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Would you trade in for a manual M40i...?

Personally no, but for the same reason I bought a 30i rather than an M40i. My car is used as a DD and if used for fun SWMBO is in the passenger seat and hates any sort of speed through the twisties, so it was pointless for me to pay more to buy and run an M40i and as car is used for work commute and cruising, auto is perfect.

Had I not had the S1000r I would have bought the M40i over the 30i had I been buying a Z4, though tbh would probably have went back to Porsche.
 
Exactly. If it just a toy, then yeah - but given I will use mine for DD where I could be stuck in queues, the days of riding the clutch to creep forward with the traffic gets a bit tiresome.

If it was purely an out and out driving car with just one purpose of pleasure driving, then maybe. But then again, it would probably be something smaller - like an Alpine - but then again loads of people complain that you can’t get a manual on that!
 
q96169we said:
No, I won't. I will go for manual MX-5 but not manual G29.
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Same here, Z4 (E89/G29) are GT cars not "sports cars" ..... I have two other manual cars, Z as an auto is a nicer contrast and suits it.
 
9designs said:
Same here, Z4 (E89/G29) are GT cars not "sports cars" .
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The E85/E89/G29 meets 95% of dictionaries definition of a Sports Car, regardless of what you might think.
The Oxford Dictionary defines it as a low-built car designed for performance at high speeds, often having a roof that can be folded back
and Collins is a low, fast car, usually with room for only two people
and Cambridge a fast, low car, often for two people only
Whilst the definition of Grand Tourer, ne Gran Turismo usually includes the phrase coupe and 2+2, however it does not preclude convertibles or having just two seats. What a GT car must do well is comfort and luxury, both of which are subjective. Ultimately if you wish to say your car is a GT, that's great, but you can't say it isn't a sports car, as: -
  • it is low, it is fast, it has two seats, it is a convertible
It would be easier if we all drove Lotus Elise's though, as there is no way you could argue that's a GT car :D
 
If the auto G29 was crap, then indeed go for a manual, but it isn't so why would you?

I have just moved from a 7 speed DCT box to the G29 8 speed and there is no difference, both excellent. Would never consider a manual now on a modern car.

On a classic yes but not on modern cars.
 
It would be interesting to know what the sales numbers are like for the G29s that are already available with manual transmissions - in some markets, such as Germany, it's listed in the configurator as an option on the sDrive20i (maybe only the Sport trim?). We already know from press reports that they managed to sell a grand total of two manual cars into the Australian market, and as a result no longer offer it there...
 
B21 said:
The manual vs auto (be it DCT or xHP or any other) argument has been voiced many times…

Still can’t get what’s so exciting about pressing a clutch pedal and a gearshift vs just pressing a gear shift…

The paradox is the engine has been optimised for an auto box…as most later turbos are..

Unlike a NA car where peak BHP and peak torque are pushed up the top end, turbo’d cars have such fat torque curves it’s usually better to short shift and ride on a wave of torque…
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What utter nonsense, Peter.
There have been many many Turbo cars over many years,with Manual gearboxes.
Cars like Cosworths,Lancia Delta Turbo Integrate,Audi TTs,Leon Cupras(early 2000s),Fiat Coupes 20v Turbo engines,etc etc etc

The engine in the M40i is easily suited to a Manual gearbox.
The enjoyment for many,of a Manual box is being able to match revs and gearchanges,and the feel of being in control of that aspect....not just sitting back and letting the car do everything for you.

For a daily,that's fine,and I like it,but as said by someone else,for a Sports car/predominantly, a Weekend toy,a Manual box is still very much a plus for alot of people. :driving:
 
Nanu said:
If the auto G29 was crap, then indeed go for a manual, but it isn't so why would you?

I have just moved from a 7 speed DCT box to the G29 8 speed and there is no difference, both excellent. Would never consider a manual now on a modern car.

On a classic yes but not on modern cars.
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Just for the feeling of being in control,etc as mentioned.
Fine for a Daily,still manual for a Sports car.
I get the fact that most of us can't change gears in a manual to get the best times down,in terms of quoted 0-62 etc,and pretty much anyone can jump into an auto and get the car to do a near as book 0-62 time as is quoted,in cars like z4 M40, or an M4 etc, But Manual gearboxes still have their place,in the right cars
 
It’s all down to personal preferences I suppose - but a can’t see what the pleasure of changing gear is ?
I was always used to manual box and a heal n toe going down the box regime, but I certainly don’t miss it by any stretch of the imagination,

A late ‘Old Pal’ used to severely criticise my choice of Auto G’ box - stating that ‘HE’ was in charge of the car - i suppose ‘HE’ liked the crunching noises, I once said to him that auto boxes didn’t do that nor select third gear at traffic lights! I don’t think he saw the funny side!
 
However, my wife didn't like the idea of an auto box as we would still have manual cars and going from one to the other would not be great. I have to agree with her so I went for the manual gearbox. She never drives it, well that's women for you. :headbang:
 
Tbh I'm waiting to see if they offer any other colours and a manual on the LCI later this year before I do anything. Have to admit a manual M40i is a tasty thought in mineral grey. If they don't do a manual then the deposit will probably go to Porsche, even though the spec of a GTS 4.0 I'd want is almost 30k more than a Zed.... :cry: and not sure I can stomach that or risk being able to really afford it when it would land probably sometime in 2024.
 
Unfortunately at my age I can’t sensibly consider another hooligan car in another two years,. I will probably only be just about able to justify the one I’ve got!

I suspect I will advertise the current car on here - but it might have 25k on the clock by then! :rofl:
 
Tough one, this. I don't have a G29 so my opinion isn't particularly relevant, but I do feel that manual gearboxes are becoming less and less worthwhile, other than to save cost.

I get the point of having one in an e85/6 or something older, but even in an e89 the various sensations of driving are dampened so much that having the manual element feels almost out of place. In an e85/6 you have more noise, you feel closer to the floor, less cocooned, closer to the elements and in that situation a manual adds to the experience IMO. Everything feels more... mechanical.

Then there's modern traffic - unless you're up in Scotland or Wales a clutch pedal is just an inconvenience 95% of the time.

I do sometimes feel a bit like I'm cheating with an auto, but would I swap it for a manual? Probably not.
 
Can't quite understand the argument that a manual you are in charge. Using the paddle shifts you are in charge. The only difference is you don't have to bother with the clutch stuff which makes changing gear quicker and smoother.

Have to admit though for me even with normal size hands, the paddles are too low on the steering wheel on the G29 meaning I have to move my hands down a touch to flick the paddle. Didn't have to do that on the e89.
 
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