polley 916 Report post Posted March 17, 2015 There we have it, if you're a girl and cant handle even a 328i manual in traffic, buy a SMG / DCT. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Neal 512 Report post Posted March 17, 2015 ^^^^^^^^ Or stick with a manual if you can't cope with post 1980s technology . 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FRT 144 Report post Posted March 17, 2015 The only transmission I've every cried over was a Nissan Primeval CVT rental car. What a pile of doo doo... mushy whaley kenwood mixer. Defying the Natural law of physics that rental cars rev higher, longer and go fast than others..... While I was hooning on the open road overtaking a car, me on the wrong side of the road, jandal in carpet, V2 rotating, pulling 120+ with an oncoming car ahead, the revs start dropping off!!! (equalizing the torque band?) the car was still accelerating (bearly) but I was for sure certain that I was going to die in a head on collision. I said a potty word and threw out all four anchors. I lived to tell the tale. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MISS BM 712 Report post Posted March 17, 2015 There we have it, if you're a girl and cant handle even a 328i manual in traffic, buy a SMG / DCT. Indeed. That failing clutch, buggered flywheel and cost of slips and bills is what caused the tears. Let's note I unfortunately bought the car with said hiccups. On the open roads you got the smiles. Auckland Traffic is sh*t. So are Auckland roads for that matter. I'd much prefer to be relaxing in a traffic jam, than potentially gaining cramp from that damn pedal. DCT on track is great, manual probably more fun, but the focus for precision and quicker times comes with the DCT. In Auckland, to be honest, a DCT. In rural outback of no where, a manual. Up to you. But think now, the congestion is only going to get worse. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
M5V8 337 Report post Posted March 17, 2015 +1 after shagging out the M5 clutch in auck traffic I joined the auto SUV club still miss the M5 on the open road tho. Such a magic car. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KwS 2377 Report post Posted March 17, 2015 but is there really a need for a manual on the open road? You arent changing gears often and when you do, a DCT will do it quicker, smoother and with less effort. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michael. 2312 Report post Posted March 17, 2015 Another factor is the sound between the gearbox variations. Your average automatic on a gear change is okay, some better than others, but one that retards the timing and has a high slip change is pretty nasty on the ear. True manuals when shifted nicely are probably my favorite, especially with that brief off the gas pause, then youre back on it DCT with its quirky throttle blips is hard not to like, such a quick change of sound is certainly cool. Such noises make the cars sound very tight and focused. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KwS 2377 Report post Posted March 17, 2015 not to mention prefect rev matched downshifts in the DCT The one i dont like is the VW Golf GTI DSG exhaust note on up shift. It sounds like the car is farting. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michael. 2312 Report post Posted March 17, 2015 Yeah ^ the GTI one is a bit messy I've always thought Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
m325i 705 Report post Posted March 17, 2015 (edited) ^ That's the GTI's best bit! I love the 'missing' in between gears! Edited March 17, 2015 by Nick G Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KwS 2377 Report post Posted March 17, 2015 baaaarrrrrpp *fart* baaarrrrpppp Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Apex 693 Report post Posted March 17, 2015 Did not read thread, so will make a unbiased comment typical of forum user. In the E90, I would be happy with the DCT, I was not overly impressed with the change on the Manual equipped car, felt like any other rubbery BMW manual... lets be honest, BMW are not know for their gear box feel... puts on fanboi proof vest. The DCT is faster 0-100 and would be faster on a track. But. I would still take the stick given the choice.. and I would rather stub my tow once every hour on the hour than drive anything SMG. For me, its not the speed, its the tactile feel and immediacy, and the ability to do roll backs out of parking spaces. Anyone who drives an double clutch car will know how painful it it going from reverse into manual or making fast changes in a tight situation. For me, a car is all about parking, I need proximity key and roll back ability, all without spilling my coffee. 10c Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MISS BM 712 Report post Posted March 17, 2015 "For me a car is all about parking" That's has got to be the most backwards description of why to purchase a car, that I ever heard. Excellent. If I dare say so myself 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
westy 614 Report post Posted March 17, 2015 Toe 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Apex 693 Report post Posted March 17, 2015 "For me a car is all about parking" That's has got to be the most backwards description of why to purchase a car, that I ever heard. Excellent. If I dare say so myself I live my life one car park at a time, I pride myself on the fact I can park my car way faster than most JDM drivers can. Its not all about parking.. but In Auckland, its all being able to negate traffic and make wanker moves, only a manual gives me total control and the ability to quickly cut into other lanes and do u turns in no turn zones.. On the upside, both manual and auto are good at driving up one way streets the wrong way. Also, you don't want a car too low for parking, nothing worse than getting beached on the ramps in multi level car parks, the amount of times I have had to ask everyone to get out of my car so I an make it up the ramps. I tell ya. So. Perfect E90. 18" wheels, stock ride hight, possibly with EDC, Manual. Reversing camera, parking sensors and proximity. In Melbourne Red. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
polley 916 Report post Posted March 17, 2015 Auckland sounds terrible already Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zadkiel 41 Report post Posted March 17, 2015 Stuarts probably thinking , wtf happened to my thread , asked a straight forward question and gets meaning of life So to summarise , get an M3 with SL1200 mk3 turntable retro fit, to be a man you need a left hand knob and then you can do skids. But to learn to drive you need to learn to ride. And Hondas are ghey. Or give Mike Eddie a call at BMW driver training and ask his opinion on DCT for track days. Btw , was that your lotus at the BMW Taupo drivers day a couple of years back. Haha yeah I was wondering why there were so many pages here, didn't know the can of worms was opened. I'm not really concerned about the wider DCT versus manual debate. I have driven many manual, auto, single clutch auto and dual clutch auto cars so I have kind of experienced it all, just never driven a DCT variant on the track and it's not really something you can do on a test drive so I was mainly aiming at that very specialised area. Sadly no that wouldn't have been my Elise (not when I owned it anyway). I need to update my cars profile but it has changed a bit over the years. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
