E46 manual vs auto

[twoblacklines]

Got bored of my a3 s-tronic and thinking about selling it for an E46 330ci coupe.

Found a few I like but a bit stuck between choosing manaul vs steptronic.

I get along well with autos but find them a bit boring if they are not DCT.

But on the flipside I hate being stuck in traffic with a manual car.

Has anyone owned both?

I am looking at spending below £10k so if I spend £8k should get me a nice 2005 with around 40k miles. Or I could spend £5k and get a 2003 FL with 70k miles. Which would you buy?

[twoblacklines]

AB said:

Owned a 330Ci Manual and extensively driven both 330Ci and 330Cd in auto.

Auto is lazy but works ok, not much fun in the petrol. Very well suited to the diesel IMO.

Manual for the petrol, it too can be used quite lazily with not much gear changing needed if you don't want to.

That is what puts me off manuals - experience with manual cars = mainly 2.0 tdi's, constant changing of gears, annoying quite quickly.

[twoblacklines]

Why financial suicide? Surely the higher the mileage and higher the age, the more likely the expensive parts will fail and that will actually lead to financial suicide?

Not that either matter to me as I have quite a high expendable income monthly, due to no credit and minimal outgoings.

[twoblacklines]

What do you guys think of this? Only 25 miles from me http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Is it quite high spec wise?

[twoblacklines]

Heart over head?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

[twoblacklines]

It is stty spec, 0 satnav let alone Pro media money. Early 335i SE with no spec.

[twoblacklines]

Any more opinions?