Prior Convictions: The disappearing manual M-car
BMW ponders the future of the manual gearbox. Prior recalls Subbuteo's proposed early bath.
Mostly Hacker's talking about how nice it'll be to make more GTS and CSL-style models. Demand is there, after all, for limited-run, driver-focused BMWs for keen drivers to swoon over. You know: the limited-edition sort that sells out, keeps the brand front of mind, that sort of thing.
But then, not unreasonably, he's asked about manuals.
"I like manual very much," Hacker says, like a soon to be ex-partner complimenting you on how nice you are - really, you are - before announcing they've met somebody far more attractive. "But the take-up rate from customers on cars other than the M2 is just going down," he says. "The fact is that a double-clutch gearbox delivers better performance and efficiency." And, you know, it tidies up after itself, cooks dinner, puts on a shirt when we're going out, pays into the joint account when it should. It's not you, it's me. But it's also you. Actually it's mostly you.
And so the implication is clear enough. Manuals? Forget 'em. But we've been here before, haven't we? And it's hard not to be cynical, but it sounds like when they threatened to take Subbeteo off sale. Everyone had to say: "But we really want a manual 911 GT3" before Porsche relented. And Americans had to really ask for a manual BMW M5? - ?but then they got one.
And this talk about more efficiency and better performance? It's true, certainly. But on the E60 M5 launch, a car which had the SMG single-clutch automated gearbox, I remember engineers being asked about a new dual-clutch transmission that a different manufacturer had just launched. We asked: "Have you tried one? Because it seems like the future." Ja ja, they said (I paraphrase), but there's more to life than instantaneous shifts. This SMG gearbox is more emotional.
It wasn't, though it's a decent reply. And one they might like to apply to the manual transmission, and remember this time around.
Inspired? Buy a BMW M2 here
On the face of it this will not make me safer on road or on a track day, and means I am having to think and manage the car to the conditions. I do this however because I enjoy it and I also firmly believe it makes me a better driver overall and requires me to be in the moment when I am driving - aware, working on the job on hand, and above all else enjoying it
Before manufacturers go charging off into the future with self-driving, electric whisper and automated everything they need to be acknowledge that part of their market wants to do all this stuff themselves. Failing to deliver suitable vehicles for this part of the market means I for one am neither a customer nor a fan
...que rant about automatic lights being on all the time as people have forgotten to drive with courtesy to oncoming traffic and seem to not mind blinding everyone with full beam when they should be on side lights....
BMW don't have the same cachet regarding their halo models nor profit per vehicle and therefore there isn't the money to develop two gearbox options. Which do you choose? The DSG! With the hope that punters wanting lesser models will spec the DSG from the options list just because "that's what the best one has".
Also, for many, a large number of the buyers are buying as an extension of their ego. "My car is faster than your's, mine has DSG, this, that and other". "The DSG is faster". It's all about the projecting their superior machinery as an extension of their own capabilities and in such a mind set, who would expose themselves to a fluffed gear change or a stalled hill start?
I believe that over 70% of cars that are sold in Britain today have a manual gearbox. So, automatics are still the minority. Regardless of heavy traffic or the fact that these dual-clutch systems can shift faster than we ever could, that doesn't seem to be putting many off.
I do get what you're saying. My commute is a nightmare, as was re-highlighted to me particularly, last night. It's generally less than 10 miles there an back but it's close the Manchester city centre. It's almost completely stop/start and is pretty awful.
I actually really want an automatic. Not just for the above reason(s) but also because i'm generally getting a bit bored of driving a manual. However, despite all of this, i'm just not convinced that manufacturers should stop giving us the choice.
BMW also don't make very nice manual gearboxes if the last few late ones I've driven are any guide. Horrible, agricultural feeling shift quality, although admittedly these weren't M cars.
We all come to this site because we like cars and we like driving, so I'd hope almost everyone here would fight the manual box's corner. But I bet even on here a big chunk of us would shy away from ticking the "manual" box on the spec sheet. And that's on here! The fact is, we aren't the majority. We're outnumbered 100:1 by people who only want a car that delivers the better numbers or gets them around with little fuss. So how can we seriously expect businesses to put themselves out of pocket developing products for a tiny slither of customers. I wish it wasn't the case...
We are lucky to have both manual & auto in the family fleet and we love them both, they both have their place. Having lived with a good auto in the family barge I would never go manual again for this workhorse .... but as for the other two more 'fun' orientated vehicles (one is still used for a commute btw) both are manual and they are great. We live in south Mcr and yes the roads are busy but we still find plenty of time to enjoy the control of a manual on the road, be it sunrise blasts round N Wales, trips to the NW Highlands or just nipping out to the Peak District for a pint.
Would I prefer a manual sports car - yes probably.
Would I buy an automatic sports car - tricky but yes probably would given how good some boxes are now. The new Alpine could well tempt me in to an auto sports car if it is as good as we all hope, all the other attributes look perfect for my tastes. Would I have preferred the option to choose manual vs auto in this new sports car .... absolutely !!
My commute takes me across 33 miles and except for the one (badly-excuted) town-bypass and the end-town, I'm on open roads and not crawling in traffic. Note this is the Midlands, not the wild North or (heaven forbid) Scotland...
I REALLY wish people in the SE would stop assuming the rest of the country is as miserable to drive in as their locale.
The only time I wish I had an auto is when I subject myself to the M25 (or occasionally the M6).
(Full disclosure - born and brought up in SE, still visit regularly)
Different matter where I live in the Scottish Highlands though, where this:
.....and that third pedal:
...makes for a completely satisfying and totally involving driving experience.
However, if I had to return to live back down in Englandshire I'd almost certainly want an auto of some description.
How sad is that.
The interaction between driver and acceleration and the added control element of a manual gearbox with a third pedal is something that should be offered on many more performance cars.
The manufacturer over-focus on pure 0-60 times and drivers becoming more lazy is not a good combination for the future of manuals.
With that in mind my next toy machine is going to be a manual gearbox, that is for sure.
If the modern day selection is not to offer one then I'll happily dial back time and get something from a decade ago.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff