Auto or manual

[LeeZ4MR]

https://youtu.be/ufzdL1JaEKM

check this out... not a manual shift in sight... very uninvolving :lol:

Point taken...it would have been even more involving if it had a three pedal manual though

lol.. maybe... but not as fast

That's true

 

[jimmybell]

Everyday/city driving, or anything involving traffic? Auto
Weekend drivers car, for fun driving only? Manual
Weekend drivers car that's lightweight and 550bhp or more? Auto

 

[brittas]

Why is having to depress clutch and have one hand off the steering wheel involving? Some of you people need to move with the the times.
To me if 0-60 time and MPG is not compromised its a no brainer. Modern auto any day of the week. Being stuck in traffic in a manual is really no fun. My TTS stronic in S mode will go through the gears faster than any human. Racing cars are semi auto.
I couldn't go back to a manual after my TTS s tronic gear box. I only hope 8 speed auto on the z4 28i I am getting is nearly as good as the s tronic Audi system.

 

[andya1]

Why is having to depress clutch and have one hand off the steering wheel involving? Some of you people need to move with the the times.
To me if 0-60 time and MPG is not compromised its a no brainer. Modern auto any day of the week. Being stuck in traffic in a manual is really no fun. My TTS stronic in S mode will go through the gears faster than any human. Racing cars are semi auto.
I couldn't go back to a manual after my TTS s tronic gear box. I only hope 8 speed auto on the z4 28i I am getting is nearly as good as the s tronic Audi system.

I totally agree with all your points there, the DCT auto box on the Z4 is just superb and no way would I want a manual in a Z4 again.

 

[ronk]

If the 8 speed box they fit in the z is the same as in our 335xd then it can't be faulted !
In comfort mode it's soft and gentle and in sport mode it changes very quickly. I love the gearbox.

 

[Jasey]

Why is having to depress clutch and have one hand off the steering wheel involving? Some of you people need to move with the the times.

It gives you more opportunities to lose control.

As I've said before - keeping a 35iS on a bendy bumpy road is hard enough with both hands on the steering wheel.

Notice how this guy stops steering to change gears - covers the problem beautifully.



All this manual car for real drivers is complete tosh - these fuckers will all be driving like miss Daisy

 

[GuidoK]

Seriously I don't get anyone who says you have to have a manual to have any kind of true satisfaction .....

We all derive our enjoyment and satisfaction from different points of view...

You understand that you contradict yourself?
Or at least you dont understand something but you know why :roll:

https://youtu.be/ufzdL1JaEKM

check this out... not a manual shift in sight... very uninvolving :lol:

Also no automatic shift in sight

Manual and automatic are 2 terms here that are really used on completely the wrong technical basis.
For instance, in that video I think you see her manually shifting a straight cut dog clutch sequential gearbox. I dont think that that is a clutch plate operated gearbox (but I speculate on this)
Like riding a motorcycle but then without using the clutch (Ignition is probably cut on the shifts).
Rallycars often use the same system but sometimes with an up/down lever in the centerconsole instead of buttons on the wheel.

 

[ronk]

Are there any who prefer the manual box who have never missed a gear or been caught in the wrong cog?

 

[MikeZ4man]

In days of yore, there were only two options - manual or auto, and understandably "sports car" drivers (generally with net back leather driving gloves) opted for manual as the more sporty option. In the 21st Century, there is now a third way - Porsche have PDK and BMW have DCT. I have driven several Boxsters with PDK and found the box marvellous. So, when buying a Z4 there was only one option for me - DCT. Personal choice at the end of the day, who cares as long as everyone is happy!

 

[mr.tourette]

Seriously I don't get anyone who says you have to have a manual to have any kind of true satisfaction .....

We all derive our enjoyment and satisfaction from different points of view...

You understand that you contradict yourself?
Or at least you dont understand something but you know why :roll:

https://youtu.be/ufzdL1JaEKM

check this out... not a manual shift in sight... very uninvolving :lol:

Also no automatic shift in sight

Manual and automatic are 2 terms here that are really used on completely the wrong technical basis.
For instance, in that video I think you see her manually shifting a straight cut dog clutch sequential gearbox. I dont think that that is a clutch plate operated gearbox (but I speculate on this)
Like riding a motorcycle but then without using the clutch (Ignition is probably cut on the shifts).
Rallycars often use the same system but sometimes with an up/down lever in the centerconsole instead of buttons on the wheel.

No I dont, but If you want to interpret what Ive said in some kind of statement to make yourself look clever you fire away

 

[firebobby]

Personally I think the best Z by far would be a pre face lift 3.0 auto, probably blue in colour with a wooden dash.
Not being biased by the way

 

[GuidoK]

No I dont, but If you want to interpret what Ive said in some kind of statement to make yourself look clever you fire away

At first you say that you dont understand why someone is sticking to manual, and after that you basically say that we all have a different point of view on how we enjoy ourselves.

That's rather contradictive.

As for 'automatic gearboxes': there are so many types of 'autmatic gearboxes' that people confuse things so much and start to use the same judgement on all of them, but when used in real life they will feel and act completely different.
For example you think that sabine in that video uses an auto gearbox while she's not. Do you think the bike in your avatar has an automatic?
She has basically the same gearbox (on working principle).

 

[Jasey]

No I dont, but If you want to interpret what Ive said in some kind of statement to make yourself look clever you fire away

At first you say that you dont understand why someone is sticking to manual, and after that you basically say that we all have a different point of view on how we enjoy ourselves.

That's rather contradictive.

As for 'automatic gearboxes': there are so many types of 'autmatic gearboxes' that people confuse things so much and start to use the same judgement on all of them, but when used in real life they will feel and act completely different.
For example you think that sabine in that video uses an auto gearbox while she's not. Do you think the bike in your avatar has an automatic?
She has basically the same gearbox (on working principle).

Nobody cares what the actual type of gearbox is or how it works internally.

The net effect of a sport auto v DCT is completely negligible to 99% of drivers.

 

[techathy]

What is an automatic gearbox is a fun one. It depends very much on your definition of automatic. As per discussion on a drive out with a tutor.
Them: I thought you said this was an automatic?
Me: Yes, I did.
Them: But you're deciding when to change gear so it's a manual.
Me: Yes.
Them: So it's a manual gearbox?
Me: But if I move this leaver to the right it's does the shifting for me
Them: So it is both an automatic & a manual gearbox!
Me (in my head): FFS! It cant be BOTH!

 

[GuidoK]

Nobody cares what the actual type of gearbox is or how it works internally.

I care and I can feel the difference

The net effect of a sport auto v DCT is completely negligible to 99% of drivers.

99% of the drivers dont know what they're doing. For me the bar is not the 99%, but the one percent.
99% of the drivers also dont change camshafts or build brake systems. 99% of the drivers just want a white or black car with big wheels.

So maybe I'm not interested in 99% of the people ...... :lol:

What is an automatic gearbox is a fun one.

Most people think that there are only manual and automatic gearboxes.
If you drop words like "semi-automatic"or "manumatic" peoples eyes start wandering off. (well, the 99% of which I spoke above)

 

[Jasey]

Nobody cares what the actual type of gearbox is or how it works internally.

I care and I can feel the difference

The net effect of a sport auto v DCT is completely negligible to 99% of drivers.

99% of the drivers dont know what they're doing. For me the bar is not the 99%, but the one percent.
99% of the drivers also dont change camshafts or build brake systems. 99% of the drivers just want a white or black car with big wheels.

So maybe I'm not interested in 99% of the people ...... :lol:

What is an automatic gearbox is a fun one.

Most people think that there are only manual and automatic gearboxes.
If you drop words like "semi-automatic"or "manumatic" peoples eyes start wandering off. (well, the 99% of which I spoke above)

That's great.

Which one do you prefer ?

 

[mr.tourette]

No I dont, but If you want to interpret what Ive said in some kind of statement to make yourself look clever you fire away

At first you say that you dont understand why someone is sticking to manual, and after that you basically say that we all have a different point of view on how we enjoy ourselves.

That's rather contradictive.

As for 'automatic gearboxes': there are so many types of 'autmatic gearboxes' that people confuse things so much and start to use the same judgement on all of them, but when used in real life they will feel and act completely different.
For example you think that sabine in that video uses an auto gearbox while she's not. Do you think the bike in your avatar has an automatic?
She has basically the same gearbox (on working principle).

No i didnt.. If you take the time to read what i said properly what i said was I don't get anyone who says you have to have a manual to have any kind of true satisfaction of a driving experience... as people are saying it HAS to be a manual... yes maybe for them personally but not for everyone hence I added... We all derive our enjoyment and satisfaction from different points of view...nothing contradictory about that unless of course you completely misquote me or not bother to read what i actually wrote... but thanks.. its been enlightening

 

[GuidoK]

Ok, but in reality I think those people say that they (themselves) have to have a manual? (they're talking about themselves I think?)

 

[Z4_35i]

DCT was one of the main reasons for our 35i purchase. After almost four years of ownership, it's still got the right balance in being able to complete long motorway runs in stop start traffic, but also able to provide a more tactile drive in manual mode if you fancy having some fun.

 

[jimmybell]

I think the type of 'automatic' is largely irrelevant, yes they're different and feel differently but the net involvement is the same.

Its the difference between having a third pedal and being involved in gear changing vs having a go pedal and paddles that do it for you. Personally, in my use, i see them as for different purposes (see previous post from me). I actually found the latest ZF8 really impressive, so all the DCT talk i think is largely bs. Granted, DCT was impressive when auto boxes were at largely terrible, but things have moved on.


I understand that people often see 'manual mode' (using the paddles) in their autos as 'being involved', but often there's more involvement beyond that from the manual -