[gatorfast]

I love driving a stick shift and it's something I would have a very hard time giving up. A while back I had a brief stint with a 528i but that only lasted about a year before I had to get back in a 6 speed.

[bmw1racer]

Not me. Been driving a stick for over 30 years and six BMWs.

[FreddieDB]

Nope. Never stopped.

[c1pher]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Does that count for motorcycles too? I've been using a clutch since the 8th Grade. I required knee replacements at 50 and 52 years old. Never thought it was knee cancer from using a clutch. Dammit!

Ever watch Sons of Anarchy? Clay had his wife inject cortisone or some sort of pain killers into his hands from so much riding over the years. Manual shifting cancer is real.

[Vuu]

Missed it and made sure the M3 was a 6 speed when searching.

[Conissah]

Every "car" (300zx, G35, M2C, Miata, M3) I've ever owned has been manual. SUVs and trucks were all auto, but I never stopped driving manual.

[Merlin_83]

All of my BMWs are manual (6-speed) my kids, both of them learned how to drive with the two 335i's I have. One is an X-Drive 335 E90 and the other is an E90 335i, which has the OEM factory Performance Package One. Which I think is the same tune applied to the 335is. The car is also M-Sport equipped too, with the sport steering wheel, sports seats, and brakes and some of the suspension connecting pieces are also M-Sport. It is very, very stiff - but handles amazingly well. Especially with Michelin Supersport in a staggered OEM wheels set-up. The 335i X-Drive is sublime with a recent brand new transfer case the car grips the asphalt tightly. The one thing I am looking for and will likely have to buy new from Turner Motorsport or ECS is the Type 162 wheels. This is the staggered set-up on the 335i and the stance is perfect and looks aggressive 'enough'.

Cheers,
Merlin

[///MPhatic]

Nope, as I'm never without at least 1. I have 2 at present.

[JDMSteven]

Nope. Bought my 04 IS300 with the rare 5 speed manual with intentions of swapping in a "Supra" Turbo 2JZ-GTE, single turbo as a fun street car. I've ended up daily driving the damn thing every day for the last 1.5 years as I slowly collect the parts that I need.

I bought a GS300 with an Aristo JDM market 2JZ-GTE VVTI with a single turbo and its setup 99% the way I want it, and will essentially be the heart donor. I just can't stop driving the IS300 long enough to start working on it because it's just so nice to drive an "old school" manual car with a silky smooth 2JZ Inline 6 and a linear clutch pedal. One of these days I'll get around to starting it, but I think I need to find another manual daily first.

[Hfrank]

Originally Posted by possible335i2008

Love my m340i, it's perfect but lately I have been missing shifting and even a little nostalgic for my previous car a 2018 Sti. Yeah the STI was a nightmare when it came to reliability especially tuned but it was pretty raw driving experience wise, but it was way slower than my m340 even with an e85 tune. Yet I'm still kinda browsing around and looking at 2020's, talk me out of my madness. Also to add to the situation I got a ridiculous deal on my m340 and I can basically get more for it now than I paid for it, so yeah.

Originally Posted by possible335i2008

Love my m340i, it's perfect but lately I have been missing shifting and even a little nostalgic for my previous car a 2018 Sti. Yeah the STI was a nightmare when it came to reliability especially tuned but it was pretty raw driving experience wise, but it was way slower than my m340 even with an e85 tune. Yet I'm still kinda browsing around and looking at 2020's, talk me out of my madness. Also to add to the situation I got a ridiculous deal on my m340 and I can basically get more for it now than I paid for it, so yeah.

Missed a lot lol

[G80indy]

my manual cars since college:
1984 VW Rabbit
1989 Civic
1991 Mitsu Eclipse GSX
1993 Prelude (wife's)
1994 318i
1995 325ic
2000 Z3 roadster
2002 330i
2006 Z4M roadster
2013 M3
2023 M3

[jankisdead]

i do, and then i hit traffic

[Theruleslawyer]

I miss manuals, but to be honest I don't want one in a car I have to daily drive. Its just a hassle. Old auto were so bad that it was worth the trade off on a DD to deal with it in traffic. My DCT is probably 95% of the experience of a manual for me. It shifts amazingly fast. It holds gears. I feel like I'm in control. It just doesn't have a clutch. If I had to choose between a manual and a ZF8 it would be a lot harder.

[JayML]

Attachment 2974649

Originally Posted by Theruleslawyer

I miss manuals, but to be honest I don't want one in a car I have to daily drive. Its just a hassle. Old auto were so bad that it was worth the trade off on a DD to deal with it in traffic. My DCT is probably 95% of the experience of a manual for me. It shifts amazingly fast. It holds gears. I feel like I'm in control. It just doesn't have a clutch. If I had to choose between a manual and a ZF8 it would be a lot harder.

Auto guys always say that. I can get 95% of what I want in an auto. Thats why you drive it. Because its a pain for you. No matter how you try to justify it , an Auto is not 95% of a manual. Its just not. If you feel like you are in control of your auto, that's you trying to convince yourself that its amazing and your so happy. You don't owe anyone any reason for getting what you want. But don't say my auto is the same as a manual.

My brothers 911 PDK is NOTHING like my 911 manual. he agrees. He's just lazy. He likes to do his makeup while driving

[BGM-M3COMP]

It's not 95% of a manual, maybe 90%. It just doesn't have a clutch.

I have both a manual and an auto car. My auto car can do everything my manual car can. Except i have to use a clutch in the manual car.

Auto cars have came a LONG way.

Manual cars used to have the advantage, now they're a disadvantage. People get them because they want to involve themselves more in the drive. Meaning using your left foot, and using your right hand.

An auto allows THE CAR TO DO THE SAME THING, whereas you as a driver don't have to.

[G80indy]

BS
A manual tranny is also about throttle control as it applies to selected gears.
Also skipping gears at discretion ….
not being forced into sequence

Driving manual is about driving the car, not being ferried around

[BGM-M3COMP]

Driver involvement definitely goes to the manual. No question. Because you do have to do work to drive the car. That's obvious.

The other stuff you said is the actual BS. Which is why almost every car maker of elite performance has gone away with manuals.

And the few manuals that are left, their auto counterpart is a lot faster.

[Theruleslawyer]

Originally Posted by JayML

Attachment 2974649

Auto guys always say that. I can get 95% of what I want in an auto. Thats why you drive it. Because its a pain for you. No matter how you try to justify it , an Auto is not 95% of a manual. Its just not. If you feel like you are in control of your auto, that's you trying to convince yourself that its amazing and your so happy. You don't owe anyone any reason for getting what you want. But don't say my auto is the same as a manual.

My brothers 911 PDK is NOTHING like my 911 manual. he agrees. He's just lazy. He likes to do his makeup while driving

I'm not an 'auto guy'. I drove manuals most of my life. I guess it comes down to how important very specific act of a H pattern shifter and clutch is to you.

Almost all the complaints about auto have been resolved in modern DCT transmissions.
* Autos are slow to downshift. A DCT will drop to the lowest gear for the speed before you can get the clutch pressed in.
* Autos won't hold gears. DCTs generally will let bounce off the rev limiter no problem
* Autos are slow to shift on command. DCTs are way way way faster than a human can use a manual.
* Autos will unpredictable shift for you. DCTs in manual mode don't.

I'm not sure how "thottle control as it applies to selected gears" is any different. Both manual and DCT can hold a gear in the same way.

You lose being able to skip gears, Which I'm not sure is a huge deal. I only ever really did that when I was just being lazy.

It comes down to how import a clutch is to you. It asks more of the driver to work it and that's part of driver engagement for sure. Nobody but you can really determine how important that part is for you. However as a driver, a DCT resolves the great majority of complaints about traditional autos.

[G80indy]

If you think advocates of manual are about "Faster" you're highly mistaken.
Enjoyment and attachment to the engine, gearbox and chassis, yes.
Enjoy your automatics

[eluded]

Originally Posted by FreddieDB

Nope. Never stopped.

Same.

I have no idea how to drive an auto. D N P, launch control is soooo confusing

[BGM-M3COMP]

Originally Posted by Theruleslawyer

I'm not an 'auto guy'. I drove manuals most of my life. I guess it comes down to how important very specific act of a H pattern shifter and clutch is to you.

Almost all the complaints about auto have been resolved in modern DCT transmissions.
* Autos are slow to downshift. A DCT will drop to the lowest gear for the speed before you can get the clutch pressed in.
* Autos won't hold gears. DCTs generally will let bounce off the rev limiter no problem
* Autos are slow to shift on command. DCTs are way way way faster than a human can use a manual.
* Autos will unpredictable shift for you. DCTs in manual mode don't.

I'm not sure how "thottle control as it applies to selected gears" is any different. Both manual and DCT can hold a gear in the same way.

You lose being able to skip gears, Which I'm not sure is a huge deal. I only ever really did that when I was just being lazy.

It comes down to how import a clutch is to you. It asks more of the driver to work it and that's part of driver engagement for sure. Nobody but you can really determine how important that part is for you. However as a driver, a DCT resolves the great majority of complaints about traditional autos.

Exactly.

[BMWCCA1]

Do any of you auto/DCT proponents live where you can actually drive and enjoy your car? Or is your preference based on your traffic-clogged daily commute? Living in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, I can't imagine any driving I do being as enjoyable with any automatic as it is with my 128i M-sport 6-speed manual. So glad I don't live in NOVA or DC.

Next you'll be telling us your electronic power-steering somehow offers better feel (in parking?) than my vintage hydraulic steering. Most of the world who has experienced the former will disagree.