330d Auto or manual

[lockstockn2]

i have always owned a manual but never had a diesel. so i dont really have any experience in this area. i have always had a preferance to a manual, because you have the control, and can give it some every now and then. however alot of people seem to have a preferance to the auto in the 330d.

would love to hear any experience with either and wat u all think.
thanks

[4nonymous]

Meh, on that these sorts of cars I will always pick an auto. Day to day, an automatic is really not going to take you away from the 'driving experience'.

It's awesome in those traffic jams, it's good enough on the B-roads, theres the manual mode if you really want to take a little control over the box and that does a good enough job.

Keep the weekenders manual and keep the daily stuff automatic. That's what I say. You definetly won't regret it around town and on the motorwway...well and in traffic.

COpied and pasted from the last discussion we had.

What year mileage etc are you looking at?

[Jespin]

Although in addition to more driver involvement, you can expect another 5 mpg from the manual. I loved mine.

[Dr Dave]

Auto with paddleshifters on the steering wheel, best of both worlds.

[Matt UK]

4nonymous said:

Keep the weekenders manual and keep the daily stuff automatic.

[andyscole]

Get the manual! I test drove both before buying the manual, and the annoying pause before power when pulling out of junctions or onto roundabouts is very frustrating. And the gear ratio's on the 330d are spot on with 1st being plenty long enough..

[B3pete]

If I ever have to go back to driving a manual in the south east you have my permission to shoot me.

[andyscole]

B3pete said:

If I ever have to go back to driving a manual in the south east you have my permission to shoot me.

I agree with you there! So it depends on what roads you'll be using. i live in warwickshire so have less traffic to contend with...

[JNW1]

From a driving point of view I'd say go for the auto. You don't tend to hold the gears in a diesel like you do in a petrol so just waft along on the torque and let the auto keep it in the relatively narrow power band; there is a disbenefit on fuel consumption but in absolute terms the mpg is still pretty good for the performance on offer. For a weekend fun car it's still a manual all the way for me though!

[SJobson]

Matt UK said:

4nonymous said:

Keep the weekenders manual and keep the daily stuff automatic.

Agreed - though quite how that works with a 911 I do not know; too usable to just be a weekend toy.