Will you get the automatic or manual tranny?

[SCA]

Originally Posted by Chibana

According to Car & Driver, the 335i with SMG is slightly slower than with the 6-speed manual (by 0.3 seconds, if I remember correctly). However, having said that, the only way I'll buy this car is if it can be had with SMG, since my wife will have to be able to drive it, and she doesn't know how to drive a stick.

Have you ever driven a SMG BMW?

[ChrisK]

My wife drives a MT just fine, and has already mentioned that she will take the 135i's TwinTurbo out for testing.

:eyebulge:

[davidl]

Stick only, my left foot needs something to do:wink:

[kere]

Manual mainly because I'm used to driving manuals + the ATs I've tested weren't so fun to drive in the snow.

[BForbes]

I also BMW nails this gearbox, because the gearbox in my current car is in the worlds top 5 believe it or not. It is second to none.

[chemhalo]

Although a DSG equivalent gearbox would be great, Id save the cash and get a true manual. Besides, every so often behind the wheel of an automatic I accidentally push in the clutch and everyone gets whiplash. Its a miracle that out of the few times its happened I havnt been rear ended.

[bimmerfile]

Auto tranny with SD for me (like my Z4).:headbang:

[alex2364]

Originally Posted by onehots2k

I also BMW nails this gearbox, because the gearbox in my current car is in the worlds top 5 believe it or not. It is second to none.

I doubt that's going to happen because Honda/Acura are known for their manual transmissions especially the S2000. I've driven a E46 manual and compared to my RSX, it felt like I was driving a tracker trailer because the throws were so long. I've also played with a E90 manual and it felt the same thing. BMW really needs to shorten the throws. I'm definitely getting a short shift kit as soon as it's available.

[Big Red One]

Whoooooo. I really hope this doesn't turn into a tranny war like you find on some of the other forums.

My $.02:

I'm not sure where the "I don't like not being in control of gear changes" type of comments come from in these type of threads. With BMW's 6AT, you CAN be in COMPLETE control of gear changes is Sport mode. And it's not like the previous generations of "manumatics" that you find even in entry level econoboxes now, which sort of hesitate for a moment when you call for a shift, and then bog down because the engine has slowed in the time it took the tranny to get into the next gear. No, this auto tranny shifts FAST. And it matches RPMs, too.

As far as driver interaction goes, the only thing you don't have with the AT is a clutch pedal that you have to actuate. Everything else, you can do. You can bang down through the gears while threshold braking entering into a corner. You can hold a gear between corners for maximum acceleration coming out the other side. You can downshift on a straight for passing power, and it's into the lower gear just as fast as if you were in a manual.

I hear a lot of talk about how "true" driving enthusiasts would never have an AT, and I just don't understand that. I would understand it if the BMW's auto tranny didn't give you as much control as it does. It seems to me that the ONLY thing the MT does that the AT doesn't do is require a clutch to be engaged. Is that what makes me not a true driving enthusiast? Because I don't have to push a clutch in to change gears? Guys, when was the last time you saw an F1 driver push in a clutch when they were out on the course?

I started going to CART (RIP ) races nearly 25 years ago. Even then they used their clutch for getting started from a standstill, and that was it. Granted, those were sequential gear boxes, which are different than today's auto tranny. But the fact of the matter is that, to this day, CART drivers shift gears in their 750HP open-wheel cars by pushing a lever backwards and forwards while their feet remain on the floor......just like I'll be doing in my AT 1er.

I've been a racing afficionado for a couple of decades. I'm lucky enough to have been to the Skip Barber Racing School. Twice. I'm no Lewis Hamilton, but I do like to think I know my way around a heel-and-toe. For me, the AT is the PERFECT solution. I can pull it back to "D" when I just want to tool around in traffic, or I can go back and left to "D/S" when I want to pretend I'm battling with Raikkonen and Barrichello.

[ice13water]

Originally Posted by jrsites

Whoooooo. I really hope this doesn't turn into a tranny war like you find on some of the other forums.

My $.02:

I'm not sure where the "I don't like not being in control of gear changes" type of comments come from in these type of threads. With BMW's 6AT, you CAN be in COMPLETE control of gear changes is Sport mode. And it's not like the previous generations of "manumatics" that you find even in entry level econoboxes now, which sort of hesitate for a moment when you call for a shift, and then bog down because the engine has slowed in the time it took the tranny to get into the next gear. No, this auto tranny shifts FAST. And it matches RPMs, too.

As far as driver interaction goes, the only thing you don't have with the AT is a clutch pedal that you have to actuate. Everything else, you can do. You can bang down through the gears while threshold braking entering into a corner. You can hold a gear between corners for maximum acceleration coming out the other side. You can downshift on a straight for passing power, and it's into the lower gear just as fast as if you were in a manual.

I hear a lot of talk about how "true" driving enthusiasts would never have an AT, and I just don't understand that. I would understand it if the BMW's auto tranny didn't give you as much control as it does. It seems to me that the ONLY thing the MT does that the AT doesn't do is require a clutch to be engaged. Is that what makes me not a true driving enthusiast? Because I don't have to push a clutch in to change gears? Guys, when was the last time you saw an F1 driver push in a clutch when they were out on the course?

I started going to CART (RIP ) races nearly 25 years ago. Even then they used their clutch for getting started from a standstill, and that was it. Granted, those were sequential gear boxes, which are different than today's auto tranny. But the fact of the matter is that, to this day, CART drivers shift gears in their 750HP open-wheel cars by pushing a lever backwards and forwards while their feet remain on the floor......just like I'll be doing in my AT 1er.

I've been a racing afficionado for a couple of decades. I'm lucky enough to have been to the Skip Barber Racing School. Twice. I'm no Lewis Hamilton, but I do like to think I know my way around a heel-and-toe. For me, the AT is the PERFECT solution. I can pull it back to "D" when I just want to tool around in traffic, or I can go back and left to "D/S" when I want to pretend I'm battling with Raikkonen and Barrichello.

thats not 2 cents that a dollar

2 cents would have been a few words

[Vornado]

Originally Posted by Wiggum

It's coming with a DSG option, with rev matching paddle shifters, it's going to be hard to pass up, look at the 335i guys, the auto's are faster...

I will be one of the few here to say I will get an auto. I love manuals and all, but the autos these days are very good, and after driving my father in laws 335i with auto.. alll I have to say is sign me up. Plus I do a lot of city driving so.. no big deal.

[Wiggum]

Originally Posted by atr_hugo

The 1er will be available with a ZF six speed manual or ZF six speed automatic. The ZF automatic uses a torque converter - not a set of clutches, like the DSG. The torque converter is a piece of technology that I don't want to explain, so I'll point to an explanation.

I believe Winding Road or another car magazine got it out of BMW that they were introducing a new DSG Automatic on the 1er for the US market...

[Chibana]

Originally Posted by TheUltimateDriver

Have you ever driven a SMG BMW?

No, but most of the magazines seem to agree with you, which is why I'm concerned as to whether this car will be a real possibility for me. I will not take an auto tranny car to the track, and that's the main reason I'm buying a third "toy" car. It may end up being a Mitsubishi Evo X for me. However, the point of my thread was to respond to the posts about BMW having a DSG like transmission. They already do, and it's called SMG.

[pxd]

Originally Posted by Chibana

No, but most of the magazines seem to agree with you, which is why I'm concerned as to whether this car will be a real possibility for me. I will not take an auto tranny car to the track, and that's the main reason I'm buying a third "toy" car. It may end up being a Mitsubishi Evo X for me. However, the point of my thread was to respond to the posts about BMW having a DSG like transmission. They already do, and it's called SMG.

DSG and SMG are quite different actually.
BMW (with Getrag) has been making a double-clutch automatic gearbox that resembles the DSG from VW for the new E92 M3.

[Devon K]

Originally Posted by Chibana

I will not take an auto tranny car to the track, and that's the main reason I'm buying a third "toy" car. It may end up being a Mitsubishi Evo X for me.

Well you can take the Evo X off your list as it is only coming with a DSG type transmission in NA...

[Devon K]

Unless you are really good at heel and toeing (or are willing to sacrifice your car's internals to learn), a DSG just makes hard cornering so much easier (and safer) to do on busy public roads. I hated the idea at first but have gotten used to it running sims like rFactor and GTR2 with a top wheel/pedal kit that lets you shift any way you want (gated, sequential, DSG).

As for concerns expressed about using paddles when turning the wheel sharply, you can always drop down to the shift lever at those times (it functions like a sequential shifter in DSG cars).

[ibeam81]

Put me down for a MT. Although ATs, particularly the newer performance oriented ones, offer the best of both worlds I'm a little old fashioned and enjoy manually shifting with a clutch. But if I was spending time in traffic regularly, I would probably opt for the AT. Traffic is a real killjoy.

[kindtree]

I would consider DSG. I do love a "real" manual, with a third pedal and all, but I do a lot of driving in traffic. This car would be my daily driver. As long as it wouldn't be too jarring during city driving, I'd consider it. Otherwise, I'd just rather deal with leg cramps and the joys of stirring ratios myself.

[ibeam81]

Originally Posted by kindtree

I'd just rather deal with leg cramps and the joys of stirring ratios myself.

Oh the joys of leg cramps... That's the reason that my current ride is an AT. I'll never forget driving a muscle car with a heavy duty clutch through NYC.

BTW, removing your wallet from the back pocket helps.

[kindtree]

I no longer even carry a wallet because of it....

And, ahhhh... the joys of not having a hydraulically assisted clutch in traffic. Awesome....

Fortunately, the Bimmer isn't too stiff on the clutch action. I don't like cars without resistance in the pedal, but sometimes too much is just too much.

[dll08]

I will take a manual. This will be my weekend car...

[SCA]

Originally Posted by Chibana

However, the point of my thread was to respond to the posts about BMW having a DSG like transmission. They already do, and it's called SMG.

DSG = dual clutch and is offered by Volkswagen/Audi. Reviews of the DSG have been very positive.

SMG = single clutch and is offer by BMW. Reviews of SMG have been negitive.