Downgrade or give up?

[Patrick Bateman]

TameRacingDriver said:

She nearly soiled herself even she commented on its handling by the end!

I'm honestly over the moon with it. That one drive was more fun than any I had in the Z4!

I can imagine the auto blunting the experience significantly. Did you purposefully look for an auto at the time or was it a case of right car at the right time appearing?

A bit like a boxster with a slushbox, never saw the appeal myself.

[cerb4.5lee]

Patrick Bateman said:

TameRacingDriver said:

She nearly soiled herself even she commented on its handling by the end!

I'm honestly over the moon with it. That one drive was more fun than any I had in the Z4!

I can imagine the auto blunting the experience significantly. Did you purposefully look for an auto at the time or was it a case of right car at the right time appearing?

The auto does ruin everything that is great about the N52 engine and the OP did give me a little bit of solace when he used to say good things about the auto.

I've regretted compromising with the auto in my 330i ever since I bought it, I've tried to convince myself that it's just a boring family car(which it is in fairness), yet I can't tell you how much I still hanker after a manual gearbox and for me it makes so much difference to a car.

[TameRacingDriver]

Unfortunately not driven the manual to compare, but in hindsight, it would have been the better choice. The novelty of it was fun for a while and it was always good to go to work in. However, it was more complex, the car more thirsty I assume since I barely ever got more than low 20s MPG, and I did sometimes wish I had the manual on a fun drive... and of course, this problem would never have occurred. Still, its a car off my bucket list.