Regret not buying manual?

[Bullitt]

Originally Posted by fcman

Meh I regretted it when I initially bought it, since my S2000 was so fantastic. But now I'm glad I didn't. BMWs, especially the 1er, aren't sports cars, the reason most of us buy them is because we want a combination of practicality and the performance. In a 1m I can understand, but for those people who rave on and on about driver engagement and connectedness, you bought the wrong car. There are much, much better drivers cars out there for the money, I wouldn't even put the 1er in the top 10. The DCT makes the car feel sporty and special, rather than making it feel like your every day small, stick-shift euro.

There's nothing wrong with the decision to enjoy a manual in the 1er - it doesn't have to be a sports car in order to have MT shifting and clutching bliss. Manual lovers will still enjoy it any car, even if it's in a Fiat 500 Abarth, Ford Focus, or a Honda Fit. Heck, when I was a teenager, driving an old and slow minitruck was part of a job at the time, and although it couldn't go faster than 20-25mph, it was always fun because it had a manual transmission.

Likewise, there's nothing wrong with the decision to enjoy a DCT or equivalent in a true sports car such as a Porsche 911 GT3, Ferrari 458 Italia, or McLaren MP4-12C. I would not mind giving up the stick in those particular cars.

Last year, we lost a fellow 135i owner because he ended up really disliking the DCT and went back to a 6MT, albeit in a Mini Cooper (I believe he had a hard time finding another 1er in 6MT). There are a couple threads here regarding issues with the 1er's DCT (sluggish shifting behavior and significant throttle lag):

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=554979
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=735136

These are somewhat old threads however - perhaps they are resolved now...

[mrvco]

I enjoy driving a car with a manual transmission. Actually, in nearly three decades of being a licensed driver, I've never owned a car with anything but a manual transmission.

Both of my Landcruisers have been autos though, but that is only because Toyota never sold the Diesel with the 5spd manual in the US.

[fcman]

Originally Posted by Bullitt

There's nothing wrong with the decision to enjoy a manual in the 1er - it doesn't have to be a sports car in order to have MT shifting and clutching bliss. Manual lovers will still enjoy it any car, even if it's in a Fiat 500 Abarth, Ford Focus, or a Honda Fit. Heck, when I was a teenager, driving an old and slow minitruck was part of a job at the time, and although it couldn't go faster than 20-25mph, it was always fun because it had a manual transmission.

Likewise, there's nothing wrong with the decision to enjoy a DCT or equivalent in a true sports car such as a Porsche 911 GT3, Ferrari 458 Italia, or McLaren MP4-12C. I would not mind giving up the stick in those particular cars.

Last year, we lost a fellow 135i owner because he ended up really disliking the DCT and went back to a 6MT, albeit in a Mini Cooper (I believe he had a hard time finding another 1er in 6MT). There are a couple threads here regarding issues with the 1er's DCT (sluggish shifting behavior and significant throttle lag):

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=554979
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=735136

These are somewhat old threads however - perhaps they are resolved now...

I'm not saying you can't enjoy it, but in these discussions there are always people claiming that they are "real car guys" and purists because they drive a manual, but the 135i is not a purist's car or a true driver's car. The 128i makes the cut in certain specs. Drive what you want to drive, I'm just sick of high-and-mighty people claiming that DCT drivers are not car guys, not so much in this thread but there are plenty out there.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by Bullitt

Last year, we lost a fellow 135i owner because he ended up really disliking the DCT and went back to a 6MT, albeit in a Mini Cooper (I believe he had a hard time finding another 1er in 6MT). There are a couple threads here regarding issues with the 1er's DCT (sluggish shifting behavior and significant throttle lag):

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=554979
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=735136

These are somewhat old threads however - perhaps they are resolved now...

There's nothing wrong with the DCT hardware. It's the software that's causing issues. Some people experience throttle lag, idle fluctuation, and the car lurching forward. Installing PPK fixes this for some. There are also software updates that address these issues as listed in this thread:

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1033690

Personally, I have not had any of these issues and my DCT works flawlessly. Lag free and lightning fast shifts.

[IEDEI]

Originally Posted by fcman

I'm not saying you can't enjoy it, but in these discussions there are always people claiming that they are "real car guys" and purists because they drive a manual, but the 135i is not a purist's car or a true driver's car. The 128i makes the cut in certain specs. Drive what you want to drive, I'm just sick of high-and-mighty people claiming that DCT drivers are not car guys, not so much in this thread but there are plenty out there.

I had a 135 before my 1M and the 135 is definitely a drivers car....it is not a 'sports car' but it most definitely is a sporty performance coupe which is basic and entertaining enough to be a driver's car. Perhaps you should sell yours and get another S2000?

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

I had a 135 before my 1M and the 135 is definitely a drivers car....it is not a 'sports car' but it most definitely is a sporty performance coupe which is basic and entertaining enough to be a driver's car. Perhaps you should sell yours and get another S2000?

I agree that the 135i is a drivers car and I'll bet that most of the 135i owners here feel the same way, be it in a manual, steptronic, or dual clutch transmission.

[Bullitt]

Originally Posted by fcman

I'm not saying you can't enjoy it, but in these discussions there are always people claiming that they are "real car guys" and purists because they drive a manual, but the 135i is not a purist's car or a true driver's car. The 128i makes the cut in certain specs. Drive what you want to drive, I'm just sick of high-and-mighty people claiming that DCT drivers are not car guys, not so much in this thread but there are plenty out there.

If you drive an automatic Camry and consider it your #1 favorite car of all time, it's probably safe to say you're not a car guy.

DCT drivers are only a slight notch above that...they're just barely real car guys, if that. I kid, only joking.

I actually wish my SUV had DCT.

[1flaguy]

Being that I've had over 25 cars since I got my license I think I have a good opinion on this. Out of all those cars only one of them was an automatic and that was a Volkswagen Passat. I do believe it has a lot to do if your car is a daily driver and you have to commute in traffic every day and I think having a stick can be very difficult. But for me having never had to commute in traffic to work I've always had a manual car. I also almost always add some sort of aftermarket short shifter ( I did that in 2 E30 325is track cars, 2 E36 m3's, E46 M3, Z06 and my 135) I can definitely see the appeal of having a DCT or a PDK in a car. Me personally I can't stand that constantly shifting up and down up and down based upon the pressure that you put on the accelerator. On the track I'm sure would be fun.

[IEDEI]

Originally Posted by 1flaguy

Being that I've had over 25 cars since I got my license I think I have a good opinion on this. Out of all those cars only one of them was an automatic and that was a Volkswagen Passat. I do believe it has a lot to do if your car is a daily driver and you have to commute in traffic every day and I think having a stick can be very difficult. But for me having never had to commute in traffic to work I've always had a manual car. I also almost always add some sort of aftermarket short shifter ( I did that in 2 E30 325is track cars, 2 E36 m3's, E46 M3, Z06 and my 135) I can definitely see the appeal of having a DCT or a PDK in a car. Me personally I can't stand that constantly shifting up and down up and down based upon the pressure that you put on the accelerator. On the track I'm sure would be fun.

I commute 130 miles a day through NYC.....and find it much easier in a manual. I hate riding the brakes on automatics....ugh!! the worst....much more control with a stick IMO

[Gray_Panther]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

I commute 130 miles a day through NYC.....and find it much easier in a manual. I hate riding the brakes on automatics....ugh!! the worst....much more control with a stick IMO

I hate holding the brake pedal also. The clutch is rather easy to press down as compared to, let's say, a Subaru Legacy GT. I had that for a month over the winter because my friend was out of the country. My left quad was jacked by the end of the month!!

[Esteban]

I don't ride the brakes in my car. I drive it in manual mode (always) and downshift and let the car engine brake. Just like in a manual. Well, maybe not exactly like a manual, but as close as it's gonna get in my car. That's when I get to hear all the wonderful pops and crackles of PPK in engine overrun! Woohoo!!!

[LuisBoston]

Originally Posted by Bullitt

If you drive an automatic Camry and consider it your #1 favorite car of all time, it's probably safe to say you're not a car guy.

I beg to differ... to each his own!

http://www.boston.com/cars/news-and-...6jM/story.html

[Solo_M_Tech]

"Front engine, Rear drive, and a proper manual gearbox in the middle. That's page one, chapter one of the petro-sexual handbook" -Jeremy Clarkson

I love the 1er in all it's forms. No real bias here.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by ApexResistance

I love the 1er in all it's forms. No real bias here.

Well said, bro.

[swagon]

I like the E82 just because of the engine. It is by far the best thing of the car, and I'm not sure that is a good sign as the chassis used to be "faster" than the engine in the past and now it is the other way round.

And the 6MT is too light and too notchy.

[Solo_M_Tech]

Originally Posted by swagon

I like the E82 just because of the engine. It is by far the best thing of the car, and I'm not sure that is a good sign as the chassis used to be "faster" than the engine in the past and now it is the other way round.

And the 6MT is too light and too notchy.

My 6MT is smooth. It feels precise and accurate. Just about perfect!

[fcman]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

I had a 135 before my 1M and the 135 is definitely a drivers car....it is not a 'sports car' but it most definitely is a sporty performance coupe which is basic and entertaining enough to be a driver's car. Perhaps you should sell yours and get another S2000?

Don't worry, I'm working on getting out of this sluggish 1er soon.

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by ApexResistance

"Front engine, Rear drive, and a proper manual gearbox in the middle. That's page one, chapter one of the petro-sexual handbook" -Jeremy Clarkson

+1.

That's from the Top Gear review of the 1M.

[swagon]

Originally Posted by ApexResistance

My 6MT is smooth. It feels precise and accurate. Just about perfect!

I didn't say it was imprecise. Just too light and notchy.

[Solo_M_Tech]

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

+1.

That's from the Top Gear review of the 1M.

You get a cookie!

[IEDEI]

Originally Posted by ApexResistance

My 6MT is smooth. It feels precise and accurate. Just about perfect!

same here. it felt great in my 135is and feels great in the 1M. a very satisfying manual and i have driven many over the years...

[swagon]

K den, got a weird car.