[GFK007]

Be interested to see how many of us got the m235i in stick. Seems like the majority of people here got the auto...

Would love to hear people's reasoning behind their respective choices.

[HX_Guy]

6MT here.

I could have gone with either really, just happened that the M235i closest available to me (345 miles away in Vista, CA) when I wanted to buy was a 6MT so I went with that. Part of me really liked the fact that it was stick (my first 3 cars were all stick, my last car before this was an Audi A4 automatic), I missed driving a stick...but would have been ok with auto too since my wife can't drive stick...she wants to learn but is this really the right car to learn on?

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by GFK007

Be interested to see how many of us got the m235i in stick. Seems like the majority of people here got the auto...

Would love to hear people's reasoning behind their respective choices.

Not interested in us 228i people?
My 6MT 228i Sportline is just getting on the boat!

[HX_Guy]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

Not interested in us 228i people?
My 6MT 228i Sportline is just getting on the boat!

That's because you 228i people don't follow directions.

(you didn't answer the second part of the question)

[TAY TAY]

6MT because, automatics suck.

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by HX_Guy

That's because you 228i people don't follow directions.

(you didn't answer the second part of the question)

Just being polite and waiting for the invitation! It's the OP's thread!

[YYZF22N55]

6MT. Do enjoy the driving experience and everything driving a manual has to offer.

[ciwhamc]

6mt here. I have always been a manual guy. I have owned like 20 cars. Only 4 were auto and the reason is they are Land rovers that were not available in mt. Plus I like the satisfaction you get making the car do what you want. Not a computer doing it. Though this auto in the m235i was AMAZING. I considered it for about 2 seconds. That is a lifetime for me.

[ShockTower]

6MT here. Matter of personal choice I guess. Always have loved rowing my own gears. I know 0-60 and economy numbers are better on the auto (which of course is opposite of how cars have traditionally been) but for me, the driving experience is completely different in an auto. Nothing like a well executed heel toe downshift(still working on that)...
And if you've driven one, the car has a really nice gearbox. Anyone know if it's the same as the M3/4? Thought I read that somewhere.

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

Just being polite and waiting for the invitation! It's the OP's thread!

OK...since you asked!

It's all about being engaged and involved. Driving an automatic, no matter how good, leaves parts of your brain and body just sitting there. Some have said it's not really driving....it's just aiming. There is a rewarding sense of accomplishment and fun from being able to smoothly execute the skill of the stick and third pedal. Also, a manual changes the personality of most cars. The feeling of direct mechanical connection increases the sense of responsiveness. All-in-all, as long as I am able, I cannot imagine going back to just riding behind the wheel.

[Yummybox]

I make 6 so far, since you wanted a count

Its simply more fun.

[DanG]

I guess I am the odd guy out on this thread. I got tired of driving a stick in stop and go traffic. With the 8 speed faster and gets better mileage, it was hard not to get the 8 speed. After 4 months I am very happy with my automatic.

[HX_Guy]

I can see that Dan, I love the manual but there have been instances in the past couple of weeks where I missed the automatic when I just wanted to get from point A to point B.

[patbrass]

Anyone saying traffic as an excuse for getting the automatic is simply not a true manual lover. Nothing wrong with that especially how great the automatics are these days. But a true stick lover (me!) would still prefer a manual even in a 2 hour stop-n-go traffic

[hyperzulu]

Originally Posted by patbrass

Anyone saying traffic as an excuse for getting the automatic is simply not a true manual lover. Nothing wrong with that especially how great the automatics are these days. But a true stick lover (me!) would still prefer a manual even in a 2 hour stop-n-go traffic

Even if one has issues with their knee?

[patbrass]

Originally Posted by hyperzulu

Even if one has issues with their knee?

Well, no of course. Knee issue is a perfectly valid excuse to go for the automatic....but it's the only one

[Alpine F31]

Originally Posted by TAY TAY

6MT because, automatics suck.

That's the bottom line.

[Ramos]

6MT and loving it

[tccox]

62 year old, old fart here with bad left knee. Just dropped a lot of money trading in my low mileage, 2012 128 Steptronic for my 2014 228 Msport MANUAL trans dream car. Its just not sporty with a auto. Loved the 128 except for than damn auto trans. Faster ? well .1 second difference 0 to 60 is sort of insignificant to me. And yea, I did test drive a 228 auto. Great auto trans but still a auto.

[mjposner]

I came over from a DCT which I always drove manually. I had a 650i with paddles, but the shifting was slow so I always drove that as a true auto. I drove the same 8 speed in a Jaguar and it is the fastest shifting auto I have ever used, but it still was slower than the M3 DCT so when I decided to get a 235i I went with the stick.

I will add that I find it too easy to shift, clutch is too light and shifter too light as well.

[cla_bos]

6MT here

[sstarrx3]

This topic gets beat to death on this board! Some people like manuals, some people like autos. I learned to drive on a manual and drove manual all the way through college and my first new car(truck) was a manual as well. My reason for stopping with manual after that is my wife could not drive a stick and the one time I tried to teach her was traumatic (for my transmission). I started buying automatics after that and have not looked back. Having manual auto shifter is enough for me, I don't need a clutch. I will have to say that this 8 speed auto is the best on the planet. Never driven a better auto.