[kindofblue]

The rag top 228i only comes w/an AT. I have to say though, that it's a pretty slick AT.

[isthar]

AT M235, xDrive.
a) wanted xDrive.
b) I'm a "video game" type driver anyways. I love paddles, as long as they are responsive, which they 100% are in the sportier modes
c) even on a track (which my car has done twice), I love it
d) I learnt how to drive on a stick shift
e) I would have stick shifts on lower power cars, like a MINI Roadster if I ever got one

[jpnh]

OK, granted this is a poll on an enthusiasts website so lets take it with a grain of salt

But nearly 50% of respondants (over 100 people) have indicated that they purchased a MT 2 series

Yet dealers seem to refuse to stock them

[chattanooga240]

Originally Posted by jpnh

But nearly 50% of respondants (over 100 people) have indicated that they purchased a MT 2 series

Yet dealers seem to refuse to stock them

They are a slightly harder sell than the auto's, nothing cosmic about the logic on a dealer's part.

[Grentz]

Originally Posted by jpnh

OK, granted this is a poll on an enthusiasts website so lets take it with a grain of salt

But nearly 50% of respondants (over 100 people) have indicated that they purchased a MT 2 series

Yet dealers seem to refuse to stock them

You're on an enthusiast forum....changes your demographic a lot vs. the general population.

[siwo]

Originally Posted by Merc for hire

Manual for life. No women no kids.

Manual for me. Married with 1 kid - 4 years old. Didn't stop me.

[Kolyan2k]

It looks like family-men where wife needs to drive and injured pickup AT mostly ))

I bet the poll would be close to a 100% on manual side if you disregard traffic, wives, injuries, and availability

[steve1980]

AT due to the left knee and hip. Prefer a manual any day of the week but I am thankful this auto is pretty damn good.

[Lacessit]

AT.

I've only owned one AT previously & that was because circumstances were right & had to buy a car now. However for my test drive dealer only had xdrives, and I was impressed with both the handling and AT so I actually ordered an xdrive instead of rwd.

We're also in the age where the autos are better by the numbers if not the enjoyment.

The 2er will replace my s2000 (I loved) and my subaru impreza (I hated) I think ill be happy with the decision but only time will tell.

[chattanooga240]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

It looks like family-men where wife needs to drive and injured pickup AT mostly ))

I bet the poll would be close to a 100% on manual side if you disregard traffic, wives, injuring, and availability

Sure, that's why BMW produces these at a rate of 3:1 in favor of the AT

Manuals are still awesome, the demographic of car buyers has just changed dramatically in the past 15 years.

[MyM235i]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

It's all most dealers stock. My dealer thought I was nuts to pay A LOT more and order my 6mt M235 with moonroof delete rather than take my pick of 8 loaded M235x's on the lot for $8 to 9k off. My salesman, a true car guy, completely understood why I ordered the car the way I did and there's no dohbt in his mind and mine that the car will be far more desirable when it comes to selling it in 4 to 6 years.

With that said, apparently I'm one of the few with a wife that can drive a manual. Hell, most of us in high school back in the late 1980s/early 1990s had manuals. She loves driving my car. God bless her. My kids love the car too and their dad is the only one to drive a car with a manual.

I don't fault anyone getting this car with an auto though. The 8at is a really good and if this were a more dedicated track car where I'm racing for points and money, I'd definitely have the auto.

This was exactly my experience with the exception of trading in a 235ix. I had it for a year and never loved the torque converter feel. If it was dual clutch I would probably have kept it. I bought it thinking I needed x drive for Canadian winters. Its too good with all the traction aids. totally boring in winter. Anybody who says they need Xdrive for winter really doesn't. Winter tires and the traction control of the RWD is fine.
The AT is the best I have driven for what that's worth. Its light years ahead of the audi unit.

[pz619]

I'll share my opinion. Don't get mad.

I chose the automatic. I'm kind of a bottom line guy and the auto is faster and more fuel efficient. I drove the manual and part of me really wanted it. But it didn't feel special to me. Coming from a S2K (and numerous hondas before) the manual felt imprecise and for lack of a better term, sloppy. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't 1990 nissan pickup truck bad, but I expected better especially since I keep hearing about how BMW manuals are special. In the end it was the auto ended up coming out on top. I basically drive manual mode everywhere to retain that manual control.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by pz619

I'll share my opinion. Don't get mad.

I chose the automatic. I'm kind of a bottom line guy and the auto is faster and more fuel efficient. I drove the manual and part of me really wanted it. But it didn't feel special to me. Coming from a S2K (and numerous hondas before) the manual felt imprecise and for lack of a better term, sloppy. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't 1990 nissan pickup truck bad, but I expected better especially since I keep hearing about how BMW manuals are special. In the end it was the auto ended up coming out on top. I basically drive manual mode everywhere to retain that manual control.

I too came from S2000, I think manual is really good in M235i. Its much better then all previous BMWs I had or drove, most magazines agree on this too.

Probably goes like this, Honda (S2k) > Porsche > BMW/Audi

[Portadown95]

AT. Thought I would be commuting in DC but ended up working in Germany with unrestricted autobahn a couple miles away. Still love the car and the ZF transmission is probably faster than most mortal men.

[TWO-BMW]

Automatic only because I had to have X Drive, and that's the only way it was available. The good news is that the AT is really quite impressive, which helps me feel better. This is the only non manual transmission vehicle I have ever purchased.

[mocohead]

MT for me. I have only owned 1 AT car and was miserable the entire time. And I commute 25 miles each way in LA traffic. Still wouldn't trade it.

Oh and my reasoning - I am too cheap to pay for the alarm. MT is the best anti-theft device around!

[roadster675]

M235 manual, as were my two E46 330Ci's previously. As a matter of fact, I've owned manuals continuously(even non synchromesh crash boxes) since my first car in 1962.

[thb229]

AT

[Spydeputy]

:

[JoyRin]

Manual....or else i would give left foot braking a whole new meaning....

[Smallm]

MANual
because I can't stand driving a brake pedal and automatics are for girls.

[chattanooga240]

Originally Posted by Smallm

MANual
because I can't stand driving a brake pedal and automatics are for girls.

Or just grown men that want to be faster than you are...