Should I buy Auto or Manual Z4 Coupe?

[Tgstay]

Hello Guys,

I am at the final stage of picking a Z4 coupe and i would ike to hear your thoughts on Auto or manual Z4. I am comfortable with both and I have heard people say that the essence of a sport car is to be able to take control of it when drving , hence why people go for manual . But as a daily car in cities what do you think? Pls share your thoughts

 

[grannyknot]

Get the manual shift just because it is much more fun and engaging than a slush box, shifting is quickly becoming a lost skill.
As for resale value down the road when you sell, a manual shifter may net you a few more $$
I'm old enough to remember the days when an auto box was the cool thing, these days that has been reversed.

 

[mr.tourette]

weekend toy..manual, daily in the city ..auto every time!

 

[Mau]

weekend toy..manual, daily in the city ..auto every time!

X2. Plus the E86 paddle shifting is semi-engaging as well, especially in sports mode. For me an automatic would not be a deal breaker, also because they are easier to find and cheaper already.

 

[B21]

The Coupe came as the 30si…as an auto option if understand it correctly it came with the ZF 6HP auto box.

This was the first of the non slush box family that is fitted to almost all BMWs including several M models.

This generation offers the driver almost all aspects of manual control if the driver so desires.

Therefore IMHO it’s dis ingenious to label it a slush box as it is not ..it offers torque converter lockup in all gears and can be programmed to shift faster than a manual…

Another forum member who is a pretty hard core driver had his version and was more than happy with it..FWIW

 

[bigwinn]

For me it would come down to how I plan to use the car

Track/weekend road vs driving to work every day means different needs

 

[plenty]

^^ wot he said

It's all about the context. I'm about as die-hard a three-pedal man as you could find, but for cities you want ease and comfort and two pedals are far better suited. (I wouldn't own a Z4 for the city myself, but that's a different matter.)

 

[roblightbody]

Ours is manual, and for a fun car rather than a daily car, I'd say manual every time. However I'd also add that I don't particularly love our Z4's gearchange... especially coming from an MX-5 previously! It can be very notchy and can be difficult to engage first especially ... our BMW specialist says its working as designed.

 

[Phippy]

I have an auto and still flip-flop* between wishing i had got a manual vs being pleased i have an auto... I miss the feeling of shifting gears but I do enjoy the flappy paddles (having never had them before). Also in sport mode the acceleration is just non-stop!
Whichever you end up with i'm sure it would put a smile on your face every time you get in it :wink:

*In percentage terms probably hangs around 85% enjoying the auto vs 15% wishing it was manual, but if i had a manual i probably wouldn't give it second thought....

 

[1536Z4]

as an auto option if understand it correctly it came with the ZF 6HP auto box.

I have the auto and was very happy with the gear change . I downloaded the xHP stage 3 as shown by B21 which is very easy to do and the gear change is now very quick and smooth plus it now shows which gear you are in on the display

 

[ronk]

There will be peace in the Middle East before the manual / auto thing is sorted!

The only answer is to try both and buy what you want - only then can you decide which is the better option.

My first Z4 was a manual, the next two were both Auto - One with a torque converter and the current car has the DCT 'box
Would I go back to a Manual 'box - NO!

But as I say - Its what ever you prefer

 

[dxh]

As others have said, it depends entirely on what you intend to use the car for. I ummed and ahhed about auto/manual for a minute but I bought it as a weekend drivers car and our other car is an auto so…Manual it is.

If I were buying as a daily to be used in big city urban traffic, I would have gone for an auto.

 

[Phippy]

I have the auto and was very happy with the gear change . I downloaded the xHP stage 3 as shown by B21 which is very easy to do and the gear change is now very quick and smooth plus it now shows which gear you are in on the display

So glad you said this as I have been looking for how to do this fo so long!!!

 

[buzyg]

As a sports car for the weekend I would 100% go for a manual. However as a daily I can see where your coming from with the Auto gearbox, if your commute is on city streets. That said I have always found the //MR to be a well mannered and easy car to drive in a city. So would still go for a manual myself. That way it's there for when you have a chance to get to know the car properly, on a twisting, turning, off cambered B road blast. Say what you like, if you enjoy your driving then a manual gives you another layer of fine control through which you and the car can communicate together. :wink:

 

[R60BBA]

 

[1536Z4]

looking for how to do this fo so long!!!

I was in 2 minds due to the price of the license and map but it`s definitely worth it . Glad it helped you find a way of getting the gear display as well