What's the manual box like on the 35i?

L

logit

Member
Evening chaps. I'm looking to buy a 35i as a second car for the weekends and also to do a 3 week European road trip with the wife this summer. I'll do a max of 5k miles a year so was thinking the manual gearbox will be the better choice as it's always more involving and the benefits of the DCT may not shine through in the driving I do.

I was wondering what the manual gearbox is like on the 35i? Is it a nice and smooth shift or quite notchy? How heavy is the clutch? Is it tiresome in traffic and hard to make smooth progress? I recently drove my friends manual Boxster S and I found the clutch quite heavy and could imagine it becoming a chore changing gear.

Many thanks
 
For me, overall it's a treat - notchy and quite mechanical feeling which is how I like it. Clutch is well-weighted and it doesn't give me ache sitting in London traffic.

The distance between the gears is perfect for my driving style, with a short throw that makes for really fun rowing up and down on country lanes.

That being said... 1st to 2nd gear is a pig. I detest when people/traffic lights cause me to change down to 1st.
 
I use my car in a similar manner to that which you describe. I bought it new in 2014 so obviously had the choice of 35i or 35is, but as I couldn't get an 'is with a manual 'box it had to be a 35i.

I've found the gearbox to be an absolute delight, although it's worth taking time to get to know it. My daily is a 3 litre auto with eco/normal/dynamic mode and paddles etc but the transition back into my 35i is easy and there's a certain simple pleasure from driving all of the car rather than just a part of it.

In 10,000 miles I've never found it to be notchy, just slick and quick with a nice short throw between gears: with the engine / power / torque characteristics it's unlikely you'll ever find yourself in the wrong gear. With it's self centering in neutral being aligned with 3rd / 4th it's easy to stay orientated and the more you drive it the more you'll get out of it. It's a performance car and worthy of some familiarisation.

If you're decided that a manual gearbox is for you I doubt you'll find this a disappointment.
 
I use my 35i manual daily and the gearbox is amazing and so smooth for a manual, I am not a technically savvy person but I think the 35i gearbox is quiet different from a standard gearbox and as bob mentioned you'll ever find yourself in the wrong gear which I find quiet amazing tbh.
I got used to it and I am very happy indeed - Now when driving the mrs Golf TDI I constantly find myself in the wrong gear !!!!!

BUT after saying all that I sooooo wish I bought the DCT one as I have mentioned in previous posts.
 
The DCT is tremendous - it changes very quickly every time and it will be my first choice of gearbox if I buy another car.
 
Many thanks for the insights guys, most appreciated. The manual gearbox on the 35i sounds exactly what I'm looking for. My wife has a scirocco with the DSG box and whilst it brilliant around town, it does leave me wanting when on a spirited drive :driving:
 
logit said:
Many thanks for the insights guys, most appreciated. The manual gearbox on the 35i sounds exactly what I'm looking for. My wife has a scirocco with the DSG box and whilst it brilliant around town, it does leave me wanting when on a spirited drive :driving:
Click to expand...

In fact I'd much prefer a DCT on a spirited drive with a 35i/is ... It scares the hell out of you and that's what it's all about :driving:
 
benv6 said:
logit said:
Many thanks for the insights guys, most appreciated. The manual gearbox on the 35i sounds exactly what I'm looking for. My wife has a scirocco with the DSG box and whilst it brilliant around town, it does leave me wanting when on a spirited drive :driving:
Click to expand...

In fact I'd much prefer a DCT on a spirited drive with a 35i/is ... It scares the hell out of you and that's what it's all about :driving:
Click to expand...

Those corners approach at some speed and I would rather hang on to the steering wheel than fart about with a gear stick!
 
benv6 said:
I use my 35i manual daily and the gearbox is amazing and so smooth for a manual, I am not a technically savvy person but I think the 35i gearbox is quiet different from a standard gearbox and as bob mentioned you'll ever find yourself in the wrong gear which I find quiet amazing tbh.
I got used to it and I am very happy indeed - Now when driving the mrs Golf TDI I constantly find myself in the wrong gear !!!!!

BUT after saying all that I sooooo wish I bought the DCT one as I have mentioned in previous posts.
Click to expand...

+1 :thumbsup:
 
ronk said:
benv6 said:
logit said:
Many thanks for the insights guys, most appreciated. The manual gearbox on the 35i sounds exactly what I'm looking for. My wife has a scirocco with the DSG box and whilst it brilliant around town, it does leave me wanting when on a spirited drive :driving:
Click to expand...

In fact I'd much prefer a DCT on a spirited drive with a 35i/is ... It scares the hell out of you and that's what it's all about :driving:
Click to expand...

Those corners approach at some speed and I would rather hang on to the steering wheel than fart about with a gear stick!
Click to expand...

Farting about with a manual gearstick needs to be completed before the corner ... :poke:
 
Be smug that you've got a manual OP, as good as the DCT is it's no match for a manual on a fun run. The couple of E89's I've tried have a nice mechanical feel, although not in the same league as an MX5 or S2000 box. It's still a nice box though, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. :thumbsup:
 
ronk said:
benv6 said:
logit said:
Many thanks for the insights guys, most appreciated. The manual gearbox on the 35i sounds exactly what I'm looking for. My wife has a scirocco with the DSG box and whilst it brilliant around town, it does leave me wanting when on a spirited drive :driving:
Click to expand...

In fact I'd much prefer a DCT on a spirited drive with a 35i/is ... It scares the hell out of you and that's what it's all about :driving:
Click to expand...

Those corners approach at some speed and I would rather hang on to the steering wheel than fart about with a gear stick!
Click to expand...

:thumbsup: This exactly my point - Those are the times when I wish I had a DCT box, I just think it would be more fun ....
 
Having owned lots of drivers cars over the years, and having *always* chosen a manual over an auto (where auto was an option), I've got the DCT with my Z4 and I have to say it's an absolute revelation! I'm so impressed, that I will try to always have a dual-clutch box in the future. Make of that what you will, but I'm converted :)
 
DCT is best of both worlds in my book. Stuck in traffic in town? Leave it in D & forget the painful, constant dipping of the clutch 1st - 2nd - 1st. Spirited drive? Pop it into manual and either use the paddles or the stick, the only thing you don't need is your left foot :driving:
 
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