E86 Z4 Coupe - manual versus auto?

B

bakerlonglegs

Member
Another question from a newbie! :oops:

I’m looking to buy a Z4 Coupe. I see a mix of manual and auto cars on the market. Just because I’ve always had manual cars that’s my default. However, are the autos nice to drive? Have they got flappy paddles to do your own changing if you want? I wouldn’t want to dismiss a nice car just because of the ‘box.

Thanks!
 
The auto is fine .. BMW autos always are and mated to the straight six it will be a lovely thing to drive

My daily car is a BMW with the 8 speed auto and it’s amazing ... however my Zed is a manual and I wouldn’t have it any other way .. but then I don’t use it everyday and don’t commute into a city in it

Both will be lovely cars .. buy the one that suits you
 
bakerlonglegs said:
Another question from a newbie! :oops:

I’m looking to buy a Z4 Coupe. I see a mix of manual and auto cars on the market. Just because I’ve always had manual cars that’s my default. However, are the autos nice to drive? Have they got flappy paddles to do your own changing if you want? I wouldn’t want to dismiss a nice car just because of the ‘box.

Thanks!
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Hi there,

Yes they do have flappy paddles :P

I currently own a Z4 coupe with the auto box and its a really good system IMO. It's not lazy and shifts quickly. When in normal mode, it drives economically and is fairly docile, but with plenty of ready torque, but in Sport mode it turns into a beast :evil:

I think the auto really suits the Coupe, fantastic pair tbh

By the way, if you're in the market for one, check out mine for sale :thumbsup:

For some reason my phone isn't letting my paste links. Check out the For Sale section :)
 
bakerlonglegs said:
Another question from a newbie! :oops:

I’m looking to buy a Z4 Coupe. I see a mix of manual and auto cars on the market. Just because I’ve always had manual cars that’s my default. However, are the autos nice to drive? Have they got flappy paddles to do your own changing if you want? I wouldn’t want to dismiss a nice car just because of the ‘box.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Theyre both pretty good. Bmw autos are always good to be fair. For me it depends on how you use it. If its weekend toy I would always go manual. but if its a daily with alot of congestion to tackle I'd probably pick an auto for ease. Purely my opinion but manuals are always ultimately more fun and involving to drive but a notchy gearbox can get on your nerves if your regularly stuck in traffic.
 
I love my Z4C Auto. Easy to drive in auto mode, silly fun in sport/manual mode. Try one.
 
pretty much the most divisive thread on the forum that regularly crops up..the usual consensus is those that have them love em, those that cant see past a manual hate em, those that have had both will tell you both are fine :thumbsup: test drive one and see if you like it ...if you do then buy the best car you can find within budget regardless of the box :thumbsup:
 
If you look at it from a performance point of view the manual is the way to go because its definately faster in more than one way.
 
JimBob78 said:
That's just utter nonsense.
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:thumbsup:

In THEORY the coupe is 0.2s slower to 60. If you are not Lewis Hamilton then you would never notice this. You need perfect launch control which most people do not have. The auto box pulls like a loco and is much easier to drive as a 'daily' . Sport mode on , hit the kickdown and you ger a real kick in the arse. At the end of the day , drive them both and decide. If it was a weekend toy I would be more tempted by the manual. the flappy paddles are a gimmick and I never use them. I do however often push the shiter to the left and use 'manual' mode. Certain people will tell you that they can shift faster than this, have perfect clutch control, perfect heel and toe shifting down and accelerate like the Millenium Falcon. Bollocks :D
 
mr.tourette said:
pretty much the most divisive thread on the forum that regularly crops up..the usual consensus is those that have them love em, those that cant see past a manual hate em, those that have had both will tell you both are fine :thumbsup: test drive one and see if you like it ...if you do then buy the best car you can find within budget regardless of the box :thumbsup:
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Arefreshing dose of common sense :thumbsup:
 
JimBob78 said:
That's just utter nonsense.
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Is it?
Not only specs bmw the manual faster in acceleration, but the manual car is also lighter.
And an automatic gearbox (the one in the e85/86 at least) has a lower efficiency. it has to run an oil pump that dissipates heat and a planetary gear system also has a very slight efficiency disadvantage.

So what exactly is 'utter nonsense'?
In what aspect exactly is the automatic gearbox as it is used in the e85/e86 faster apart from that it takes functions away that people who cant drive properly are able to mess up?
And driven in automatic mode (so not using the paddles/manumatic mode) it cant perform a number of basic functions that are taught when even taking driving lessons.

SeanConnor said:
In THEORY the coupe is 0.2s slower to 60. If you are not Lewis Hamilton then you would never notice this. You need perfect launch control which most people do not have.
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Actually this is not true. The automatic cant keep up despite it is geared shorter than the manual transmission.
This not only means that its slower to 60, but in the higher gears it gets more and more slower because the gap between gears gets relatively bigger than with the manual. In the higher gears the manual is more 'close ratio' than the automatic so thats where the differences are getting bigger, so the performance difference is even more apparant.
Nowadays they solve that problem by fitting 8, 9 or even 10 speed automatics, so they solve that gearing issue with just more gears. But the e86 doesnt have that gearbox.
 
My coupe is auto. The box is fantastic and I prefer it than the box in my roadster

Although it's got the paddles I very very rarely use them. Just stick in drive and go

It will tick a long very nicely around town in traffic or it will drive very happily with spirit
 
Taz said:
My coupe is auto. The box is fantastic and I prefer it than the box in my roadster

Although it's got the paddles I very very rarely use them. Just stick in drive and go

It will tick a long very nicely around town in traffic or it will drive very happily with spirit
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Yes that's it for those of us who live in the real world :thumbsup:

Come on though I'll bet that you lose sleep over finding GuidoK next to at the lights with his mirror shades and super Z ( manual). He has learned to drive properly don't ya know. I used to own an Sw20 turbo but it had to go, It had this strange stick on the left , never did find what it was ffs :-)
 
I am in the same boat. I have driven both years ago and they are both great. I would still have trouble deciding between them though!
 
My right ankle is a little buggered so I can’t heel toe anymore, I had really got the hang of it in my Boxster S and was loving life then I really twisted up the ankle looking for a lost golf ball, so what does that all Mean ?
It means I drive my manual box M roadster and wish I could put the PDK from my 911 in it. I had a DCT in my E89 and absolutely loved it..... but I really like the shifting in the M ........ WTF ! Buy whatever suits your fancy and you will learn to love it. I unfortunately have two hot German mistresses so I am a lost cause.
Good Luck :D
 
mcbeee said:
My right ankle is a little buggered so I can’t heel toe anymore, I had really got the hang of it in my Boxster S and was loving life then I really twisted up the ankle looking for a lost golf ball, so what does that all Mean ?
It means I drive my manual box M roadster and wish I could put the PDK from my 911 in it. I had a DCT in my E86 and absolutely loved it..... but I really like the shifting in the M ........ WTF ! Buy whatever suits your fancy and you will learn to love it. I unfortunately have two hot German mistresses so I am a lost cause.
Good Luck :D
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I doubt you had a DCT in your E86, as it wasn't ever an option. Do you mean the normal torque converter auto box with paddles?

Chris
 
The op should try both to decide which suits best but as for which is quickest ? the stats , facts & numbers can say what they like on paper but ive had 3.0Si in manual & auto :driving: off the line the auto in sport mode would have disappeared leaving 99% of manual owners still looking for second :wink: & if i was betting a weeks wage on it the 3.0Si auto would also be my choice to reach 60mph quicker than 99% of 3.2 M owners could :oops: & all with little effort or strain on the cars components , they obviously don't suit all but they are by no mean's the slower alternative
 
It really is what you want out of the car and how you use it. I love my manuals and the majority of cars of mine are manual, but as mr wilks said, it is only relating to the amount of involvement you want as for performance it makes no difference really.
 
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