[Bimmerfun82]

Originally Posted by M_Power Rob

Here is my issue, people claiming, ir pushing, that a manual is more fun (or even engaging). How many of you have run the 1/4 down an NHRA drag strip?

I am sure I have over 200 runs at Gainesville Raceway. Most real drag cars are autos or forms of autos. Is it fun, hell yes. Is it exhilirating, hell yes. Is it engaging, hell yes. Would I want to do it in a manual, hell no. Can the same fun be had driving on the street, of course. When I purchased the G87, my intention was to build it to 700+/600+ beginning after the breakin service (not something I would do with the manual for multiple reasons).

I have owned and driven manuals over the years. Were they fun, yes. Were they engaging, yes. The thing is, between my intentions and my driving location in South Florida, its just not what I want.

Bottom line, is there a right or wrong, no...and nobody should be criticized or made fun of for their decision. When people are, they tend to push back or defend themselves.

I say get what you want and what makes sense for your intentions with the car. I’ve had several manuals in suburban Atlanta and California, and they were all superior driving experiences for me. Manual 330, M5, corvette, E46 M3, F80 M3. I’m really excited about the manual M4 on order. We have great roads here to enjoy the driving engagement. I’ve been enjoying my Z4, but it’s a bit boring after a while. Manual makes joy drives that much more interesting and engaging.

[M_Power Rob]

Originally Posted by Geighty7

I mean the M2 is not a drag car so I’m not sure the point you’re making between an auto or manual serves that exact example as purpose.

BUT- I do agree with you on the no right or wrong answer.

Well, thats where you are wrong. Any car can be drag raced. There are people running front wheel drive Hondas that would make your jaw drop.

There are a number of people and race teans running the M2 M3 & M4 in the 1/8 and 1/4 mi. Street legal G8Xs with stage 2 tunes and stock internals (they are fully forged so no reason to doubt them) are running in the 9s. That is nothing to slouch at.

[Geighty7]

Originally Posted by M_Power Rob

Well, thats where you are wrong. Any car can be drag raced. There are people running front wheel drive Hondas that would make your jaw drop.

There are a number of people and race teans running the M2 M3 & M4 in the 1/8 and 1/4 mi. Street legal G8Xs with stage 2 tunes and stock internals (they are fully forged so no reason to doubt them) are running in the 9s. That is nothing to slouch at.

Oh yeah I’ve seen it, but I think the car serves its purpose on a track over the drag strip, but hey the S58 can do it all.

Regardless, the ZF8 does its job competitively around a track and if some wish, on the strip.


I prefer a 6MT in the G87 personally but I’m not an automatic hater. It’s much harder to heel-toe into a 90 degree turn than flick the fingers. But maybe that’s why I like the challenge!

[apez]

Have had the car for 4 days now, first manual car in 9 years. Coming from a G42, other car is an X3. Owned MT Acura TSX and 98 VW Jetta previously. Drove my father's 74 911 and 98 968 occasionally, including on the track.

I am enjoying the hell out of the manual. I know it isn't as fast and it would suck in long durations of stop and go traffic, but I am so happy.

The feel of the engine vibrating via the stick. Reving higher up the rev range then needed even in casual driving. Downshifting with rev match. The sounds of the gears slotting into place. Auto breaking on hill starts? Love it. Just as good or better experience then any manual I have driven in the past.

I have never had so much fun going to the grocery store.



Now if I could just master the 1st to 2nd shift....

[MMMGuy60]

Originally Posted by apez

Have had the car for 4 days now, first manual car in 9 years. Coming from a G42, other car is an X3. Owned MT Acura TSX and 98 VW Jetta previously. Drove my father's 74 911 and 98 968 occasionally, including on the track.

I am enjoying the hell out of the manual. I know it isn't as fast and it would suck in long durations of stop and go traffic, but I am so happy.

The feel of the engine vibrating via the stick. Reving higher up the rev range then needed even in casual driving. Downshifting with rev match. The sounds of the gears slotting into place. Auto breaking on hill starts? Love it. Just as good or better experience then any manual I have driven in the past.

I have never had so much fun going to the grocery store.



Now if I could just master the 1st to 2nd shift....

1st to 2nd can be smooth if you slow it down once you release the clutch to the friction zone. If you are in a hurry, you release to the same friction zone but you slip the clutch a little as you release the rest of the clutch.

[RudyPolanski]

Originally Posted by moodyhank82

I would personally buy an M240 xdrive with the cooling and tire package if I was considering an auto G87. To me the main reason to get the G80 or G87 over the M340 or M240 xDrive is the manual option.

Love the consideration. I have an M240iX. So loved it I have an M2 on order (MT), but still wondering if I'm doing the right thing. AWD auto and rear wheel drive manual. Still sticking with the plan.

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by RudyPolanski

Love the consideration. I have an M240iX. So loved it I have an M2 on ordered (MT), but still wondering if I'm doing the right thing. AWD auto and rear wheel drive manual. Still sticking with the plan.

All my Ms for 24 years have been manuals. As others have said, they are more engaging and give you more flexibility. Downside? You can't get the full Driver Assistance package or remote start with a manual, but I don't use that stuff. Frequent heavy (stop and go) traffic would be a pain. And you get a lower torque rating. That's all I can think of.

[RudyPolanski]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

All my Ms for 24 years have been manuals. As others have said, they are more engaging and give you more flexibility. Downside? You can't get the full Driver Assistance package or remote start with a manual, but I don't use that stuff. Frequent heavy (stop and go) traffic would be a pain. And you get a lower torque rating. That's all I can think of.

Yes, I have to keep reminding me of these points. The M2 will be my good weather fun car, replacing my 2011 C6 Grand sport (MT). Yes, I do experience the "lack of feel" driving my M240iX compared to my C6, but I still love love love the M240iX. I'm hoping the engagement of the manual with the carbon buckets will bring more "feel" of that makes sense

[Squidget]

Originally Posted by RudyPolanski

I'm hoping the engagement of the manual with the carbon buckets will bring more "feel" of that makes sense

I think it makes sense, but I don't think you'll get much more feel. The sound deadening, dead steering, suspension damping, etc, will be the same in both cars. The MT shifter, while effective and precise, is still rubbery per BMW tradition.

Maybe you'll get just a little more butt dyno feel with carbon, but that wasn't my impression. The non-carbon sport seats are pretty good, IMO.

While there are things you can do to increase feel, they are mostly mods like monoball, etc. You can also put in an SSK if you like snickety snick tactile shifting action. But the G87 is not, and never will be, a Miata.

[RudyPolanski]

Originally Posted by Squidget

I think it makes sense, but I don't think you'll get much more feel. The sound deadening, dead steering, suspension damping, etc, will be the same in both cars. The MT shifter, while effective and precise, is still rubbery per BMW tradition.

Maybe you'll get just a little more butt dyno feel with carbon, but that wasn't my impression. The non-carbon sport seats are pretty good, IMO.

While there are things you can do to increase feel, they are mostly mods like monoball, etc. You can also put in an SSK if you like snickety snick tactile shifting action. But the G87 is not, and never will be, a Miata.

Thanks. As I go through the crisis of did I order the right spec, and revisit should I have gotten the C8 Corvette, I'm reading that the M2 overall seems to have better feel and be a better drivers car than the C8. I did test drive the C8 twice. The lack of quality in the interior was striking, busy controls and displays, the transmission shifting was not nearly as refined as the M2 with the auto, and no a manual option in the C8. Although it was much faster. I remind myself that even my m240 IX is so quick I'm most often stifled by the traffic around me, and when she gets to run she's more than enough for me, the 80 mph speed warning dinging at me very quickly. I couldn't get over all my dislikes in the C8, so much so I don't remember the feel of the C8. I just wouldn't trust GM with all the issues they are having with quality on top of everything. I have the disease of being a retired engineer, constantly analyzing and optimizing. No car is perfect, but I keep settling back to the pair that will be in the garage, the M240iX for daily, and the M2 garage queen for some older school fun with the manual.

Thanks for indulging me.

[DrewNewM2]

I have a G87 6Mt but the upcoming G87 XDrive makes me think about traction, especially when modding the S58 to 600-700 whp which has been my plan from the beginning. An aftermarket clutch will handle the power but traction is the other concern with RWD. I’ve rowed gears for 30 years and and afraid of being bored by an automatic and I would never choose an automatic RWD car if manual is an option but that XDrive puts the power down. Too bad BMW stopped making XDrive manuals.

[dekudude]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

...Frequent heavy (stop and go) traffic would be a pain...

Bingo. This is it for me. I live in the Bay Area, and while traffic is not as bad as Southern California... I can't imagine driving highway 17 to Santa Cruz in a 6MT, sounds like torture. This will be my daily driver.

One other point I think is relevant in this discussion is *how* you got into cars, how did you become an enthusiast?

For me, I'm 31 and got into cars later in life after I was an adult. Believe it or not I became an enthusiast after using a sim racing rig. Which had - you guessed it - paddle shifters. So FOR ME, the experience I have of engaged driving is using those paddles, the satisfying click, quick response, etc. is quite fun. I find it quite engaging because I'm thinking about what gear I'm in, listening to the RPMs to know when to upshift, etc.

[Squidget]

Originally Posted by RudyPolanski

No car is perfect, but I keep settling back to the pair that will be in the garage, the M240iX for daily, and the M2 garage queen for some older school fun with the manual.

I understand. I've been driving manuals since the late 80s, I just find it more fun. And I originally was shopping for an M240, but they stopped making it in MT the year before, which is why I ended up with the M2.

And of course they didn't add the MT to the Z4 M40 until AFTER I bought the M2.

[digitldlnkwnt]

I love that this thread is 18 pages of opinions…

[DrewNewM2]

Well OP asked what and why so opinions will be shared !

[dekudude]

Originally Posted by digitldlnkwnt

I love that this thread is 18 pages of opinions…

Welcome to internet forums, my friend

[Vegas6734]

This is my first auto after having 3 manuals for my life. No regrets so far. Driving in traffic is just more pleasant with the auto and I agree with the sim racing thing. Used to paddles in GT3 sims, so it still feels engaging to me. Helps that the bmw manual just didn’t feel great coming from a gr86 too

[digitldlnkwnt]

Originally Posted by DrewNewM2

Well OP asked what and why so opinions will be shared !

That’ll teach ‘em!