Would you trade in for a manual M40i...?
- Thread starter john-e89
- Start date
Mr Tidy said:
The ZF8 gearbox is nothing like a slush box. It’s actually completely different. The way it works is really quite impressive, but it’s the first auto I’ve driven that actually feels like a DCT. In sports and sports plus, it’s super fast on the shifts and while it might be fractionally slower than a dct on the changes, it isn’t really noticeable and is smoother in traffic.
The only advantage of a manual in todays world is small cars and driver involvement. Nothing feels as good as a perfectly timed downshift before a corner.
Performance…..auto wins.
Economy…….auto wins.
Comfort……..auto wins
Plus clutch plates are so expensive on powerful cars and flywheels aren’t cheap either!
ori said:
If the ZF8 gearbox is fitted to the 335 (I think it is) then I can compare it directly to the DCT fitted to the 35is
I would say the differences are at best minimal.
The TC box will find a forward gear after a neutral Pause much faster than the DCT
Normal gear changes are slightly softer in the TC box which is more comfortable in traffic but switch into sport and both will swap a cog faster than the blink of an eye - every time !
The DCT will give a throttle blip on the way down if in Sport. I dont know about theTC as mine is attached to a Diesel lump.
I don’t intend this to be an argument for or agin an auto box of any kind - purely my observations of the two BMW offerings. However I cannot imagine a time that I will ever contemplate buying a car with a third pedal again..
I can only compare the Porsche boxes where the PDK is more expensive to maintain due to the services required, breaks more often than a manual. The top speed is also lower than a manual but that is really irrelevant those few mph.
Having just returned from an Alps run, the enjoyment with the manual box in the hairpins is so good that I would have hated doing the same in the PDK version.
My X5M was not available as a manual, but it is nice for the performance etc but the involvement is virtually non existent. The playing with the pedals and the performance settings is ok for a bit, but you soon stop doing that.
Having just returned from an Alps run, the enjoyment with the manual box in the hairpins is so good that I would have hated doing the same in the PDK version.
My X5M was not available as a manual, but it is nice for the performance etc but the involvement is virtually non existent. The playing with the pedals and the performance settings is ok for a bit, but you soon stop doing that.
ronk said:
I don't think that's the issue though Ronk, it's the fact that with a manual you can be in the wrong or right gear and it doesn't matter, physically using a shift and pedals is the fun. I have to admit as much as I liked my G29 it was just steering, even with paddles, just not enough driver input. I'd happily have another but only if, A, I had a manual M or something for pure fun, or, B, a manual G29.
Some positive reviews of the Supra manual especially, with the gearing aimed towards acceleration over low rpm in sixth. Having offered the Z4 2.0 with a manual seemed like a bad choice, predominately those buying the 2.0 litre I would guess would prefer an all rounder vehicle where an automatic is preferable. Someone getting the higher rated 2.0 and especially the M40i perhaps wants something more involving and interactive and here the manual, in my opinion, would probably sell.
I for one would have considered the manual, yes it’s a pain in traffic, but maybe it would have been worthwhile for the open road. My partner and I are on holiday in the North Yorkshire dales, we decided to take the Golf so that we can share the driving, he just won’t drive an automatic. I do love the manual golf, it’s great fun drive without being ridiculous like the M40i, where you can take corners at speeds that are way north of legal.
I for one would have considered the manual, yes it’s a pain in traffic, but maybe it would have been worthwhile for the open road. My partner and I are on holiday in the North Yorkshire dales, we decided to take the Golf so that we can share the driving, he just won’t drive an automatic. I do love the manual golf, it’s great fun drive without being ridiculous like the M40i, where you can take corners at speeds that are way north of legal.
Mr Tidy said:
It’s funny though as when I spoke to a BMW tech, he said the zf8 gearbox is so reliable they never have issues with them.
The dst has a lot more issues.
I have to say manual box has it pluses, but driving in London with clutch up and down wearing away those plates winds me up. Also every manual I’ve owned the clutch pedal ends up making a noise when you press it down. First few times I oil when needs it, but I just give up and put up with the noise.
Point is, I think the zf8 gearbox is very reliable.
For an auto box, it is fantastic yes. I have it in my M and it is really good, especially as you can change the pattern with the modes available (only did that when driving in the mountains though).
It just is soulless when driving, but lovely when in traffic though. A daily is absolutely fine with an auto box, but when out enjoying yourself? Not so much
It just is soulless when driving, but lovely when in traffic though. A daily is absolutely fine with an auto box, but when out enjoying yourself? Not so much
oke: :evil:
