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08-04-2007, 08:47 AM | #1 | |
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Sorry, I couldn't resist.
This is from a C&D test drive of the 335i:
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08-04-2007, 09:17 AM | #3 |
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08-04-2007, 09:33 AM | #4 |
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It depends... If you grew up with a MT and take pride in shifting yourself with a clutch then a MT is a natural choice. OTOH if you have never used a MT, think that they are a PITA, the MT just plain stinks, or are looking for the best lap times then maybe an AT is a better choice. I'm perfectly content with a MT, but that just me. :biggrin:
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08-04-2007, 09:38 AM | #5 |
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08-04-2007, 09:47 AM | #6 | |
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08-04-2007, 01:06 PM | #7 |
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I really need to test drive one. The wife got tired of the MT in her LGT, so we traded it for as AT. The Subi is rev happy and quite dependent on boost. Lag is quite noticeable. My point is I really miss the MT.
It was so much more fun to drive and geared better. The Subie AT is probably no match for a BMW. It is slow and goes into each gear on down shifts. Stabbing the throttle takes about a minute for it to figure out what it wants to do. It constantly upshifts to 5th. In a MT, you don't forget you have one. Using sport shift it is easy to forget. I've hit the limiter a couple of times. I had my mind made up to get a MT in the 135, but I will have to test drive an auto first. It will have to really impress me though. MTs are by far more fun. That is about 80% of why I want this car. |
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08-04-2007, 01:17 PM | #8 |
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The N54 uses two small turbos, in parallel - one on the header attached to cylinders 1-3, the other on the header attached to cylinders 4-6. The firing order ensures that each turbo is fed a near constant supply of exhaust gas and the direct injection (and the valve timing tricks that can entail) help the small turbos produce all 300 lb ft of torque at approximately 1300 RPM (right off idle!). There shouldn't be noticeable turbo lag.
The ZF supplied auto is a six-speed that can pretty much duplicate an MT experience w/o a clutch pedal. Control of shifts are accomplished through the console gear lever or optional paddles on the steering wheel. The thing even rev matches downshifts (as has been noted). This may be the best auto trans made if someone wants an MT experience yet also needs the 'put-it-in-D' capabilities of a slushbox. The only thing better in my mind is the DSC manual that VW/Audi has, but it's a true manual (w/o clutch) that can imitate an auto - rather than an auto that can imitate a manual. I'm still getting a stick because my commute to work is from the upstairs bedroom to the den downstairs each morning. (Very light traffic!! ; -) |
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08-04-2007, 02:20 PM | #9 |
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And for those of us buying the 135 for the long haul, I've never liked the current BMW maintenance philoshophy of "lifetime tranny fluid" or guessing how long the service life of this auto-tranny will be. If it was a true DSC like the Audi (which is supposedly coming in the near future) I'd get in line for it.
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08-04-2007, 04:20 PM | #10 |
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Daaaaang. I guess the 1er is a LOT smaller than I thought. If you have a turn in your stairway the razor-sharp BMW handling will come in handy.
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08-04-2007, 04:24 PM | #11 |
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My wife struggles with a manual. Being a nervous driver she concentrates obsessively on everything going on around her making it difficult adding something else to focus on. It's hilarious watching her try to park in a lot. She's so nervous pulling up a couple feet to get closer to a curb. She's afraid the clutch will engage suddenly and cause us to crash over the curb. I just try to be supportive and hope she'll pick it up but so far I can't convince her to drive outside of empty parking lots...*sigh*
That being said my next car will still be a manual. It's a big part of what makes driving fun for me. I'm not interested in track driving competitively, just having fun, so the slightly quicker lap times are not a big draw for me. It's more about the experience, which is why any of us are interested in BMW's at all I suppose. I guess I'll have to try to take her out to a country road and practise some more with my dad's Carolla. I wouldn't want her to miss out on all the fun! I'd love to get her out to a track day instruction school or even better a rally school some day. You'd probably never guess it, but she watches F1 religiously with me so I'm hoping that spark is in her somewhere! -Erich |
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08-04-2007, 04:57 PM | #12 | |
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I also want to chip mine. BMWs effort to eliminate lag has left a lot on the table. Adding software will negate that. Response will be compromised, but I am OK with that. I wasn't looking at a coupe, or a rear wheel drive, but now I am really on board with it. So getting a MT goes with that well. I told the wife that a coupe won't be that practical. She said, "What the hell do you care, we don't have kids." God I love her! |
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08-04-2007, 06:02 PM | #13 |
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My wife said the same thing! Wasn't what I was expecting to hear for sure. I think she just likes the look of the BMW over the STI. Can't say I blame her!
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08-04-2007, 06:39 PM | #14 | |
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Excuse me....Sorry... I got a little choked up. :biggrin: I told her we would keep both, cause the LGT is much better in the winter. All she wants is a jet ski next summer and I'm golden.:w00t: |
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08-04-2007, 07:04 PM | #15 | |
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I've only had one autotragic, '92 E34 525i. What a mistake... |
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08-05-2007, 01:33 PM | #16 |
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but remember if your going to be adding modifications to up the performance, the transmission must be up to the challenge.....http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46264
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08-05-2007, 02:31 PM | #18 | |
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Potentially moving from a stage II car, I would hate to buy something slower that what I already own. I have to think the stock 135 will give me a run for my money, and a few mods here and there will make it an all-around superior performance auto. |
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08-05-2007, 03:20 PM | #19 |
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08-05-2007, 03:32 PM | #20 |
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08-05-2007, 03:49 PM | #21 | |
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08-05-2007, 08:54 PM | #22 |
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I'll bet you my 1er that you won't find a true manual transmission in ANY car in ANY of the world's top racing series. Reason? Being able to change gears (that's the proper term because you're not actually shifting) simply by pressing a button on the steering wheel while keeping your right foot on the accelerator and your left foot on the floor will ALWAYS be quicker around the track.
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