Quote:
Originally Posted by RPM90
Per BMWUSA it only describes the shifts as "extremely fast", that's it.
If it has anything extra it would be software as the gear ratio's are the same.
Given the comments on here, that's why I have this question.
Seems all of the 328i tests and reviews are using the "sport" auto not the standard. We don't know if there is a difference between the 2 options, other than the paddle shifters.
And the reviewers haven't even commented on the differences.
If anyone has a review that discusses actual differences please post a link.
BMW doesn't show a difference in 0-60 between the sport and std auto.
Logically it would be very small even if there were, because to get to 60 you only need 1 shift to 2nd. So, any difference in the accel to 60 would be very very small. A 1/4 run and runs to 100 and above might show a cumulative fraction difference, if there is any in the first place.
Or, is BMW just using slick vague on purpose marketing getting people in the US to pay $500 for what amounts to paddle shifters.  |
Actually, I wouldn't doubt this at all. But in my case, it would have worked in the opposite direction. I chose NOT to get the paddles because I thought the std auto and sport auto were the same. My thought was, "Who needs loud clickity clackity paddles if both autos are tuned exactly the same?"
But as soon as our friend from South Africa confirmed they were tuned differently, I sprung for the $500 extra. Coming from MTs all my life, the sport auto I test drove was the first auto that got me excited. And that's exactly what I wanted. Perhaps the tuning is so minimal that a regular driver wouldn't even care. But if the shifting is even a micro second faster, I'd rather have that.
I definitely think BMW would benefit by making the differences MORE clear. And with that knowledge, I'm inclined to think that more folks would get the sport + paddle shifters. At least in my case.