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

Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2022 9:26 pm
by pvr
London traffic kills any enjoyment of a manual, even I prefer an auto box there

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

Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2022 7:59 am
by Ian J
ori wrote: Wed Jul 27, 2022 9:19 pm
In short I wouldn’t change for a manual box.
My cars over the last dozen or so years have all been fairly powerful BMWs and I really don't see the point of manual gearboxes any more

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

Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2022 8:10 am
by paddy wright
Much like the manual E60 M5 I find surprising the US market will get this where uk may not given the lack of manuals in the us market compared to the uk.

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

Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2022 8:16 am
by pvr
Can you not spec “US” when ordering? I ordered “UK” spec years ago in NL when the prices where lower there

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

Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2022 8:27 am
by GuidoK
I think this kind of car (sporty roadster) should always have a manual, but I'm a manual gearbox junkie :roll:
I drove a slightly tuned g29 M40i (420hp I believe) on some mountain passes in the alps this summer, and I really liked it. Engine's good, chassis is good and I really liked the torque vectoring diff. I also think it looks good.
Only a manual gearbox would make it better. More driving engagement and that's I think in essence what these kinds of cars are in the beginning all about.
(and it's maybe a bit big for my taste, smaller cars are always better on small, narrow alpine mountain passes :wink: )

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

Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2022 9:14 am
by Scubaregs
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.

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

Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2022 3:20 pm
by Russ Z4
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!

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

Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2022 11:31 am
by q96169we
No, I won't. I will go for manual MX-5 but not manual G29.

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

Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2022 1:09 pm
by 9designs
q96169we wrote: Thu Aug 04, 2022 11:31 am No, I won't. I will go for manual MX-5 but not manual G29.
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.

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

Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2022 2:14 pm
by N4LLY
If they did a Valencia Orange then 8)

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

Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2022 2:28 pm
by MikeyH
Only if it was better than the one in the E85, 1st to 2nd is bl@@by awful. And into reverse.

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

Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2022 2:34 pm
by sars
9designs wrote: Fri Aug 05, 2022 1:09 pm Same here, Z4 (E89/G29) are GT cars not "sports cars" .
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

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

Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2022 8:25 pm
by Nanu
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.

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

Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2022 1:50 am
by baljemmett
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...

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

Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2022 9:24 am
by craig3.2
B21 wrote: Wed Jul 27, 2022 6:58 pm 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…
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: