Manual or Automatic?

mduchesne · 04-12-2005, 01:15 AM

When I went in to order my new 330, I was surprised to hear that only about 1% of the cars that Stevens Creek BMW in San Jose, CA were getting are manual transmissions. Just want to take a poll and see what all the members here would prefer.

Ewrek · 04-12-2005, 03:17 AM

Automatic for me.......with all the iDrive and other buttons to push during driving, I can't comprehend driving manual tranny. Plus I heard it only makes a .4 differnece in the quarter mile. I just want it for the convienence and comfort while still having the juice every now and then, I'm not gonna race or anything.

booforty · 04-12-2005, 04:28 AM

In the UK we love manuals, it lets you drive the 330i the way it should be driven and its much more fun! Can't wait for my E90 330i manual!

a3ndy · 04-12-2005, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ewrek

Automatic for me.......with all the iDrive and other buttons to push during driving, I can't comprehend driving manual tranny. Plus I heard it only makes a .4 differnece in the quarter mile. I just want it for the convienence and comfort while still having the juice every now and then, I'm not gonna race or anything.

I'm with you on that one.

Armen52 · 04-13-2005, 05:18 PM

I'm surprised nobody else is upset that SMG is not available at launch.

I am buying an E90 but I need to buy it by July the latest and I wish that SMG was available at that time, it seems like the perfect compromise between the two to me.

BMWAustin · 04-13-2005, 05:37 PM

I love manual but got a wife who only drives and loves auto...

tim916 · 04-13-2005, 07:51 PM

Automatics are popular here in the USA because it is hard to eat a double cheeseburger and shift at the same time.

Daveop · 04-13-2005, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tim916

Automatics are popular here in the USA because it is hard to eat a double cheeseburger and shift at the same time.

And when you're done with the double cheeseburger, chatting on your cellphone and applying makeup.

mduchesne · 04-13-2005, 08:55 PM

I would be too scared to eat anything in my new 330!

YYdoodle · 04-13-2005, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mduchesne

I would be too scared to eat anything in my new 330!

You showoff

quackman · 04-14-2005, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveO

And when you're done with the double cheeseburger, chatting on your cellphone and applying makeup.

*WHILE you're eating the double cheeseburger, not only after your done with it!

jl215 · 04-14-2005, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quackman

*WHILE you're eating the double cheeseburger, not only after your done with it!

AND, if you're in NY, while flippin someone off

SCA · 04-14-2005, 07:56 AM

During the 80's & 90's BMW NA used to sell approx. 60% manuals and 40% automatics, that has changed. Currently it is approx. 65-70% automatics vs. 30-35% manuals.

A note of interest, if you purchase a manual and later try to sell it yourself, you are more than likely going to have a harder time trying to sell it vs. an automatic, especially in a sedan.

aMetalhead · 04-14-2005, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCA

During the 80's & 90's BMW NA used to sell approx. 60% manuals and 40% automatics, that has changed. Currently it is approx. 65-70% automatics vs. 30-35% manuals.

A note of interest, if you purchase a manual and later try to sell it yourself, you are more than likely going to have a harder time trying to sell it vs. an automatic, especially in a sedan.

Interesting stats. With more and more SMG/paddle shifting types of manuals coming out I wonder what % that will take up.

KUweatherman · 04-14-2005, 12:11 PM

If I were to get one, it'd be automatic. You can always flip it into manual using the steptronic if you want to have a little fun.

SCA · 04-14-2005, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KUweatherman

If I were to get one, it'd be automatic. You can always flip it into manual using the steptronic if you want to have a little fun.

Not the same for some of us, still missing that 3rd pedal.

BMW Enthusiast · 04-14-2005, 01:08 PM

Everyone has a preference, and mine is a manual. I just love bangin through the gears which isn't quite the same with an automatic.

PHE · 04-14-2005, 02:15 PM

Its interesting to see the cultural differences. Manuals are much more popular than automatics in Europe (and probably most of the world). Generally, the only people who drive automatics in Europe are people with a disability. There are two main reasons why we Europeans prefer manuals. 1. If you enjoy driving, you have much more of a feeling that you are in control, and you get much quicker reaction times. 2. We tend to have much more stop-start situations, windier roads and more traffic, so that you need the quicker reaction time to pull away or overtake. Driving an automatic to me would seem dull, and I would not consider it, especially on a performance or sporty car.

SoCalS2k · 04-14-2005, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHE

Generally, the only people who drive automatics in Europe are people with a disability.

I feel like many people here in the states drive like they have a disability (even though they don't)... mainly soccer moms in big SUV's

*no offense to anyone with a disability

deutschmann59 · 04-14-2005, 06:12 PM

Of course automatic is big in the US. Just think about how lazy americans are (including myself)

I mean, it's the end of the world for me when I lose the tv remote. I put more effort in trying to find the darn thing instead of just getting up to change the channel on the tv itself

blackE90 · 06-19-2005, 10:13 PM

manual all the way

steptronic just can't compare

JLBecerra5 · 06-20-2005, 08:04 AM

Manual for sure, I just got my new E90 and i cant stop driving it, they really hit the spot with the manual transmission, it feels amazing!!

View Poll Results: Manual or Automatic?
Manual	168	65.88%
Automatic	87	34.12%
Voters: 255. You may not vote on this poll

04-12-2005, 01:15 AM	#1
mduchesne Private 26 Rep 65 Posts Drives: 06 Jet Black 330i Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (0)	Manual or Automatic? When I went in to order my new 330, I was surprised to hear that only about 1% of the cars that Stevens Creek BMW in San Jose, CA were getting are manual transmissions. Just want to take a poll and see what all the members here would prefer.
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04-12-2005, 03:17 AM	#2
Ewrek Second Lieutenant 58 Rep 200 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA. iTrader: (0)	Automatic for me.......with all the iDrive and other buttons to push during driving, I can't comprehend driving manual tranny. Plus I heard it only makes a .4 differnece in the quarter mile. I just want it for the convienence and comfort while still having the juice every now and then, I'm not gonna race or anything.
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04-12-2005, 04:28 AM	#3
booforty Major General 333 Rep 8,811 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: London, UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 E92 M3 [0.00]	In the UK we love manuals, it lets you drive the 330i the way it should be driven and its much more fun! Can't wait for my E90 330i manual!
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04-13-2005, 05:18 PM	#5
Armen52 Captain 33 Rep 663 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	I'm surprised nobody else is upset that SMG is not available at launch. I am buying an E90 but I need to buy it by July the latest and I wish that SMG was available at that time, it seems like the perfect compromise between the two to me.
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04-13-2005, 05:37 PM	#6
BMWAustin Private First Class 3 Rep 135 Posts Drives: e90 330i Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	I love manual but got a wife who only drives and loves auto...
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04-13-2005, 07:51 PM	#7
tim916 Private First Class 8 Rep 114 Posts Drives: E90 325i Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: RI iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 325i [0.00]	Automatics are popular here in the USA because it is hard to eat a double cheeseburger and shift at the same time.
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04-13-2005, 08:55 PM	#9
mduchesne Private 26 Rep 65 Posts Drives: 06 Jet Black 330i Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (0)	I would be too scared to eat anything in my new 330!
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04-14-2005, 07:56 AM	#13
SCA Brigadier General 565 Rep 3,742 Posts Drives: Multiple BMWs Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: 🇺🇸 iTrader: (0)	During the 80's & 90's BMW NA used to sell approx. 60% manuals and 40% automatics, that has changed. Currently it is approx. 65-70% automatics vs. 30-35% manuals. A note of interest, if you purchase a manual and later try to sell it yourself, you are more than likely going to have a harder time trying to sell it vs. an automatic, especially in a sedan.
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04-14-2005, 12:11 PM	#15
KUweatherman Second Lieutenant 5 Rep 232 Posts Drives: Civic Si Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Birmingham iTrader: (0)	If I were to get one, it'd be automatic. You can always flip it into manual using the steptronic if you want to have a little fun.
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04-14-2005, 01:08 PM	#17
BMW Enthusiast Private 1 Rep 76 Posts Drives: 99 Maxima Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	Everyone has a preference, and mine is a manual. I just love bangin through the gears which isn't quite the same with an automatic.
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04-14-2005, 02:15 PM	#18
PHE New Member 4 Rep 9 Posts Drives: Join Date: Apr 2005 iTrader: (0)	Its interesting to see the cultural differences. Manuals are much more popular than automatics in Europe (and probably most of the world). Generally, the only people who drive automatics in Europe are people with a disability. There are two main reasons why we Europeans prefer manuals. 1. If you enjoy driving, you have much more of a feeling that you are in control, and you get much quicker reaction times. 2. We tend to have much more stop-start situations, windier roads and more traffic, so that you need the quicker reaction time to pull away or overtake. Driving an automatic to me would seem dull, and I would not consider it, especially on a performance or sporty car.
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04-14-2005, 06:12 PM	#20
deutschmann59 Captain 174 Rep 737 Posts Drives: 2006 325i Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: e90post.com iTrader: (0)	Of course automatic is big in the US. Just think about how lazy americans are (including myself) I mean, it's the end of the world for me when I lose the tv remote. I put more effort in trying to find the darn thing instead of just getting up to change the channel on the tv itself
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06-19-2005, 10:13 PM	#21
blackE90 Private First Class 17 Rep 148 Posts Drives: sp blk 330i Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: east coast iTrader: (0)	manual all the way steptronic just can't compare
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06-20-2005, 08:04 AM	#22
JLBecerra5 Enlisted Member 11 Rep 41 Posts Drives: 2005 325i Silver Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Miami iTrader: (0)	Manual for sure, I just got my new E90 and i cant stop driving it, they really hit the spot with the manual transmission, it feels amazing!!
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