11-21-2016, 04:39 AM | #1 |
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330i sport auto or 340i manual?
Quick question for y'all... would you choose a 330i sport auto or a 340i manual? Comments only please from those who have actually driven both boxes (not necessarily the engines) I've priced up both cars and with a £2k bigger discount than on the 330i, no SA box (circa £1600) and no cost for metallic (£645) a 340i manual will cost me around £1k more! Bear in mind BMW manuals are certainly not the best in the business and clutch judder issues still abound (although admittedly the 3 year warranty would cover that!) Very interested in your responses as can't seem to make a decision on this!
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11-21-2016, 07:44 AM | #2 |
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I've not driven either car, but what I will say is this. I'd take a manual any day over auto. It's just a personal preference, I know the auto will shift quicker but I just really enjoy the stick. Makes me feel that I'm more involved in the experience. I'm not sure how else to quantify it. Just my two cents.
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11-21-2016, 08:20 AM | #3 | |
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It's just that the three 3 series cars I've owned in the past have all had less than perfect 'notchy' boxes and if I remember rightly they all had a degree of clutch judder at some point (particularly when cold) |
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11-21-2016, 09:02 AM | #4 |
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I haven't owned a newer BMW with a manual so I can't speak for the small quirks an owner might experience over years of having it. However, I have driven quite a few of the newer manuals and I must say that I like them a lot. They're very smooth, although they may lack in feel a little bit, but the clutch has never been a complaint in my mind. I've opted for the auto on my two f30's and I currently have the sport auto. I must say that as far as non-dual clutch autos go, the ZF 8 speed is a wonderful transmission. I love how engaging driving a manual is, but living in a place where I'm guaranteed to be stuck in traffic every day I've never been sad about having the sport auto.
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11-21-2016, 09:23 AM | #5 | |
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Manual, absolutely no doubt in my mind. Automatic transmission in these cars is superb, it's setup so beautifully with these engines, in my opinion they are as good as it gets with automatic. It's fast and incredibly smooth and gets most out of the engine. That said, it's still not perfect if you truly enjoy driving and feeling of total control over your RPM range. Where I personally feel I'm missing manual the most is in downshifts mostly or just hanging in that higher RPM "that much" longer when accelerating, just for pure fun of driving. Sure paddle shifters help with this, but I'm talking purely automatic mode here. And even with paddle shifters, to me it feels somewhat artificial, with ever so slight delay. I'm sure it's shifting faster than I do manually, just how it feels to me. In your case you also get 340i for 1K more, I'd say go for it. And really, since they seem to be disappearing at (for me) alarming rate, it's as good time as any to own one. Good luck, you can't really go wrong, just a matter of personal preference. |
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11-21-2016, 09:53 AM | #7 | |
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Oh and I get that 340 soundtrack too |
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11-21-2016, 11:05 AM | #9 |
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340i duh
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11-21-2016, 11:13 AM | #10 |
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My wife has an f31 328 with the sport auto and I have a 340 with a manual. I must say that the 8spd auto is a FANTASTIC box. It's so smooth, fast, and predictable. As a do everything sort of car, I don't miss the manual transmission.
That said, I love the manual in my 340. It's smooth, crisp, and feels very tight. The auto rev-match is nice, and I certainly feel more engaged while driving the car. For long highway hauls, the 6 speed is definitely giving up some MPG to the auto because it revs quite a lot higher. |
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11-21-2016, 11:39 AM | #11 |
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Manual if you dont do a lot of city driving and the wife doesnt need to drive it. My MT is tiresome in bumper to bumper in nyc and wife cant use it so i ordered an auto, will be keeping the MT for now though as a 2nd.
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11-21-2016, 12:00 PM | #13 |
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It may have sounded a stupid question but I asked because on a different thread about trannys everyone (well 95%) was saying they'd have sport auto over manual any day! And then on the engine question everyone (obviously) would have the straight six any day! So I thought it would be really interesting to see who'd give up that 6 pot for sport auto tranny.... not many would it seems! Which has pretty much helped me make my decision... especially as I'm coming from a 6 pot manual Cayman!!
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11-21-2016, 12:05 PM | #14 |
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The misses only drives auto anyway so that's another good reason for me to go manual... she always curbs her wheels when she parks and she would be sure to want to borrow it occasionally. I couldn't deal with her bringing my baby home with a totally wrecked rim!
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11-21-2016, 12:25 PM | #15 | |
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11-21-2016, 12:43 PM | #16 | |
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11-21-2016, 12:51 PM | #17 | |
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11-21-2016, 01:11 PM | #18 | ||
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11-21-2016, 01:47 PM | #19 |
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I would never own an auto. Driven both and it's an easy choice. Plus the 330 is even slower than the 340....
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11-21-2016, 02:35 PM | #21 |
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I wouldn't have bought a 340 if not for the manual transmission. I prefer VW/Audi's DSG 6AT over BMW's ZF 8AT. Had some back to back drives in a 335 and S4 with both transmissions and out of those 4 options BMW's auto is the only one I'd definitely not buy.
That said, the B58 engine with the manual transmission is an extremely pleasant combination. |
11-21-2016, 03:27 PM | #22 |
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So far then there's no doubt over what you lovely helpful drivers would go for. I've never really considered an auto and it seems there's no known reason why I should forego two cylinders just to have the sport auto box! Anyone had any clutch issues on F30/31 at all?
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