regretting my automatic

[jgorman13]

So now that I've been riding a bike, and driving my friends' 330xi in stick, im kinda obsessed with it and want to get my next car in stick. or swap mine out. just thought id vent.

[WAMz4]

Theres something about the control and skill of driving a sports car with a stick that just makes it allot more fun than automatic. I'm may be a purest, and I know people have lots of good reasons for getting an automatic. But I just don't think they should make sports cars automatic. Of course I'm in my forty's, maybe in 15 or 20 years I wont want to shift anymore. Thats when I'll opt for one of those "Luxury sport sedans" and enjoy a cushy ride, rest my knees and pretend I'm still in real sports car.

[caseysc]

Originally Posted by WAMz4

Theres something about the control and skill of driving a sports car with a stick that just makes it allot more fun than automatic. I'm may be a purest, and I know people have lots of good reasons for getting an automatic. But I just don't think they should make sports cars automatic. Of course I'm in my forty's, maybe in 15 or 20 years I wont want to shift anymore. Thats when I'll opt for one of those "Luxury sport sedans" and enjoy a cushy ride, rest my knees and pretend I'm still in real sports car.

As long as you can get what YOU want, why do you care what someone else is driving?

[AtoB]

Originally Posted by WAMz4

Theres something about the control and skill of driving a sports car with a stick that just makes it allot more fun than automatic. I'm may be a purest, and I know people have lots of good reasons for getting an automatic. But I just don't think they should make sports cars automatic. Of course I'm in my forty's, maybe in 15 or 20 years I wont want to shift anymore. Thats when I'll opt for one of those "Luxury sport sedans" and enjoy a cushy ride, rest my knees and pretend I'm still in real sports car.

x2

[MinneapolisJeff]

Originally Posted by WAMz4

Theres something about the control and skill of driving a sports car with a stick that just makes it allot more fun than automatic. I'm may be a purest, and I know people have lots of good reasons for getting an automatic. But I just don't think they should make sports cars automatic. Of course I'm in my forty's, maybe in 15 or 20 years I wont want to shift anymore. Thats when I'll opt for one of those "Luxury sport sedans" and enjoy a cushy ride, rest my knees and pretend I'm still in real sports car.

+3

[Starscream]

I had the same feelings with my 3 series,
My M is obviously stick, and when our DD was due for renewal I wanted a 3 series to go along with the M,

We started looking at a Red E92 Coupe 6 speed,
Ended up with a Grey E90 Steptronic,

Honestly, I love it,

at first I was desperate to have another 6 speed,
But I retrofitted an M3 steering wheel (which BTW isn't as thick or small as our Z4M wheels)
and I retrofitted the M3 DCT paddles so I could manually shift from the wheel,
I enjoy that, but actually to tell the truth,
I usually leave it 90% of the time in D/S!

The BMW auto is awesome in sport mode and I love the quick take off's and high revs you get in sport mode,
I feel I have the best of both worlds,


For a sports car I DO agree with WAM,
When I replace my M I am looking at a P car and even though the PDK they advertise is faster then the manual shift I still will order the car 6 speed,

But for my DD I love my steptronic 3 series

Enjoy what ya have now rather then focusing on what you don't have,

[jgorman13]

yea i took a car on the lot, so i didnt have a choice. and up until that point i always drove auto b/c of the massive traffic i usually sit in.

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by caseysc

As long as you can get what YOU want, why do you care what someone else is driving?

What everyone else is driving makes up the market, which impacts what's available. With PDK and SMG and other acronyms, I think we're inexorably moving towards a day when there won't be 3-pedal option on new sports cars. However, I'm man enough to concede that my liking manuals is a personal preference, not a technical advantage - the new computer-controlled shifters are faster with gear changes than I'll ever be.

[WAMz4]

Originally Posted by caseysc

As long as you can get what YOU want, why do you care what someone else is driving?

As long as I get what I want, I dont. However it gets increasingly harder to find manual cars on the new car lots. I've actually had new car dealers tell me they are selling more automatics so they dont stock as many manuals. A disturbing trend for sports car lovers everywhere.

[RV8tor]

Actually, dealers make more money with an automatic. That is why they stock them. Also easier to sell to those that never learned how to drive a manual, which is most people born after 1970.
When I was learning to drive, my dad insisted I learn and take my test in a car with a manual. Easy since my family never owned an automatic.

[caseysc]

OK. Look, I grew up the same way. Learned on a manual. Never had anything other than a manual until I was 42. I still like to run through the gears, and I'm betting than I'm as good or better than most here, speed shifting, double clutching, and power shifting included.

That said, I like the convenience of an auto when I'm doing business on the phone and sucking on a cup of coffee.. My Z is my daily driver. I most often drive it in the sport manual mode and LOVE it.

When I was younger and less wise (those of you in your 20's and 30's can read that as young, dumb and full of...well, you get the picture), I could not IMAGINE a sports car with an auto. Yes, now I'm older, wiser, richer, and I look down on most here who somehow think THEY have the RIGHT to tell me and others what transmission should be in a "sports" car. Get the f__k over yourselves.

And have a really nice Sunday evening!

[jgorman13]

Originally Posted by epbrown

What everyone else is driving makes up the market, which impacts what's available. With PDK and SMG and other acronyms, I think we're inexorably moving towards a day when there won't be 3-pedal option on new sports cars. However, I'm man enough to concede that my liking manuals is a personal preference, not a technical advantage - the new computer-controlled shifters are faster with gear changes than I'll ever be.

absolutely. its personal enjoyment to me. it seems to make driving less boring. and to go along with ur first point, look at the Audi TT. It first came only manual. Then in 03 and on, they had an automatic, but most still came manual. As of 2010, they will all be DSG.

[jgorman13]

...not that i dont like dual clutch trannies. they happen to be amazing. but its still automated.

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by jgorman13

So now that I've been riding a bike, and driving my friends' 330xi in stick, im kinda obsessed with it and want to get my next car in stick. or swap mine out. just thought id vent.

i'm assuming you never drove stick before and this is your first motorcycle... thats why you originally opted for auto? if not, yea, can't see why you'd want to get the z4 in auto. only time i could say i enjoyed driving a traditional auto (excluding dsg and similar) is when i drove a car meant to go slow, no offense... or large sedans. i typically like to do spirited driving but when i took my parents chrysler 300 out the other week, i actually enjoyed going 55mph in the highway, all the way in the right lane. it was just so relaxing, lol. felt the same way when i got my last bmw loaner but it was a saloon.

and riding a motorcycle and driving manual is still differnet for me. a bike, you would never want to be in the wrong gear so you have no choice to keep it in a certain rev range. but for a car, like the fact that you can actually push the car and punch it in 3rd or easily cruise in 5th and it's all good. just more of a driver experience with a car/manual... but i do love leaning on my bike, haha.

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by caseysc

OK. Look, I grew up the same way. Learned on a manual. Never had anything other than a manual until I was 42. I still like to run through the gears, and I'm betting than I'm as good or better than most here, speed shifting, double clutching, and power shifting included.

That said, I like the convenience of an auto when I'm doing business on the phone and sucking on a cup of coffee.. My Z is my daily driver. I most often drive it in the sport manual mode and LOVE it.

I disagree with you completely. I think sports cars should have manuals and I loathe the practice of talking on the phone or eating and drinking while driving or doing anything else.

People used to eat, drink, talk on the phone and watch tv in their homes, and it was rude to bother them in their private space, during their personal time. Now they do all these activities everywhere, all the time, out in the open and react as if everyone on the planet is rudely snooping on them or interrupting them. They live in glass houses and wonder how everyone can see inside. We've lost the idea of public comportment.

That aside, your post does perfectly sum up the way a lot of people feel, and explain why sports cars are getting softer and more feature-laden in general, and specifically why the new Z4 has taken the direction it has.

[WAMz4]

Originally Posted by caseysc

I like the convenience of an auto when I'm doing business on the phone and sucking on a cup of coffee.. My Z is my daily driver.

You may be more comfortable in that luxury sport sedan designed aound the cup holder with room to actually do business in and and not skew the sports car demographic for those that want to drive it like it was meant to be driven.
Unfortunately as "epbrown" posted above the market is moving away from manual as people either dont want to learn, or be bothered by actually driving a sports car but still want to look sporty. I fear my options will be fewer and fewer as mid priced sports cars go to the luxury market. A Miata is too wimpy, and a Murcielago, well, I dont record enough gold records for one of those.

[Rick Hunter]

As cool and fast-shifting as automatics may be, I'm still at an age (mentally) where I LIKE rowing through the gears. It gives me a sense of independence... replace it with an automatic, and you're removing the "purpose." *IMHO*

I'm sure as I age I will prefer an easier, more luxurious setup. With my luck, though, manual transmissions will probably come back in fashion.

[MVF4Rrider]

Originally Posted by epbrown

However, I'm man enough to concede that my liking manuals is a personal preference, not a technical advantage - the new computer-controlled shifters are faster with gear changes than I'll ever be.

True. Plus, system like M-DCT and DSG make the car quicker in every circumstance and more fuel efficient as well. Only downside is cost to repair/replace outside the warranty.

[rcube]

dd = auto
fun = manual

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by MVF4Rrider

True. Plus, system like M-DCT and DSG make the car quicker in every circumstance and more fuel efficient as well. Only downside is cost to repair/replace outside the warranty.

The other downside is I'd lose that mild sense of accomplishment I get from a well-executed gear change, all the more satisfying in the Z4M because it can be a bit tricky.

A buddy of mine says the difference between an automatic and manual sports car is like the difference between watching porn and having sex. With the auto, it can be fun, it's easier and more convenient but you're less involved. With the manual, you're part of the action, it's more taxing, and multi-tasking will make your performance suffer.

[RV8tor]

Around my Hard-Core manual trans friends, Automatics are referred to as Sissy Sticks and Pussy Paddles.

[3002 tii]

^^ see more and more z4 owners from dirty jerz, we need to get a gtg going!!!