[Mark_K]

Originally Posted by MaestroAl

If you are buying a weekend toy or a car that will spend many more miles on pleasure rather than mundane duties ... get a sports car like a Cayman or something.

It's that simple. Really.

Honestly though, who buys a 3 series as a toy? It's a commuter, not a sports car.

All true. However, the key is in "most of the miles", not "most of the time". Meaning, you do need once a month 4 seats. You do need twice a month a trunk to put stuff in on a Costco trip. Most of the time you commute on a bike, by public transportation or 2-3 miles a day in a car.

Out of 15,000 miles a year, 13,000-14,000 are driven on a weekend for fun.

Oh, yes, then there's the Boss who doesn't want 3 cars in a two-car garage household. Don't forget that. Properly optioned 3 series is not a bad choice in those cases. And in those cases I would always chose MT.

[JamesMA]

I admit I was actually impressed with the Sport AT on a test drive, enough so the I went back and tested it again before ordering.

Glad I did the extra test drive, but the 6M is the way to go for me. If I want an AT, I can always drive the wife's

[snowghost]

Originally Posted by JamesMA

I admit I was actually impressed with the Sport AT on a test drive, enough so the I went back and tested it again before ordering.

Glad I did the extra test drive, but the 6M is the way to go for me. If I want an AT, I can always drive the wife's

Nice. It's so funny how AT aficionados have to justify how cool it is. You know what, if I were a race car driver and needed the extra millisecond and rev matching ability-fine. But for normal and beyond in real life there's nothing like a manual for me.

If I get in a car and the third pedal is missing, I'm lost. It's like the ball sac missing.

[RyanCT]

I recently had to choose which to get, and as a driver of a MT for the entirety of my adulthood, I've always felt that a pedal is missing when driving an AT. I experienced this yesterday when driving a rental Ford Explorer. You can argue that I'm resisting change to technology since the BMW AT has outperformed the MT, but there's just something, almost melodic, about putting it through the gears. Forget sex appeal, MANual and all that BS. I made the right choice, and that M-Sport shift knob will feel great in the palm of my hand.

Good luck with the super storm.

[ThatEgyptianKid]

Originally Posted by Jamesons Viggen

Manuals help keep you from getting carjacked. Boom.

That just happened.

Haha best thing said all day

[snowghost]

Originally Posted by RadRyDawg

I recently had to choose which to get, and as a driver of a MT for the entirety of my adulthood, I've always felt that a pedal is missing when driving an AT. I experienced this yesterday when driving a rental Ford Explorer. You can argue that I'm resisting change to technology since the BMW AT has outperformed the MT, but there's just something, almost melodic, about putting it through the gears. Forget sex appeal, MANual and all that BS. I made the right choice, and that M-Sport shift knob will feel great in the palm of my hand.

Good luck with the super storm.

+1

[ES_TRADER]

I don't like how the shifter and clutch is so light. It feels power assisted like in the 5 series 6mt. Also I don't like how the f30 clutch bite point is so high up. Maybe I'm used to my e36 m3. I like the firmer clutch feel, center engagement point and how when u put the shifter into the gate, u feel a nice firm snap or thud. The f30 feels a bit numb to me. For the first time I thought the auto 8 was better suited for this car and would rather order that.

[chrisny]

Personal preference. Manuals can be fun, can be annoying in traffic, and these days causes a loss in performance AND fuel economy (used to be the opposite for both). As a friend once said to me, "I shifted in high shool..". So maybe it depends how young you really are...

I kid, but I would say it depends on how much time you spend wandering around trying to make a damn left turn in NJ.

[BMoutlaW]

Originally Posted by arnsbrae

So basically, your advice is that owning a car with manual transmission will directly result in more shagging?

That is exactly what I am saying they just go hand in hand hahaha. Once the ladies handle your stick its in the bag yo.

[Robin_NL]

I only had MT's in my BMW's /former cars for the last 24 years, except for the same sport 8AT(same as in the F30 range) in my ex F10 535i. Great, fast , comfy.

One downside for me which appeared also in the 320dA F30 I drove last week.

320dA normal driving : When accellerating out of let's say a miniroundabout in 3rd @15mph or so, you have to be careful how much you push the throttle because it immediately responds in shifting back to FIRST which is a way too low gear to begin with in that situation and it shifts to SECOND after that. The whole action feels very awkward and strange. I know with the shiftpaddles and in a different mode i'ts different but we're talking normal driving here. The F10 did the same.

Also from standstill @ a crossing/trafficlights etc (in the wet even more so) it sometimes can be strange pushing the accellerator: the box first hesitates to start from zero mph and then goes the whole FIRST gear and you wished to go to second rightaway. I'm talking about normal driving in normal /heavy traffic. On a trackday I would want it like this off cource, without the hesitation from zero mph.

Maybe a difficult explanation but it was my main reason to switch back to manual. Maybe the MT car isn't as fast. It sure is 100% way more CONTROLLABLE...

Cheers
Robin

[chrisny]

I would think the performance difference is negligible, in real world driving. Plus manuals probably feel faster just because of that extra connection. There are definitely times I miss manuals, but I drive too much in traffic to be worth it anymore.

[chrisny]

Originally Posted by DrivenByE30

i see this thread... but i am not going to respond to it...

Then don't.

[EJIB]

Went from MT to AT first time ever. Was already convinced by its comfort/performance ratio. Besides that, commuting from-and-to (70 miles one way) is sometimes (luckyly mostly not) getting a real headache (traffic). Driving manually for around 2 hours in traffic-jam is not a joke (RHD => clutch-legg & MT-arm) Driving in the AT now is a luxury feeling + fuel consumption always optimized.

[Naambezet]

Originally Posted by BMoutlaW

Girls dig a guy with a manual common knowledge its something you can teach them if they dont already know how to drive one. Also if the 0-60 is a big factor for you just get an n20 tune from bms or any other tune out there which will take care of that problem for you. Speaking as a 23 year old who occasionally goes clubbing its what the girls like. I love bmw because of the way they drive mt or at but if you want that extra sex appeal i'd go with the 6 speed.

LOL, try that in Europe
Only thing I could teach my girlfriend is to heel and toe

[Naambezet]

Originally Posted by James_Squire

8AT sports auto. Technology moves on. The transmission really is that good. Any other generation 3 series I would have said manual.

Forget the whole manual vs auto debate and compare both, then choose the best transmission. Most of the manual lovers fail to acknowledge that technology has indeed moved on. As you can see, one of the arguments for owning a manual now is that you have a better chance of getting your balls licked.

We own an X1 with the 8 speed AT, but I still prefer manuals. Why you ask?
Because it feels faster, because you need to work hard to shift it fast. Heel and toe is satisfying, you can kick the clutch (with or without gas) to get the car sideways, you can use the handbrake the initiate oversteer.
And no, we don't think it's cool, because everyone here drives a MT car.

[omarliendo]

It depends... i think that it would be a crime to order a car like this in AT but that is just me.
If you are lazy, go with the AT, if you really want to feel control of the car and do not mind the shifting of gears, definitely go with the MT! I have the MT and i live in Atlanta where traffic sucks! I drive most of the day for work and i really do not mind the MT even when stuck in traffic...

[Michael Schott]

Originally Posted by James_Squire

8AT sports auto. Technology moves on. The transmission really is that good. Any other generation 3 series I would have said manual.

Forget the whole manual vs auto debate and compare both, then choose the best transmission. Most of the manual lovers fail to acknowledge that technology has indeed moved on. As you can see, one of the arguments for owning a manual now is that you have a better chance of getting your balls licked.

I could give two craps that the 8AT has great technology. That's not why I prefer a MT. I enjoy shifting for myself. It's as simple as that.

[Messer-schmitt]

I refuse to buy and drive any car that my mother or grandmother could drive. MT for me.

[F30AM]

An 8-Speed AT is my wet dream come true. At last I can relax the whole left side* of my body after all those years driving MT cars. Growing up is hard to do but ever such fun once you get there and reap all the benefits.

* We have RHD cars in the UK.

[JustinTJ]

Originally Posted by Jamesons Viggen

This thread is going to make me want to punch my computer screen. I can just tell already.

+1

It's the same old, same old. I read up to your post, stopped, and now don't even bother with them anymore. Out!

[ThatEgyptianKid]

New but relative question. Wasn't sure it deserved its own thread because it probably been talked about before but anyways Launching a manual vs auto Can you get the same performance out of both

[PeterM]

Im sure you can launch the MT just as good but your going to kill the clutch, You'd have to slip it hard and fast and it will probably pull some 1.8 60' times.. I dont measure my cars 0-60 i take them to the track either 1/4 mile or 1/8th, But this is not a drag car and you will not feel .3-.5 seconds. I had over 500whp on my gti and all depending on my launch and shifting gears it was a 1.5 sec difference, bad launch vs good, good shift vs bad etc.