Great M5 advert. Shame it shows a gearbox we cant have...

[edo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDuxWGHA-Z4&fea...

[carl_w]

Seems surprisingly vocal for a turbo. Yes I know about the in-cabin sound generator.

[XKjimmy]

Love the high speed camera footage Seems to sound different in some of the cuts, sure I can here the Inline 6 and V10 in there somewhere. think its 54-56 seconds.

Edited by XKjimmy on Wednesday 27th June 00:32

[s m]

Looks like the new M3 will have no manual option either - just gets a similar box to the M5 for the 450bhp turbo straight six. Wonder if the U.S. will be offered a manual?

[vescaegg]

Why do Americans get a manual?!

[wst]

vescaegg said:

Why do Americans get a manual?!

Anti-theft device.

[SturdyHSV]

wst said:

Anti-theft device.

[300bhp/ton]

vescaegg said:

Why do Americans get a manual?!

Because despite popular British misconception, American's actually like manuals in performance vehicles, e.g. Vipers where manual only, top spec Vettes (z06, ZR1) are manual only vehicles, top spec Mustangs (Cobra, Shelby) are manual only cars. Or at the very least they like the choice of a manual in a performance car.

[edo]

300bhp/ton said:

vescaegg said:

Why do Americans get a manual?!

Because despite popular British misconception, American's actually like manuals in performance vehicles, e.g. Vipers where manual only, top spec Vettes (z06, ZR1) are manual only vehicles, top spec Mustangs (Cobra, Shelby) are manual only cars. Or at the very least they like the choice of a manual in a performance car.

All true, and agreed. Just don't understand why we don't get the option either.

[kambites]

edo said:

300bhp/ton said:

vescaegg said:

Why do Americans get a manual?!

Because despite popular British misconception, American's actually like manuals in performance vehicles, e.g. Vipers where manual only, top spec Vettes (z06, ZR1) are manual only vehicles, top spec Mustangs (Cobra, Shelby) are manual only cars. Or at the very least they like the choice of a manual in a performance car.

All true, and agreed. Just don't understand why we don't get the option either.

Because by and large, the British don't want manual gearboxes in their performance cars any more.

That and the fact that we drive on the left.

[300bhp/ton]

kambites said:

edo said:

300bhp/ton said:

vescaegg said:

Why do Americans get a manual?!

Because despite popular British misconception, American's actually like manuals in performance vehicles, e.g. Vipers where manual only, top spec Vettes (z06, ZR1) are manual only vehicles, top spec Mustangs (Cobra, Shelby) are manual only cars. Or at the very least they like the choice of a manual in a performance car.

All true, and agreed. Just don't understand why we don't get the option either.

Because by and large, the British don't want manual gearboxes in their performance cars any more.

That and the fact that we drive on the left.

Sadly I suspect you are right. While many of us enthusiast would always opt for a manual, it does make you wonder how many actual punters would. And being RHD makes us a more niche market.

Do BMW sell manual versions in Oz though?

[wst]

300bhp/ton said:

kambites said:

edo said:

300bhp/ton said:

vescaegg said:

Why do Americans get a manual?!

Because despite popular British misconception, American's actually like manuals in performance vehicles, e.g. Vipers where manual only, top spec Vettes (z06, ZR1) are manual only vehicles, top spec Mustangs (Cobra, Shelby) are manual only cars. Or at the very least they like the choice of a manual in a performance car.

All true, and agreed. Just don't understand why we don't get the option either.

Because by and large, the British don't want manual gearboxes in their performance cars any more.

That and the fact that we drive on the left.

Sadly I suspect you are right. While many of us enthusiast would always opt for a manual, it does make you wonder how many actual punters would. And being RHD makes us a more niche market.

Do BMW sell manual versions in Oz though?

What's the difference between an LHD and RHD gearstick? It's still in the middle, 1 is still on the left, top is still on the right?

[300bhp/ton]

wst said:

hat's the difference between an LHD and RHD gearstick? It's still in the middle, 1 is still on the left, top is still on the right?

You might want a different linkage as they are often angled. Plus other trim items might be in the way on RHD. But it's more the clutch pedal maybe and cylinder. Plus the assembly cost.

[jon-]

I might be way off, but isn't the manual gearbox actually crap, and offered mainly to do with emissions test reasons in certain states?

This is of course, probably internet hearsay.

[omgus]

jon- said:

I might be way off, but isn't the manual gearbox actually crap, and offered mainly to do with emissions test reasons in certain states?

This is of course, probably internet hearsay.

The Old V10 M5 manual was alledged to be have strange ratios and not be the final word in refinement, but then i have heard terrible things about the SMG box as well.
Interestingly the only person i know who has had an M3 in both the UK and US opted against the stick shift both times.

[Contigo]

SMGIII is a great box so don't let rumours put you off. It just takes some getting used to.

I'm going to test drive the F10 to see how it compares to the E6x.

[Captain Muppet]

300bhp/ton said:

wst said:

hat's the difference between an LHD and RHD gearstick? It's still in the middle, 1 is still on the left, top is still on the right?

You might want a different linkage as they are often angled. Plus other trim items might be in the way on RHD. But it's more the clutch pedal maybe and cylinder. Plus the assembly cost.

On RHD cars the clutch master cylinder is stuffed next to the engine (and in longitudinal engines the clutch pedal floor bulge is where the gearbox bellhousing and sometimes exhaust wants to be), in LHD cars it's in empty space near the side of the car. Design with no RHD manual version and the engine can go further back with the handling/pedestrian/crash advantages that gives.

[soad]

wst said:

vescaegg said:

Why do Americans get a manual?!

Anti-theft device.

[Disastrous]

That looked pretty computer generated to me, balloons especially. Hope they did it for real but I doubt it...

(also, when the camera pans out at the end to show the three installations, there's no sign of the close up cameras that filmed each one individually. Could be a separate take and they cleared the set I suppose but I dunno...Didn't look right)

[firman]

and to think I posted this earlier last night http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... and not a single reply <goesofftothecornertofeelnegleted>