auto or manual?

MyHarley · Jan 19, 2004

IMHO, I think someone should buy what they want since they are paying for the car; i.e. stick, manual or even a propeller if that is what floats their boat.........my next car will be a M3 convertible with SMG, I only have two hands these days and they both are needed for other things while driving.............

Section_8 · Jan 19, 2004

codex57 said:

THAT is the one downfall of manual. I live in the Atlanta area and traverse town a good deal at times(with Manual).. There are moments when I wish I had steptronic.... You know. those moments when you're on a 6 lane parking lot 3 miles behind a turned 18 wheel flatbed (A regular occurrance here on any given day and any given highway here..

But! Manual still is the best! [;)]

[driving2]

mclarensmps · Jan 19, 2004

as a driving fan, the fun factor of a manual outweighs the daily hassle of heavy traffic driving for me!

bahnstormer · Jan 19, 2004

u guys complain about traffic and a stick...and all the complaints are coming from the
west coast...i thought all the states had made it a law that if u own a manual bmw
u can drive in the shoulder =]

heheh jk but that pisses me off when i'm on the turnpike and some schmoe flys by in the
shoulder. oh well.

yeah so i just don't drive if there is traffic...but i guess u guys have real jobs
and stuff =]

gotta have my stick (esp with the UUC SSK i put in)

Section_8 · Jan 19, 2004

bahnstormer said:

Man, when traffic is backed at rush hour, OR from one of those overturned 18 wheelers I mentioned (just about EVERY day, no joke..), the shoulders become 2 more lanes that are just more parking spaces...

My complaints east coast! [hihi]

I try not to drive during traffic peaks, and I avoid all the highway/interstates around here as much as I can.. This city is full of people that moved here from elsewhere, and they've brought their driving styles with them (Atlanta is a mixing pot of bad driving habits - mixed with redneck 2-lane thinking, NY style leadfoots, small city idlers, and overall people that are LOST.).

Shift On!
[driving2]

PhatBimmer · Jan 19, 2004

small people that are lost [rofl]

. Uphere in Chicago we don't get that hardcore traffic all the time, its once and a while. Plus I think it all clears up by 7 or so....but during rush hour [:p]

good luck! [V]

Krafty04 · Jan 19, 2004

The reason most Europeans have manual's is because the cars are sooooo expensive for them (taxes, labor, shipping), the type of transmisison can mean the difference to many of not being able to afford a car, or being able to afford one.

DrWho · Jan 19, 2004

Krafty04 said:

I'm not sure that's quite right. The situation is similar in Australia regarding the cost of vehicles, and yet automatics are way more popular in Oz.

The thing about Europe is that they tend to drive much smaller cars (as their cities have narrow roads and lanes) and so to extract the maximum power they order manual transmissions. They also have a tradition of enjoying their driving.

One other factor is that their taxation system is based on CO2 emissions, so getting a more economical car (a manual) is aslo an important consideration (and along similar lines, the cost of fuel is very high which is also why more than 50% of all cars are diesels).

gbf1lm · Jan 19, 2004

the thing is europeans have a thing for driving, and thats why they make the performance cars, and they like to drive their cars, so . . . even women can drive and now the men dont really have reason to sacrafice and get auto.

MrElussive · Jan 19, 2004

Yup, and in Europe, driving laws are more chilled. In the US, if your car looks fast, you get a speeding ticket...I don't HAVE to drive my car hard, I just really enjoy it. [:D]

William330 · Jan 19, 2004

dpnguyen said:

Get the 330i -- better to have more engine, than more buttons. [;)]

As for the manual vs auto transmission question, I went with auto in my 330Ci and love it.

I had a manual in my previous car, and could not wait to get an auto. There were a few times when I enjoyed shifting, but overall, it was more hassle than enjoyment.

Today's automatic transmissions are not like old automatics, especially the BMW Steptronic auto.

This transmission has three modes: normal, sport, and pseudo-manual. I leave it in normal 95% of the time, but when I'm in an aggressive mood, I throw it in sport mode and it's just awesome. It shifts perfecly, lots of torque, lots of pull.

I absolutely love driving this vehicle. Zero doubts or regrets.

donmbmw · Jan 19, 2004

Theres another reason why there are so automatic transmission cars on the road these days, and thats because auto tranny's are sophisticated, quick shifting, and smooth with minimal slippage. The steptronic is having problems this year (don't I know it) but it an awesome tranny. Two fully automatic settings as well as a manual mode that is smart enough to shift up or down on its own so you don't do damage. C'mon, this is great stuff ! MB even has an adaptive transmission that learns your driving habits and adapts the shift points accordingly.
I love manual shifting and use the manual setting alot, but when the traffic is heavy (often) or I'm just feeling lazy (more often) it's great to have the steptronic. [thumb]

[driving2]

MrElussive · Jan 19, 2004

One thing I have noticed for me about automatic and manual is this: When I drive a stick shift car (my G35C, for example), I find myself always driving around very "spirited". Accelerating faster, taking turns harder, etc. Whenever I drive an automatic car, I am usually driving it decently gently and not really accelerating that hard. I just enjoy the "luxury" aspect of the car doing the shifting for me, and I find it more relaxing...it's like the tranny is not encouraging me to rip the shit out of the car...it's like encouraging me to just "chill and drive". That's what really turns me off about automatic transmissions. [:(]

mscoins · Jan 19, 2004

MrElussive said:

One thing I have noticed for me about automatic and manual is this: When I drive a stick shift car (my G35C, for example), I find myself always driving around very "spirited". Accelerating faster, taking turns harder, etc. Whenever I drive an automatic car, I am usually driving it decently gently and not really accelerating that hard. I just enjoy the "luxury" aspect of the car doing the shifting for me, and I find it more relaxing...it's like the tranny is not encouraging me to rip the shit out of the car...it's like encouraging me to just "chill and drive". That's what really turns me off about automatic transmissions.

A cure for that is to spend a couple of days at the BMW Performance Center hammering their 330i's/Z4's/760Li - all with Steptronic. [thumb]

NZL · Jan 19, 2004

gbf1lm said:

If you're serious here, you have some funny ideas about women drivers. Take this as an example, friends of mine:
He drives an automatic Camry
She drives a manual Integra

Fact of the matter is that most people in this world are LAZY if they are able to be. My last car was also an Auto (on a turbo-charged sports car I might add), and I like the control that my steptronic gives me.

Europeans seem to accept manual transmission as as way of life. Americans have one of the Highest % of automatic vehicles. Another close friend of mine just returned from a 6 week trip through Europe. When his rental car was vandalised, they were not able to locate a rental car in the whole of central France with an Auto Transmission. I don't believe its a cost function.

gbf1lm · Jan 19, 2004

well drivng a stick is not really a thing about being lazy. u never have to think about it, its second nature u just do it. so i dont reallly understand teh escuse im too lazy to drive stick. in fact europeans are the more lazy than americans, they have like 5 vacations a year (exageration)

MrElussive · Jan 19, 2004

We may have the highest percentage of Auto drivers in the world, but we probably also have the highest number of traffic lights in the world. I don't blame people for getting an automatic transmission....it is easier. But I do blame you if you drive, let's say, a Porsche (911 or Boxster) in an automatic transmission...if it doesn't have three pedals, it's simply not a Porsche.

epj3 · Jan 20, 2004

DrWho said:

Hm, I disagree with that. While looking for E30's and E36's on ebay, the manuals seem to be worth much more as the demand for a nice manual 3 series is higher than the automatic.

DrWho · Jan 20, 2004

epj3 said:

Have you tried trading in your manual at a dealership? Private sales are somewhat different and if you can afford to sell your car at leisure you may get a 'hard core' buyer willing to pay a higher price.

I recently went through this exercise myself and in the end had to trade in my '00 330Ci as I couldn't find a private buyer in time (4 weeks).

dpnguyen · Jan 20, 2004

The other thing that kills me is the 0-60 time. Add another second for the automatic--that's just criminal!

Manual for life....

auto or manual?

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