]

Originally Posted by T_U_D

I left the convo alone and responded only after observing the discussion still ongoing (including a response from you, see below).

Originally Posted by T_U_D

No doubt.

Auto shows were headed to their demise prior to Covid. Covid certainly gave them a final swift kick in the butt.

[T_U_D]

Originally Posted by 02M3ForMe

I left the convo alone and responded only after observing the discussion still ongoing (including a response from you, see below).

I provided a direct yet brief reply. I did not write book. Sorry, but six lengthy paragraphs is a hijack. All good, just stating the obvious.

[02M3ForMe]

Originally Posted by T_U_D

I provided a direct yet brief reply. I did not write book. Sorry, but six lengthy paragraphs is a hijack. All good, just stating the obvious.

A thoughtful response deserves a thoughtful response. Also relevant to me that the discussion touched on a topic/profession that has made me enough to buy this car many, many times over.

I have nothing more to say on it; thread un-jacked.

[jhall1957]

Originally Posted by T_U_D

I provided a direct yet brief reply. I did not write book. Sorry, but six lengthy paragraphs is a hijack. All good, just stating the obvious.

I agree. Let's get back on topic please. Many "buyers" who don't get the chance to see the actual car in person before ordering need as much info as we can get. Besides, who really gives a crap about car shows and manufacturers thoughts on them?

[jhall1957]

Originally Posted by T_U_D

Truthfully I do not care for it. I have expressed that repeatedly. I attempted to warmup to it while staring at the vehicle for three or four hours. I wanted to like ZB as I also wanted to order it given that it is the “exclusive color” but I cannot do it.

Note, the videos are not an accurate representation of the color. The DSLR photos that Caerus took are. https://g42.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1962749

Edit, While at the Performance Center multiple individuals stated that they didn’t mind the car, but they did not care for the color. This appeared to outweigh those that liked the color.

Thanks TUD. Pretty sure I'll stay with white.

[bangerman15]

Originally Posted by T_U_D

Truthfully I do not care for it. I have expressed that repeatedly. I attempted to warmup to it while staring at the vehicle for three or four hours. I wanted to like ZB as I also wanted to order it given that it is the “exclusive color” but I cannot do it.

Note, the videos are not an accurate representation of the color. The DSLR photos that Caerus took are. https://g42.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1962749

Edit, While at the Performance Center multiple individuals stated that they didn’t mind the car, but they did not care for the color. This appeared to outweigh those that liked the color.

I actually MIGHT go back to ZB instead of TR after you pointing out the pics in that link reflect how it is in person. Thanks for mentioning that. Love TR, but always had a thing for baby blue..

[MmmmmM2]

Originally Posted by samsamdar

Bob Smith told me it was gonna be a press car eventually once it gets plates! Looked absolutely stunning in person and way better than the official pictures…

How long will it be there?

[samsamdar]

Originally Posted by MmmmmM2

How long will it be there?

No idea but you could probably call and ask before making the drive over to them

[FrozenGT]

Only way I'm purchasing this car is in British racing green competition spec. 😆😆

[Tag]

This is probably the best video I've seen on ZB with some really good closeups all around the car. The video is also in 4K.

Ohh, BMW finally put dressing on the tires.

[MmmmmM2]

I forgot to add, but of all things I did NOT expect, I liked the interior FAR more than the exterior. Man, that interior is nice and I would love spending time in there.