Have you regret your transmission choice? |
View Poll Results: Have you regret your transmission choice? | |||
I went for the M/T and don't regret it | 141 | 43.38% | |
I went for the M/T and regret it | 7 | 2.15% | |
I went for the ZF8 and don't regret it | 157 | 48.31% | |
I went for the ZF8 and regret it | 20 | 6.15% | |
Voters: 325. You may not vote on this poll |
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05-17-2014, 09:04 AM | #67 | |
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05-17-2014, 09:27 AM | #68 | |
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05-17-2014, 10:48 AM | #69 | |
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About 5.5 years ago, I had access to a huge corporate discount on Mercedes-Benz and bought two of them....a C300 and E350, the E for my wife. I found one of the 2% of manual C300s in the country and did some mods (struts, antisway bars, strut tower brace) to liven it up a bit. These two cars have been superbly comfortable, the most reliable/highest quality cars I've had in decades, and I have a dealer/service who treats me like royalty. I will buy my wife's next car there, but I am giving up on MB because the cars are just too dull and they dropped all manual transmissions. When I drive my wife's 4MATIC automatic very-cushy E, I feel as if I've suddenly aged 10 years, although it's a car many around the world would love to own! So, the pursuit of a rear-wheel drive stick brings me (back) to a BMW showroom, where I bought some cars many decades ago....before an intervening career in the US auto industry. Looking forward to ordering a 2015 once I see if Valencia Orange has been expanded to the MSport package! |
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05-17-2014, 08:40 PM | #70 | |
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I like that there's a manual offered, but let's not pretend I need to justify picking a brilliant auto on a BMW. |
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05-18-2014, 12:20 AM | #72 | |
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For those of you who have manuals on the 2 (or even 3) series, how is the shifting action? Relatively short and smooth throws? Also, how do you feel about the gear ratios? When you change from 1st to 2nd, do the revs drop a lot? (I've yet to look at the gear ratios). I am considering the 228 with manual transmission but haven't pulled the trigger yet. I can't test drive one because no dealers have them with manual transmission. Do you think test driving an M235i with manual tranny will give me a good idea of what the manual is in the 228i? TIA. |
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05-18-2014, 01:04 AM | #73 |
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I think the manual should feel exactly the same...
I've also like to ask the manual owners what they think about the ratios...I've seen a couple of videos which suggest the rpm drop from 1st to 2nd is quite steep, and I was wondering how that feels to the owners??? I'd like to know as well WHY people who voted "...and regreted it" did regret their choice...come on people, you have to let us know why you regret it!!! TELL US!! |
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05-19-2014, 02:37 PM | #74 |
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I do remember a Motor Trend article or video that's probably 2 yrs old now. I think it was MT editor Joe Lieberman (SP?) and if not mistaken it was a report on their long term F30 328i. I remember him saying something to the effect that the BMW manual was not that good and he should have ordered the 8 speed auto for their long term car. And in the comparison of the 328i vs. the AST, they said the AST manual was terrible at the time. That should be fixed as it was likely a software problem.
So to me it's not just manual vs. auto, it's the quality of the manual. I drive an S2000, which has one of the best manual transmissions in the business, so I am biased. Test drove a Mazda6 manual on Saturday and it was quite good together with the handling and nice steering feel. I only wish the engine had a little more torque. |
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05-19-2014, 03:41 PM | #75 | |
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My main concern is the satisfaction I get from using a manual...I love driving, and manual shifting is a BIG part of the pleasure I get from driving! It's not about efficiency, it's about enjoying the control, the rev matching, the absolute authority over when and which gear to select... I'm praying to see Chris Harris driving a manual M235i this week or anytime soon so I can see how he compares the auto on the M135i he test-drove to the manual...he was very impressed about the ZF8 and advised to go for it, and this coming from a guy who would always go for manual when possible says a lot, I think... |
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05-19-2014, 07:52 PM | #76 | |
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Again, my choice of AT is simply due to a bad left knee and hideous LA traffic. Bad Combo. If I lived in a more rural location, I'd likely have a MT. Like an earlier poster said, there's a bundle of fun to be had when in sport+ and the shifter tipped into sport mode. It shifts strong and quick. Not quite a DCT, but pretty damn good. Sure you can have the option of snoozing in "Drive" but you can get pretty playful using the paddles and engine rpm. In some respects it takes more concentration because you don't have a clutch pedal to feather out mistakes. You can get pretty creative toggling the shifter from left to right and from front to back finding the right gear/rev combinations for a given situation. As for you chilling in the passenger seat…that may be difficult. If I was your driver in an M235i AT, you'd probably have a lot of spilled drinks on your shirt! |
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05-26-2014, 07:57 PM | #77 | ||
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The best three manuals I've driven are:
The non-M BMWs all seem to have longish throws and heavy flywheels, which helps smoothness but makes the car feel less racy. Shift effort seems to vary quite a bit. My E90 328i is a little too heavy for my taste (even before I put on a short shift kit), the 6MT 228i I just test drove, too light for my taste. As I mentioned in another thread, I recall the 128i's manual being better than the 228i's. Quote:
In other news, It's funny to see all the philosophical arguments in this thread. I admit it. Automatics have gotten so good, there is no longer any rational argument for getting a manual. It used to be, manuals had more gears, got better fuel economy, accelerated faster, were more reliable, never shifted when you didn't want them to, etc. That's all over now. A modern automatic can have nine or more gears, shifts far faster than any human could, delivers better fuel economy and acceleration, telepathically figures out exactly what gear I want and switches to it immediately. About the only practical advantage I can think of for a manual is that you can push start it if the battery dies. But I don't care. As long as I can still get a good manual attached to a good car, I will. It's not because I'm macho or resistant to new technology, it's just because it makes me feel connected to the car in a way that paddle shifters just can't. To me, owning an automatic would be like having a tennis racket that swings itself at just the right moment. Sure, I would still have to run around the court, but the part where I decide when and how to swing the racket is part of the sport. To me, shifting a manual is simply part of the sport of driving.
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05-28-2014, 12:54 AM | #78 | |
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I do agree with most of you here, most will regret getting the AT, but rarely vice versa. |
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05-28-2014, 01:44 AM | #79 | |
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After days and days of doubt and swaying back and forth between MT and auto I've come to the conclusion that the manual is the better choice for me, and here's why (I'm not bothering with importance order): - I'm absolutely sure that there's a much greater chance for me to regret having the auto than the manual, as much I want to believe the better performance, economy and using paddles will float my boat of driving happiness. - Economy and performance (which are the only atributes pulling me to the auto) are a tad better on the auto, but with the manual both parameters can be enhanced afterwards with some mods, on the other hand feelling/connection/enjoyment/control can never be "mended" afterwards if I get the auto. There will always be 2 pedals, and a spectator behind the wheel. - I'm sure that sooner or later the manual transmission will disappear, even if only when electric cars really take over, but then I'll have the whole time in the world to drive without swapping cogs, meanwhile I'm enjoying it while I can! - My real complaints with bmw's manual are the long throws and rubbery feel, but the first can be fixed with a short throw kit, and the second isn't that bad to put me off and will remain my only real unfixable gripe with the manual, though I'll probably get used to it and voilá! So, to sum up my take on this matter: Bad points on the manual, such as economy, performance, throws, rubbery feel, are fixable, but the bad points on the auto, such as enjoyment, connection, control, are unfixable, and don't say the paddles make up for it, cause they don't, and they won't, ever, to me! Stock to stock, I may get a bit sad seeing an auto beat me on a straight, but how often will that happen compared to 99.9% of my driving miles!? MANUAL, please, thank you, BMW! |
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05-28-2014, 01:56 AM | #80 | |
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While I've never thought the manual in my 328i was perfect, adding the M short-shift kit has made it good enough for me to thoroughly enjoy the car. If I get the 2 Series, I have a feeling I'll be making the same upgrade once it becomes available.
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05-28-2014, 09:31 PM | #81 | |
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05-29-2014, 12:28 AM | #82 |
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11-02-2014, 03:14 PM | #83 |
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It's funny how the poll shows a lot more people went for manual, but from all the posts, pics, comments, on the whole forum I'd say the auto choice wins hands down!
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11-02-2014, 08:53 PM | #85 |
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11-02-2014, 09:09 PM | #86 |
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11-03-2014, 06:00 AM | #87 |
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Can't answer. Went with MT6 and it is great but would like to try the ZF8/DCT on the next one.
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