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So the obvious place to start is that manual gearbox, it is as one would expect, very different to the automatic and it is difficult to convey the difference it makes to the car and yes a more involving driving experience is part of it. I think we tolerate automatics because over the past twenty years or so we have been gradually forced down this road and without doubt they make life easier, this is okay for the family run about, but it is not something we should ever want in a sports car. As I write this, I've not long returned from a little jaunt, the shortest trips are now an event rather than a drive from a to b. I want to have a little fun without having the need to go stupidly fast. I also think the automatic makes you drive, as BMW state "efficient dynamics", changes come quick and seamless so you just tootle. Then when it comes to an overtake, the kick down is quite violent, there is that moment of hesitation before action and if I used the paddles, any pause waiting for a gap inevitably results in it going back to drive. I've found the manual just better and again we've forgotten what it used to be like, now anything between 30 - 40 mph, knock it down to 2nd and you're off, hitting 60 mph in a few heartbeats. Changing up, with that almost impossible to resist urge, to hit the redline again in 3rd, it is completely addictive. The great thing is, you tend to naturally get that red-line in 3rd is beyond all legal speed limits, yes you get the same feeling in the auto, but you don't know what gear you're in because it's so easy and smooth, that's until you look at the speedo where you're into three digit speeds. Thus you have to restrict yourself and be careful when and where you decide to have a little fun, it's just so to easy to speed, in the manual it's just more fun, more of the time because it is easier to control.
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I will say the the manual and B58 is by far and away the best engine and gearbox combination I've experienced in my 40 years of driving, no question at all.
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The likes, I had issues with the steering on my last M40i, this is the reason I did not advertise it for sale on here. The steering was a little vague with some play at the centre that would occasionally be severe with a 10 degree dead zone. This new car, the steering is a joy, it has a lovely weight and precision to it, a vast improvement over the other one. I would be interested in driving another M40i automatic just to see if it's the same or something unique to the manual. I have never driven a Boxster or Cayman so cannot comment on how they compare, my only slight negative is feel, or the lack of, which I'm sure is not helped by the fitting off 255 fronts.
The not so good, I only have two real complaints, the first is road noise, those Michelin PSS 285/30 R20 are noisy, they're not uncomfortable, just noisy. I'm also not overly keen on those 20" alloys on the back, they're just to big. I'm wrestling with the idea of trying a stock M40i 18" set up (not available in the UK) this is 225/45 R18 x 255/40 R18, however with the gearing in sixth I'd rather not have a smaller diameter wheel than I have now on the rear. So looking at 225/40 R19 x 245/40 R19 for a winter tyre set up and this gives an almost identical rolling diameter.
The second is the gearing in fifth and in particularly sixth gear, which will easily do 30 mph to the limited 155 mph, I'm not sure what could be done now apart from altering the final drive ratio on the diff. I'm really picking at small little hairs here, they're are not major inconveniences just possibly small improvements in my opinion.
Is it the best car I've owned, possibly not, it is however, the most enjoyable and rewarding car I've ever driven, I highly recommended it.
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