Has anyone ever grown to like an auto?

Has anyone ever grown to like an auto?

Poll: Has anyone ever grown to like an auto?

Total Members Polled: 241

I must have a manual gearbox: 13
I prefer a manual box, but auto's ok: 56
I'm not bothered: 22
I prefer autos: 152
Author
Discussion

RobM77

Original Poster:

35,349 posts

233 months

Wednesday 17th July 2019
quotequote all
Has anyone here been an auto box cynic and has since been converted?

With each generation, BMW are decreasing the number of their models available with manual boxes, buyers of new cars are going for manuals less and less, and my choice is starting to feel limited. The trouble is, I've recently spent a day with an auto (2017 F30 320d, ZF-8 speed auto) and whilst it was ok for A to B transport and I'd recommend one to others, I just didn't like it. Has anyone experienced similar, got an auto anyway (for example if they wanted a 330d or 335d), and then grown to like it?

As some background, I've owned 2 x E36, 1 x E46, 1 x E86 and 2 x E90 BMWs, all with manual gearboxes. I live in the countryside, work on the edge of a small market town and hardly ever drive in stop and start traffic. Most of my 76 mile a day commute looks like Cadwell Park; all NSL or 50mph with constant tight corners and rises and falls of gradient. I do 25k miles a year, mostly on that commute, but also a fair amount of towing a large and heavy trailer. Current car is a 320d with Birds suspension and a manual 'box. Obviously my choices are cars such as the Giulia (auto only), XE (auto in all but one model) and BMW 330d (auto only), or of course another manual 320d and straight to Birds. Having recently become a Dad and changed to a much heavier racing car to tow I've also toyed with going bigger for a 5 series, E Class etc, and obviously then auto is the predominant 'box on the market....

Any thoughts? driving

cerb4.5lee

30,176 posts

179 months

Wednesday 17th July 2019
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I've had a mix of both over the years(currently have 2 manuals and 1 auto). When I only had auto only cars I really missed the third pedal and rowing the gearbox. Although I can appreciate an auto in heavy stop/start traffic and I do personally think that an auto really suits a diesel engine...and that they make the best of their power delivery/vast torque.

If I only had 1 car it would be a three pedal manual all day long for me.

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 17th July 2019
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My daily is an auto, Peugeot 3008.

It does the job, has 6 gears and is 3asy to drive.

It also changes gear at just the wrong time, as far as I'm concerned, so forever dropping between normal and sport.

Couldn't ever see me getting to "like" it

ndreaw

20 posts

59 months

Wednesday 17th July 2019
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I like my auto.
I only had manuals (and petrols) before but now I have a 330d. Max rpm is 4.5k I think, and it pulls from 800rpm onwards. So why have a manual? If I got another petrol I would probably get an auto as well since it's easier and the new boxes are even better than the E92 like I have now (which I don't actually have any problem with), although there is something to be said for having a petrol that you can whack in 2nd/3rd and scream past everyone at 8000rpm. Oh wait.. you can do that with an auto if you put it in M and use the paddles biggrin

HM-2

12,467 posts

168 months

Wednesday 17th July 2019
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I drove the M140i with both the manual and the auto, before deciding on the auto.
It wasn't even a close contest; the manual 'box isn't that great from an action or feel perspective and the auto is just incredible.

E-bmw

9,102 posts

151 months

Wednesday 17th July 2019
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I regularly drive hire cars due to work & they seem to be increasingly auto & I find them completely loathfull.

Never been in one that did what I want, as above, they always do what you don't want, and never do what you do want.

Manual all day every day, autos are always going to be a bad compromise as far as I am concerned.

bmwmike

6,918 posts

107 months

Wednesday 17th July 2019
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Used to be manual boxes all the way for me until I got my f10 - n53 engine, 7000 rpm limit, and manual mode on the ZF8 box leaves little to be desired. I don't miss a manual and the extra gearing helps shuffle the f10 along nicely, and it changes gears far more quickly than a manual box would. Auto for me next time.

jv021

60 posts

94 months

Wednesday 17th July 2019
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I've accepted that autos are better most of the time.

The latest ZF8's are very good and makes the switch more tolerable.

Whilst a manual is far more fun to drive, the times i really can enjoy them properly is limited so unless it's a weekend car, autos all the way. My mindset was changed by chance as the car I wanted was next to impossible to find as a manual, so a tired an 8 speed auto... It just made so much sense as a daily driver, so I bought it!!

Billy_Whizzzz

1,989 posts

142 months

Wednesday 17th July 2019
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Would only ever have a manual, although I’ve bought an old e61 530d M sport touring to run alongside my manual M2 Comp and the 530 has the ZF auto and by god it’s dimwitted. Would never consider an auto in a proper car. All my M3s/Caterhams/Lotus/911s/other BMWs have all been manuals

Jasey_

4,823 posts

177 months

Wednesday 17th July 2019
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Drove manuals for the first 30 years of my driving "career" and thought I would never go Auto.

Had a z4 35iS with the DCT and then a 435d & 640d with the ZF Auto and have definitely grown lo like autos.

But I still prefer manual for "fun" - Shame fun is harder to come by nowadays !


Nerdherder

1,773 posts

96 months

Wednesday 17th July 2019
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ZF8 worked like it should in my 330e. No complaints and I really liked it. The gearstick spent almost zero time in the normal position though. If I’d have any complaint it would be that the flappy paddles were in an awkward position on the steering wheel for me and I hardly ever used them anyway. Should not have optioned them.

An older gt3 Sita in my dreamgarage, that can’t and shouldn’t be an auto ofcourse.

Edited by Nerdherder on Wednesday 17th July 20:55

hilly10

7,076 posts

227 months

Wednesday 17th July 2019
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I often have to drive into and out the other side of Birmingham some morning. I chose to do it in 5 Series Touring Auto and it’s wonderful and relaxing. I then go out on a nice dry day in my TR6 the roads are not that busy and I have a great drive with a manual. It’s horses for courses.

RDMcG

19,093 posts

206 months

Wednesday 17th July 2019
quotequote all
I think it depends on the nature of your driving. Mine is mixed- some long trips and other times when I am tootling around dense city traffic. For the latter I tend to use an auto. I have even considered an EV but not yet.. Heavy traffic for me is a boring chore so the auto is just more relaxing. If I have a change to actually drive I tend to go manual.

Edited by RDMcG on Wednesday 17th July 21:05

Nerdherder

1,773 posts

96 months

Wednesday 17th July 2019
quotequote all
hilly10 said:
I often have to drive into and out the other side of Birmingham some morning. I chose to do it in 5 Series Touring Auto and it’s wonderful and relaxing. I then go out on a nice dry day in my TR6 the roads are not that busy and I have a great drive with a manual. It’s horses for courses.
Now that’s a great pair of cars to have at your disposal!

BFleming

3,589 posts

142 months

Wednesday 17th July 2019
quotequote all
Of the 30+ cars I've owned, only a few were auto...
1997 Saab 9-5 2.-LPT with the 4 speed Aisin Warner box
2001 VW Passat 2.3 V5 Tip (5 speed)
1972 Mercedes 250 2.8 (4 speed box)
and my current 2013 BMW 525d (2.0).
I must admit the 8 speed ZF 8HP bos in the 5 series is superb. I added paddles a couple of weeks ago, along with 2TB coding (for sport settings) and now it's excellent. A colleague had a 2015 520d 6 speed manual, and it reminds me what I don't miss about the manual - the gearstick shakes at idle (just like my old E90 used to), and it's a heavy enough shift action. Bigger cars suit an auto box more, and the F10/F11 are big cars.
I have a manual F20 too though, along with a manual Boxster 986 2.7, so I get my fix.

RobM77

Original Poster:

35,349 posts

233 months

Thursday 18th July 2019
quotequote all
Thanks guys. Given the twisty A, B and C roads I commute down, I'm thinking that sticking with a manual might be the more sensible choice. I only very rarely drive in towns and/or traffic. The extra power of a 30d engine would be nice towing, but I'm not sure it's worth switching to an auto for.

Krikkit

26,500 posts

180 months

Thursday 18th July 2019
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RobM77 said:
Thanks guys. Given the twisty A, B and C roads I commute down, I'm thinking that sticking with a manual might be the more sensible choice. I only very rarely drive in towns and/or traffic. The extra power of a 30d engine would be nice towing, but I'm not sure it's worth switching to an auto for.
I'd agree with that.

My preference for auto/manual depends entirely on the car and the use - for twisty roads where some fun can be had, a manual is best. Any kind of regular traffic and auto is definitely the way. There are car-based rules for that though, obviously a big wafty barge, even if you want to use it down a B-road most of the time, isn't appropriate as a manual. e.g. 7-series.


NDA

21,485 posts

224 months

Thursday 18th July 2019
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Auto with a paddle shift would be my choice.... Auto only (if such a thing exists) would not be much fun.

Most performance cars have paddle shifts only - and I guess are therefore 'auto'.

Touring442

3,096 posts

208 months

Thursday 18th July 2019
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My preference for automatics mirrors my decreasing interest in driving. My current 525d is an auto, I wouldn't entertain a manual. Before that I had an 08 Golf GTI and specifically wanted a 6 speed manual because of what it was, and didn't fancy a massive bill for a fked DSG. laugh

I think my ideal new car would be a 320d or 330d Touring, and a manual box just wouldn't even register. For modern everyday driving (mainly town for me), manual boxes are about as desirable as halogen headlamps. I'm not adverse to manuals and for hot hatches I can see the appeal. That and the expense of renewing a clutch and DMF, often at lowish mileages puts me off.

RobM77

Original Poster:

35,349 posts

233 months

Thursday 18th July 2019
quotequote all
Touring442 said:
That and the expense of renewing a clutch and DMF, often at lowish mileages puts me off.
I've never had to change a clutch in any of my cars; I'm not sure that's something to factor in to cost of ownership. Considering the abuse my current clutch gets with the clutch delay valve, towing a trailer and the ED's ludicrously long final drive, that says a lot about clutch longevity.