[Al Bundy's Dodge]

Originally Posted by Kafkaesque328

I feel you. I can drive a manual with the best of them but when I experienced the combo of the 8 speed auto and the turbo 4 in the 3 series, that was kind of it for me. I am looking for smooth, seamless operation. Smooth operator, does whatever I want, when I want, and I don't have to do the 3 pedal tap dance to inch through a neighborhood with 20 stop signs or creeping trying to make a left at a busy intersection. For the birds I say. The birds.

The birds? or those of us that like a little challenge in our life. What a great feeling to perfectly time rolling out into the intersection to make a left hand turn > slide into gear > accelerate all without having to hit the brake.

Its the little things in life

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy's Dodge

The birds? or those of us that like a little challenge in our life. What a great feeling to perfectly time rolling out into the intersection to make a left hand turn > slide into gear > accelerate all without having to hit the brake.

Its the little things in life

Try:
Approaching corner
Pedal transition - Throttle to Brake
Braking
Gear Change
Turn in
Balance throttle/Trail braking
Hit Apex
Acceleration

It's the smooth way through a corner. AT & DCT are way more tolerant of a mid turn gear change then the MT as they upset the car less.

Personally regardless of what transmission I am driving if its necessary I down shift before the turn in.

THE MAN STICK



EDIT: FWIW the BMW Performance driving school uses 8ZF because according to the chief instructor too many MT's were getting trashed by the students. These are people who want to drive fast & pay $2K for two days in SC. Not typical buyers but performance oriented ones.

[Solidjake]

Originally Posted by NYBMWBrian

6-Spd/Manual Trans cars are super rare in NY, especially in upstate NY. If you want one 99.8 percent of the time it has to be factory built. Another dealer within 500 miles may have one. Also the current ZF Automatics are quicker shifting and more fuel efficient hence more people are picking these types of cars. The demand is just not there for a manual very much now a days. I happen to enjoy shifting my own gears on the way into the office every morning and heel/toe downshifting- listening to the blip of the throttle/gas, gets me every time.

I had to pick up my 6 speed 328 from Boston

[Breezin]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy's Dodge

The birds? or those of us that like a little challenge in our life. What a great feeling to perfectly time rolling out into the intersection to make a left hand turn > slide into gear > accelerate all without having to hit the brake.

Its the little things in life

I don't think he is saying anything about not wanting to be challenged and i think most BMW drivers want to challenge themselves. But when you hit 20 stop signs and are in bumper to bumper traffic there isn't much challenge in that besides not getting a cramp in your calf haha. Having lived in MA for much of my life and being in traffic everyday its nice to have a smooth AT take over for you in those instances and the awesome part about the 8AT is it can still be fun to drive when the roads open up. Not trying to sell anyone on the AT but i think it deserves a lot of respect, and i still would take a MT in any other car!

[Al Bundy's Dodge]

Originally Posted by Breezin

I don't think he is saying anything about not wanting to be challenged and i think most BMW drivers want to challenge themselves. But when you hit 20 stop signs and are in bumper to bumper traffic there isn't much challenge in that besides not getting a cramp in your calf haha. Having lived in MA for much of my life and being in traffic everyday its nice to have a smooth AT take over for you in those instances and the awesome part about the 8AT is it can still be fun to drive when the roads open up. Not trying to sell anyone on the AT but i think it deserves a lot of respect, and i still would take a MT in any other car!

Wasnt trying to say he or AT drivers dont like a challenge...just highlighting one of many little games/challenges afforded a MT driver when driving around town while unable to really open up the gearbox.



BAck to the thread topic...was poking around the local sales listing and there has definitely been a decrease in available used MTs compared to last year when I bought mine. Not sure if that means they are selling fast or not trying to be sold at all

[Savageenterprise]

Yeah literally there were no 6spds available anywhere near me in Long Island. It probably does have to do with demand but I just decided to factory order

[JG_Coupe88]

I get the whole, not wanting to deal with traffic thing ..totally. I've lived in the NJ/NYC area most of my life and have been in SD the last 4 and a half years and I guess the thrilling feeling of rowing my gears have not left me whatsoever. People come up to me on open track days and autocross days and appreciate my car even though its just a 428. Will I own an auto again, yes later on for sure. The ZF8 is brilliant, had fun with it with my loaners. But its not time yet, I have a big smile everyday driving! I don't believe we should argue about this, we just looooove our bimmers!

[rob-e90]

I would think the manual trans is actually a plus when it comes to selling, at least for the enthusiast market who tends to pay a premium for it. I know I would and Im currently on the market for a new daily driver with manual. I have a 435i coupe that I special ordered (color/interior comb not available at dealers when I was looking) and I regret not getting the manual 100%. In fact, my lease is up in 3 months and the lack of the 3rd pedal is the primary reason Im not keeping a car that is in top condition with less than 26K miles on it. I find this auto F32 a bit boring to be honest, when compared to my previous E90 and current E30 manual. But I understand this is a matter of personal preference.



Save the manuals!

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Originally Posted by rob-e90

I would think the manual trans is actually a plus when it comes to selling, at least for the enthusiast market who tends to pay a premium for it.

Enthusiast market is shrinking. Not worth spreading the development cost over the whole product line anymore.

Can see them doing something like keeping 6MT in the 2 series, maybe. BMW is not even keeping the 7DCT anymore. New M5 is an 8ZF only.

BMW's comment on why the new Z4 two seater is 8ZF only, "There will be no manual gearbox, as the engineering costs were too high given the likely low take rate, so a ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic will be the only transmission choice."

If they can't sell MT's in a sports car what is the point anymore.

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by BEAR-AvHistory

Can see them doing something like keeping 6MT in the 2 series, maybe. BMW is not even keeping the 7DCT anymore. New M5 is an 8ZF only.

BMW's comment on why the new Z4 two seater is 8ZF only, "There will be no manual gearbox, as the engineering costs were too high given the likely low take rate, so a ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic will be the only transmission choice."

Apparently, the next gen 2 Series will be automatic only as well. No matter what else I get as a DD, I think my current 2 will be a lifetime keeper.

[Humdizzle]

i get why most people have an auto. tons of stop and go traffic. wife doesn't want a manual. gas savings. most people trade in or turn in a lease and immediately get a new car, they dont have extra cars to drive while they wait for a manual well spec'd car.

best solution is to have both ! auto/dct for every day driving and chores. manual for fun.

whats sucks is that ferrari,lambo, mclaren don't make manuals anymore. which is why i sold my auto f30 for a 09 civic and am currently searching for an e92 m3 comp pack.

[rob-e90]

Originally Posted by BEAR-AvHistory

Enthusiast market is shrinking. Not worth spreading the development cost over the whole product line anymore.

Agree, for the manufacturer. I meant to say the used car market for the seller in this case. Is not easy to find a used but decent BMW with a manual these days and it should be relatively easy to sell one.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Originally Posted by rob-e90

Agree, for the manufacturer. I meant to say the used car market for the seller in this case. Is not easy to find a used but decent BMW with a manual these days and it should be relatively easy to sell one.

Agree, the key is hooking up with the right buyer. Problem is on a person to person sale finding one who wants a 6MT & has the money to pay for it.

[rak299]

I had to sell a 2-year old 6-cyl F32 because I found I needed 4 doors. The car was a well-equipped car in a good color, white with red leather. It had 12,000 miles and no chips or damage. I listed it for sale on this forum, another BMW forum, BMW CCA and Craigslist for 2 weeks. I got no calls, no offers, nothing. Not even low-ball offers or scams. Nothing. People finance or lease cars. Person-to-person sales tend to be cash.