[ScottMZ3]

I have the 8 speed sport auto with paddles in my '14 X1 and do enjoy using them. But I certainly don't use them all the time. When I'm not using them I always drive in DS mode...D just up shifts too early for my taste.

Like someone else said here, if you are paddling through the gears you can ignore 7 and 8. Just use 1-6. The X1 can hit 60 in 2nd gear so there is tremendous flexibility in the transmission and the turbo 4 to have lots of fun in just the first 3 gears. I would get the manual in the M235i if I could...but my wife needs to be able to drive the car on occasion and I can't for the life of me get her interested in learning to drive a manual. So it's a good thing the sport auto is a fantastic tranny.