Automatic Box, is it sporty

M

mason storm

Active member
I am wanting to buy a replacement for my 2.5. Originally I was thinking M but after investigating insurance, fuel, servicing etc I now realise I need to go for a 3.0 si. The only problem is most seem to be autos, now I have never considered an auto before as I feel it seems wrong in a sports car. But this is severely limiting my choice.

Can anyone that traditionaly purchases a manual but went for an auto Z tell me what they think. Also feedback from any manual users that tried an auto but decided it was wrong for them

Cheers
 
I just picked up a '03 3.0i (not an si) for my Gf and I don't consider it very sporty at all. If you put it over into manual select (steptronic style) it improves quite a bit but it is still very "slushy". It's still a fun car but I drive a 7spd DCT so I am a bit jaded in the 3.0. It's an '03 and just an "i" so a newer "si" may be leaps ahead...
 
I love my auto box to bits. It has several different modes, depending on selection of sports mode button and gear lever in manual position or auto position. Leaving it in full auto and just using the paddles to do a quick down-shift before overtaking is comfy yet quick. Blasting through the twisties in sports mode gets the gear selection right most of the times and prevents it from shifting at awkward moments most of the times as well. It learns and adapts to your driving style as well. Setting it to manual gives you the same control as with a manual box, and most manual drivers can't outperform the gear change of this auto box. The only drawback is that it's so much fun at the traffic lights that you'll end using a bit more fuel :D
 
a torque converter(auto) transmission will never be as sporty as manual or the new DCT transmissions.

however, the auto transmission of BMWs are the sportier/responsive ones compared to other makes such as jag, benz, lexus, and other jap car makers.
 
i have auto, its brill, i think its probably changes gears as fast as most people changing their manual box


its also a very smooth gear change
 
I would have liked the option to spec the dct box in my 2010 2.3is Z4 but you can't on the 2.3 or 3.0is models so I made a choice of going for the sports auto over the manual & in sports mode its just brilliant & i'm glad I made this choice as I would'nt go back to a manual now.

I don't know what the earlier autos were like on the earlier cars but I cannot fault the transmission on my new Z4 at all.

hope this helps.
 
I had/have (I have to sell the car :D) SMG on my 3.0i and although it has its share of knockers who are no doubt people who haven't ever actually driven SMG I liked it. :D
 
Mason
I think you'll find the 3.0Si auto is a big step up in 'sportiness' from your 2.5 manual. I drive one and love it, regularly running the hills with the ///M's too, but a dream when I have to crawl in urban traffic. Equipped with paddle shift and various sport modes you can have al the fun you need.

In terms of getting Ato B an auto is just as quick, always being in the right gear at the right time and it needs a track to exploit the differences. The BMW is also one of the best around.
 
Taz x said:
i have auto, its brill, i think its probably changes gears as fast as most people changing their manual box


its also a very smooth gear change
Click to expand...

I concur. I've only ever driven Manual Boxes until my 3.0si. I really enjoy it. There are so many different driving styles depending on my mood:

  • Sport off Auto on - Easy driving or City driving & the most economical method of using the 3.0 engine
    Sport off Auto off - using gear stick shift - More engaging but restrained/smooth
    Sport off Auto off - using paddles - Sporty but restrained/smooth

    Sport on Auto on - Much more lively - revs much higher before gear change kicks in
    Sport on Auto off - using gear stick shift - Great driving experience you're in full control of how the car performs
    Sport on Auto off - using paddles - Full on 'racing' experience.

Then of course you add DTC on/off in to the mix... :D
 
I think you should go for a car which you want. If you really want a manual then i would say take your time to find one which has all the option, etc that you want.

Also, why you try one and see if you like it or not?
 
F1ADAM said:
Taz x said:
i have auto, its brill, i think its probably changes gears as fast as most people changing their manual box


its also a very smooth gear change
Click to expand...

I concur. I've only ever driven Manual Boxes until my 3.0si. I really enjoy it. There are so many different driving styles depending on my mood:

  • Sport off Auto on - Easy driving or City driving & the most economical method of using the 3.0 engine
    Sport off Auto off - using gear stick shift - More engaging but restrained/smooth
    Sport off Auto off - using paddles - Sporty but restrained/smooth

    Sport on Auto on - Much more lively - revs much higher before gear change kicks in
    Sport on Auto off - using gear stick shift - Great driving experience you're in full control of how the car performs
    Sport on Auto off - using paddles - Full on 'racing' experience.


Then of course you add DTC on/off in to the mix... :D
Click to expand...

I concur with most of what you say here however theere is no difference between using the push/pull on the gear lever and the up down on the paddles. They both connect to the same switch and trip the gearbox up or down exactly the same way. I know as I built the same system into my gearbox :)
 
Peddy - good spot. Actually as I'd been multi tasking I inserted my post into the quoted post while not paying attention. I've corrected it now, so apologies for making your comment look wrong
 
F1ADAM said:
Taz x said:
i have auto, its brill, i think its probably changes gears as fast as most people changing their manual box


its also a very smooth gear change
Click to expand...

I concur. I've only ever driven Manual Boxes until my 3.0si. I really enjoy it. There are so many different driving styles depending on my mood:

  • Sport off Auto on - Easy driving or City driving & the most economical method of using the 3.0 engine
    Sport off Auto off - using gear stick shift - More engaging but restrained/smooth
    Sport off Auto off - using paddles - Sporty but restrained/smooth

    Sport on Auto on - Much more lively - revs much higher before gear change kicks in
    Sport on Auto off - using gear stick shift - Great driving experience you're in full control of how the car performs
    Sport on Auto off - using paddles - Full on 'racing' experience.

Thanks for all the info, didn't know there we so many modes to choose from. I guess like all things I need to try one for myself. Can anyone confirm how many gears it has and can you get the same economy as manual?

Then of course you add DTC on/off in to the mix... :D
Click to expand...
 
Yep, I would strongly urge you to try both manual (if you can locate one) and the auto before you buy - you'll want to be sure you haven't compromised on such a purchase.

The Auto has 6 gears. After the first pull away from starting up it tends to only drop to 2nd gear before neutral and pull away is 2nd as well - 1st gear can be quite ferocious. You can of course drop it down to first manually if a fast launch is required... :|

Can't tell you about economy compared to the manual but I average around 28-32 mpg (according the the computer) on a mix of short motorway and general urban driving - not bad for a 3.0 litre auto. There are lots of threads on here about economy on both the manual and the auto box.
 
I've got the auto in a 3.0i, always drive in manual sport mode, as a result, ~15mpg around town, very little freeway driving. I miss a manual, with the flexibility that working the clutch gives you from a stop, as well as downshifting. The auto in manual sport mode works pretty well, it's just not as crisp as with a manual. Although, if the traffic gets heavy, or I get lazy, the auto mode sure is nice.
I was thinking of starting a string on proper shift technique with the auto (in manual mode) to see if there were any techniques that seemed better than others (hijack!)?
 
Unless you are a racing driver, does it matter that much? My auto with paddles is sporty enough for what I want to do....and that is to push on with haste when the desire takes me. In sport mode and using the paddles, I have described my gear change as like a bloody bofors gun, bang, bang, bang.....'ave it....bish bash bosh! A lot of people write in to audio mags about their "Nagamichi amp" with "Pink Triangle Deck" and have detected a bit of wah wah flutter in the left hand corner of the dining room, should they use draylon to soak up the sound. They end up listening to the mechanics of the system rather than the music. Extrapolate that to cars!

Get an auto if you want one. You won't be Hamilton or Button, but you will bloody well enjoy yourself!

I came back from the peak district this afternoon in my auto sDrive 30i. If I had someone too close to my rear end, I floored it and left them for dead......that's in auto mode. It's fine, don't worry too much about it.
 
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