[Seagull]

Originally Posted by nick1212

I had ordered the 8AT after I test drove a 335i with the paddle shifters however switched it to MT within 15 mins of leaving the dealership once I was driving my MT car back home. The AT is an amazing gear box however for me the connection with the road was definitely missing. Dont think I will go to an AT car unless I have no other option.

Yes, it is lost for me too. There is a level of connection though, but you have to be more in tune to hear it. I'm only now starting to get a feel for the 8 gears in the AT and on when to switch. Still, its not as much of a connection because you don't have to worry about your feet and the engagement. Some days I still hit the "clutch" when starting or changing gears. And I almost always put my hand on the "shifter" when I anticipate something in traffic..... hmmmm guess that's sad

[steveL77]

I made the mistake years ago of just going with AT because that's what they had on the lot and I needed a car. I drove manuals my whole life and settled for AT on my past two BMW's. I wasn't making that mistake this time around.

Nothing beats the feel of an MT. Down shifting into a turn and the burble from the exhaust popping in your ear, the pull of third gear when putting the pedal down and the overall feel of having complete control of the car all the time is so much more satisfying and I'll never get another AT again.

[seis-speed]

No joke, bought an auto so my wife could drive it, 1 month later, ordered a manual. Never make my mistake, it was costly. I will never buy an automatic. Some people love them, I am not one of those people.

[seis-speed]

FWIW that was my only Auto, so I am a manual guy, but I literally cringe at the thought of an Auto, or if I see a f30 in Auto I feel sorry for the people that are missing out. Sorry to be so dramatic, if you are unsure, get the MANUAL!!!!!

[Digtlartst]

Originally Posted by seis-speed

Sorry to be so dramatic, if you are unsure, get the MANUAL!!!!!

Get the MANUAL while you still CAN!

BMW is dropping availability of manuals for Americans until soon all manuals will be all gone, even for the Z and the 1 and the M!

I'm ready to buy a F31X 6MT 6 right now but BMW won't sell me one. But they'll sell me a coarse, whiney 4-banger wagon with a slushbox for $40+k? Come on.

[Ron Scott]

I used to buy manuals because I thought there was a cool-factor to them. Now all that arm and leg jerking just seems so yesterday to me. Add the truly great tech in BMWs 8AT to my attitude and the decision was easy. Paddles and never looked back.

[The Economist]

I have been driving a manual since I was old enough to reach the pedals - I think since about nine years of age. Every time my father or grandfather could get me behind the wheel, they would make sure that I was perfecting my technique. As soon as I could legally do it, I was in open wheel race cars with the proper third pedal. All of my personal cars have been manuals as well.

What I will say is that a manual transmission has always been a better choice than an automatic. The degree of control and the sluggishness of slushboxes were always the reason for going manual.

However, the sport auto on the F30 is excellent; a much better proposition than the manual. It's faster and more efficient and you can also have almost full control when you need to. If you properly game out the choices, the correct one on this car is the sport auto.

If you're emotionally connected (which is the only reason one would opt out of the sport auto) to the idea of a manual, then I would say that the F30 is not the right car for it. Perhaps you need a proper roadster or sports car which can give you the organic experience you crave. The F30 is a fine sporting saloon, and the sport auto is a better match for its purpose, feel, and overall capabilities.

[shivaswrath]

Originally Posted by pcbrew

How many longtime MT drivers getting an F30 are going to switch camps and get the AT?
I am in that same situation - have driven MT since I got my first car in 1980 - but keep waffling between MT and AT.

Previously I could justify MT since it was less money AND more efficient. But, with the big improvement in performance & fuel economy of the new 8AT, and the fact that it is no extra cost in the US, curious to hear opinions from MT drivers.

With the added fuel economy, obstinate wife, and the fact that this new 8AT shifts faster than me (and IMO as fast as a DCT), I dropped a 13 year love affairs with MT's...to switch to AT.

[Dinh335]

I just went thru this decision on my order...drove the auto, and manual both and liked them both. In the end I went manual...here's why, and maybe it'll help ya.

I too said "the paddles could be fun" etc etc, but to me, a manual is more about picking the gear, its working thru them, left foot, right hand, in combination with turning, steering, and well driving, that makes a manual fun.

My other car is a DSG equipped Jetta TDI sportwagen, and honestly, when i got it i was like "cool it has the DSG" but 99 percent of the time i leave it in sport auto mode and just let it shift. It's fine, but i guess my point is nothing will replace the feeling of working thru gears foot and hand wise.

My advice? If you have 2 cars, have one of each. Im glad i went with Manual as I think it'd miss that interaction if both my cars were automatic.

[domyalex]

I have driven manual all my life (grew up in Europe) and to avoid the wife/husband issues I taught my wife how to drive stick.

Last week we test drove a 328 F30 and, to be honest, I was _really_ hoping to like the new 8 AT (resale value, comfort, what not). However, at the end of the day, the invoice for my new lease was for a manual, even thou that meant waiting 1-3 months for delivery instead of taking possession right away.

Seeing your wife changing gears on a BMW = priceless!

[BMWFanatic2008]

1. SAT is $500 and I would have to get it if I went auto route. So manual is cheaper.
2. I had auto in my previous E92 and always had regrets about not getting a manual.
3. Manual is more fun to drive, auto is boring.
4. 335 seems to be the only AWD BMW available with 6MT. You can't get 328 AWD/535 AWD with 6MT. So who knows, they might stop offering manuals on AWD 335s as well in the future, so get it while you can.

[wayman519]

Theres nothing like the feel of a manual especially a BMW. But there is something special about an 8AT that burns through gears quicker than you can comprehend the shift.

[mTorkiblu]

After coming from 5 years with an E90 335 msport AUTOMATIC and now enjoying a 6 speed manual in a 2013 335 msport, I agree with the others. Driving an auto gets to be boring and the feeling of interaction with the manual does not have equal. I think if people get the chance to drive a manual, there is not coming back.
I say this: driving a manual is entertaining, and this is coming from a forum member in the older age group.

[aceking4u]

My take....

Regardless of what the older "gentleman's" on this forums says, IMHO, it really comes down to old age/maturity for "some" people. You have kids, you have a wife, you're in traffic, etc, it's so much easier to convince yourself that the AUTO is better. The feeling one gets when driving a manual is indescribable. You feel so engaged with the car and I can care less about the .1 difference, because you won't feel it in the real world.

However, I also don't think a Manual is suitable for ALL cars. Here are a list of cars I've owned, and I carefully chose each one based on the car's performance. No point of getting a manual for a slow car. Not all that exciting without the power.

Auto: '08 Honda Civic LX, 11 Honda CRZ, '12 C350 Coupe*
Manual: '04 Accord Coupe EX V6, '10 Audi S5

I would have chosen a stick for the Mercedes if it was available. I "like" the car but it is so boring to drive. I work in Downtown LA and I'm mentally strong enough to handle the grind of traffic in one of the worse traffic area in the world.

Certain cars will force you to get an Auto (eg. RS5, C63, Tesla Model S).

However, if I had a choice I would think twice to get a manual. Right now, I'm considering dropping my Tesla reservation just so I can get a BRZ Sport Concept (Anticipation) or BMW 428/435 (Anticipation) in Manual.

[Rd328iM]

I had a 325i e46 smg and got trans swap to manual(that smg was pos) upgraded with active autowerke supercharger , it was a blast to drive... When there was no traffic in my country traffic is horrendous and it got really exhausting driving that car then I got a e92 335i auto now I have a f30 328i M pack with sport auto tans and I'm very satisfied . But I must admit when it's late and there are no cars on the road and hardly any cops manuals are something else. Cheers!

[Seagull]

Originally Posted by The Economist

I have been driving a manual since I was old enough to reach the pedals - I think since about nine years of age. Every time my father or grandfather could get me behind the wheel, they would make sure that I was perfecting my technique. As soon as I could legally do it, I was in open wheel race cars with the proper third pedal. All of my personal cars have been manuals as well.

What I will say is that a manual transmission has always been a better choice than an automatic. The degree of control and the sluggishness of slushboxes were always the reason for going manual.

However, the sport auto on the F30 is excellent; a much better proposition than the manual. It's faster and more efficient and you can also have almost full control when you need to. If you properly game out the choices, the correct one on this car is the sport auto.

If you're emotionally connected (which is the only reason one would opt out of the sport auto) to the idea of a manual, then I would say that the F30 is not the right car for it. Perhaps you need a proper roadster or sports car which can give you the organic experience you crave. The F30 is a fine sporting saloon, and the sport auto is a better match for its purpose, feel, and overall capabilities.

I definitely agree with you ( although I don't have your experience ). But a lot to do with these cars is the emotion - hence the forum traffic. Anyhow, with the auto, if you the power pack, would give you more tq. I guess that's a plus too.

[Tsuvoi]

I'm a lifetime MT driver and will be getting AT. Better performance, fuel economy, and dare I say comfort... For $0 more.

[BMWalrus]

I had concerns when I ordered MT because Miami traffic tends to be awful.
No regrets at all. 3rd & 4th gear are so sweet, especially on pass & overtake.

[335BBS]

Originally Posted by pcbrew

How many longtime MT drivers getting an F30 are going to switch camps and get the AT?
I am in that same situation - have driven MT since I got my first car in 1980 - but keep waffling between MT and AT.

Previously I could justify MT since it was less money AND more efficient. But, with the big improvement in performance & fuel economy of the new 8AT, and the fact that it is no extra cost in the US, curious to hear opinions from MT drivers.

Just traded my 335 e92 step on a 6 mt Audi. That tranny is a great "automatic" but it sure is boring. It was my first a/t in 36 years. Unless you shift it yourself, spirited driving is brutal. To me all dct etc are a/t. When you want a gear it's there with mt.

[Minimaul]

Went with AT for my daily driver/winter beater (328xi) and ill save the MT for my e36 m3 for autocrossing and summer fun. Best of both worlds.

[rconti]

If not for yourself, do it for the rest of us, or the M/T will be completely gone, on the new market AND the used car market. I can't fathom spending new car money, and settling on a lousy AT.

[ynotony]

I've found that private party resale on a 3 series is A LOT easier with a manual transmission. If you care about that sort of thing.

Young guys trying to buy a used 3-series see the manual transmission as a big plus. You'll have more than one buyer. The opposite is true for manual 5-series and 6-series.