M2 Owners - Manual or DCT?
Discussion
JNW1 said:
Billy_Whizzzz said:
What's the gearing like in the manual? I have a manual m140i and the gearing is annoyingly short in 6th. I love the car with the gearbox - just wish 6th was longer. Been wondering about an M2 so keen to know about final drive in 6th compared with auto in top...
Can't help with the gearing on the M2 I'm afraid but how short is short on the manual M140i - roughly how many revs is it pulling at 70mph in top? xjay1337 said:
Same issue on audi a4 etc. Causes me a lot of knee pain.
Id have to have an auto in those models.
My wife's A4 has a weird driving position. The steering wheel is about an inch off centre to the right.Id have to have an auto in those models.
Back on topic, I'd have the manual all day long. Many BMW salesfolk that I've talked to seem to be swept along by the BMW machine that pushes all their latest tech and are surprised when I've asked for a manual. But I see that Porsche are selling manuals again in the GT3 after not supplying them in the last version, so the demand for a much more engaging drive is still out there.
bennyboysvuk said:
My wife's A4 has a weird driving position. The steering wheel is about an inch off centre to the right.
Back on topic, I'd have the manual all day long. Many BMW salesfolk that I've talked to seem to be swept along by the BMW machine that pushes all their latest tech and are surprised when I've asked for a manual. But I see that Porsche are selling manuals again in the GT3 after not supplying them in the last version, so the demand for a much more engaging drive is still out there.
Quite. I know slushers are faster and easier if you're old or lazy but I have never, ever heard of them being more fun, in any application. Back on topic, I'd have the manual all day long. Many BMW salesfolk that I've talked to seem to be swept along by the BMW machine that pushes all their latest tech and are surprised when I've asked for a manual. But I see that Porsche are selling manuals again in the GT3 after not supplying them in the last version, so the demand for a much more engaging drive is still out there.
Slightly off topic, but a pal and I were having a chat with one of the Renault Alpine engineers at the Geneva motorshow. We asked him whether there was a plan to fit a manual. He said "You're English, yes?" and laughed. He was clear that this predilection for 3 pedals is a curiously British thing, and that we all fancy ourselves as Button / Hamilton wannabes.
I suspect he had a point.
Anyway... if I were getting an M2 it would be manual.
I suspect he had a point.
Anyway... if I were getting an M2 it would be manual.
Gruber said:
Slightly off topic, but a pal and I were having a chat with one of the Renault Alpine engineers at the Geneva motorshow. We asked him whether there was a plan to fit a manual. He said "You're English, yes?" and laughed. He was clear that this predilection for 3 pedals is a curiously British thing, and that we all fancy ourselves as Button / Hamilton wannabes.
I suspect he had a point.
Anyway... if I were getting an M2 it would be manual.
He does.I suspect he had a point.
Anyway... if I were getting an M2 it would be manual.
Alot of my mates prefer manuals. IMHO only a handful actually know how to 'drive' a manual ; i.e be in the right gear at the right time, and even rev-match, and heel and toe ; half can't even do that!
Despite people saying it gives more control I still reckon it's a dick length thing of trying to be a 'driver'.
But then again I'm happy to confess that I am no Hamilton by a long shot.
Gruber said:
Slightly off topic, but a pal and I were having a chat with one of the Renault Alpine engineers at the Geneva motorshow. We asked him whether there was a plan to fit a manual. He said "You're English, yes?" and laughed. He was clear that this predilection for 3 pedals is a curiously British thing, and that we all fancy ourselves as Button / Hamilton wannabes.
Not just the Brits, but there are many vocal supporters of manuals in a little market called the U.S., where autos have always been the norm and manuals are considered the enthusiasts' choice. The U.S. was the only market where the E60 M5 and F10 M5 were offered in manual.Of course, Renault cars aren't sold in the US so I'll excuse that particular engineer's ignorance
SebringMan said:
Despite people saying it gives more control I still reckon it's a dick length thing of trying to be a 'driver'.
It does give more control.One really basic example is to compare getting the thing off the line using launch control in the DCT version vs doing it with the manual gearbox and no launch control. The latter is almost infinitely variable and much more interactive. The former is like lighting the taper and sitting back to let the car deal with the fireworks.
Patrick Bateman said:
Have driven the DCT, not the manual.
DCT, though objectively better, takes a lot away from the driving experience for me.
I've (sadly!) not driven either a manual or DCT M2 but I think your comment above can be applied to many modern autos; very few drivers are able to change gear consistently as well as a good auto can and around a track I'm sure most of us would be quicker with DCT. However, for many involvement is an important part of the driving experience and in that respect I think a manual is more satisfying to use; for a weekend toy, therefore, that's still what I'd choose.DCT, though objectively better, takes a lot away from the driving experience for me.
However, for a daily driver I have to admit I'd probably now go auto, especially if the commute involved a reasonable proportion of stop/start traffic; might just be me getting old but after a long day at work there are times when I don't really want to be that involved!
Gruber said:
He was clear that this predilection for 3 pedals is a curiously British thing, and that we all fancy ourselves as Button / Hamilton wannabes.
Quite the opposite..... Hamilton, Button, and in fact all modern race car drivers, use flappy paddles. This was the problem in the first place when Ferrari introduced the F1 gearbox with flappy paddles, helping said owner believe he was an F1 driver. Marketing department BS. Ursicles said:
Had a test drive in an M2 today and really rather liked it.
Dealer was trying to convince me to jump into one of their cancelled orders (Stephen James Ruxley if anyone looking have a black and white one coming in both cancelled orders) but both were DCT.
When i said i would prefer a manual, he said i was crazy, so wondering what people have bought here?
(And glad i held out as came back to find out about the M2 updates - minor, but still prefer the newer LCI car )
They are canceled for a reason, way overpriced.Dealer was trying to convince me to jump into one of their cancelled orders (Stephen James Ruxley if anyone looking have a black and white one coming in both cancelled orders) but both were DCT.
When i said i would prefer a manual, he said i was crazy, so wondering what people have bought here?
(And glad i held out as came back to find out about the M2 updates - minor, but still prefer the newer LCI car )
P.Griffin said:
xjay1337 said:
you feel like your feet and legs are going to the right.
Same issue on audi a4 etc. Causes me a lot of knee pain.
Please forgive me if you have a genuine disability but I find this statement a ridiculous over exaggeration. If not I'd consider going to the gym or seeing a physio. Same issue on audi a4 etc. Causes me a lot of knee pain.
Edited by P.Griffin on Friday 12th May 14:23
After I got it I read about the offset pedals which I had never noticed, checked the next time I was in the car and sure enough they are offset, and then forgot about it. It's not an issue unless you really focus on it but I'm having too much fun to do that
I went for the manual as I prefer the engagement, the M2 is my DD and I love it. Use it to commute and have done a few track days. It can pootle in traffic and go nuts when you want it too. The rev-matching on down-shifts can be annoying (blipping the throttle in town can make you look like a knob) but works well and not a massive issue.
Buy want [i[]you[/i] want, not what the sales guy says you want.
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