Quote:
Originally Posted by mose121
I can't stand these slushbox comparisons to dual clutch boxes. I've worked for BMW & Porsche for almost the last two decades, and my 10th BMW arrives in June. Not tooting my own horn here, just conveying my professional and personal experience for perspective.
No torque converter box is anywhere close to matching a dual clutch box when it comes to shift times and rev matching. I haven't driven a new M5 yet, but I don't need to. All those "journalists" saying you won't miss the DCT in the M5 are off their rockers. Drove a new X5M recently, great car, trans is still lacking from a performance standpoint, but acceptable for a performance SAV/SUV.
DCT boxes have come a very long way, as has PDK boxes. PDK boxes have virtually eliminated any of the old herky-jerky in city driving. DCT still needs some improvements in this area, but it's hardly as bad as any of the old SMG's or early dual clutch boxes. I drive PDK Panamera's, 911's, & 718's every day in traffic. They are every bit as comfortable and smooth as the ZF 8 speed is in our 2019 330i xDrive touring with the sport automatic. PDK upshifts are faster AND smoother than the ZF 8 speed, and the downshifts are waaaay faster and smoother. I can't even say that the ZF is better just rolling down the highway.
Side note, the great ratios between 5th-6th in the ZF are just too far apart. I realize 6-8 are overdrive gears, but the gap is too much b/t 5-6. It annoys the hell out of me.
Long story short, if some executive feels a current dual clutch box is too harsh, they bought the wrong car. That's why the 550 exists.
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You can bring out the jerkiness in the PDK pretty easily by driving a certain way or letting off the gas at certain points. Granted the Macan's PDK is slightly different than the ones in the 911 but you cannot completely eliminate it because it's just how a DCT is. A ZF8 will be smoother for most people who care very little for performance aspects brought on by a DCT. Not to mention, those people who don't know their cars won't be able to tell between a DCT and a Torq Automatic. Hell I had to explain it slightly to my father as he had no idea. For the majority of the masses, the difference between the ZF8 Speed and a DCT like the PDK is extremely little.
I love the M-DCT in the F8x. It is something I don't think BMW should just abandon and let go. There isn't anything else like it.
Haven driven the new F90 M5. There isn't anything wrong with the ZF8 in that car since BMW M tweak it. I love the up shifts but there is still something missing when I drove it, I miss the feel of the M-DCT in my M3.