[Rx-7ames]

So I had the opportunity to drive a HEA M2. First off, I'm a CA at a small dealership. It was not a joy ride. It was for business. And this is not a review on performance. This is my thoughts on a responsible 2 mile drive.

I'm not an experienced BMW owner. My BMW ownership experience is limited to a 99 M Roadster. That being said, I've never been a huge fan of modern M cars. Most are automatic, and they seem like they only do one thing well; drive as fast as possible.

The F8X/G8X seem to be uncomfortable (to me) in slow, leisurely, or parking lot driving. They just want one thing; to go faster.

And then I drove a G82 M4 in a manual. I could go fast if I wanted; or go slow and smooth if I wanted. It was a great feeling. I had a new experience with the manual G82. I put my order in for an M2 manual. I was hooked.

But I just drove the auto M2. I don't know why it is much different than the auto G8X. You can drive it slow in the parking lot. It's OK. You can drive it slow around the block. It's OK. And then you can give it the beans; and it's OK.

I'm still going for the manual, but if anyone is on the fence, the auto is OK! I'm not opposed to it, and like the title states, I don't hate it! Moral of the story is, if you want the auto, that's OK. Get the auto. And if you want the manual, that's OK too! There isn't a wrong choice. I say fooey with the naysayers. Get the M2 you want, and don't look back!

[myaghi]

Can someone with Auto confirm that the M2 has the gearbox oil cooler in the front, like the M3/4?

[VIERsr]

There is nothing wrong with the ZF8, it is an excellent gearbox.
But coming from the DKG, it is impossible not to notice that something is missing. For some this is fine, for others (like me) it is not.

[c1pher]

Originally Posted by VIERsr

There is nothing wrong with the ZF8, it is an excellent gearbox.
But coming from the DGK, it is impossible not to notice that something is missing. For some this is fine, for others (like me) it is not.

I’m not sure which transmission to get. I’ve always got manuals, but driving in the city and having something like adaptive cruise control is helpful and less fatiguing for me. I do like to shift and don’t hate paddle shifters. I’m spoiled by PDKs when I do have to drive autos. However, I owned a 2020 Cayenne Turbo Coupe for a year with their sport auto, which is also a torque converter. It was pretty quick on upshifts but reminded you that it’s an auto on the downshifts. I suspect it’s similar behavior in the M2 auto. While I’m not buying for fuel economy, the 1/2 series has always had dinky fuel tanks. The auto with eight speeds might be a little less hungry. One thing I do like about my 911 manual is that seventh gear gives me 28-29mpg if I’m just cruising.

[M_Power Rob]

Originally Posted by c1pher

I’m not sure which transmission to get. I’ve always got manuals, but driving in the city and having something like adaptive cruise control is helpful and less fatiguing for me. I do like to shift and don’t hate paddle shifters. I’m spoiled by PDKs when I do have to drive autos. However, I owned a 2020 Cayenne Turbo Coupe for a year with their sport auto, which is also a torque converter. It was pretty quick on upshifts but reminded you that it’s an auto on the downshifts. I suspect it’s similar behavior in the M2 auto. While I’m not buying for fuel economy, the 1/2 series has always had dinky fuel tanks. The auto with eight speeds might be a little less hungry. One thing I do like about my 911 manual is that seventh gear gives me 28-29mpg if I’m just cruising.

You should get what you want, not what someone else tells you to get.

[BRAKE!]

For me, I would get a manual if your primary use is backroad driving and cruising around town. Or, if you value interaction and feeling as though you are a component of the car.

If you're driving it as a daily in a busy city, then get the auto. Your left leg will love you when sitting in ridiculous traffic. If you're tracking the car seriously, then get the auto. Lastly, if you're more into drag racing or get enjoyment out of feeling like you can take on anyone off the line, get auto.

[Albator_IIII]

I am sure the 8AT is loads of fun. I, like other MT fanatics, want even more fun. And for us, the 6MT scratches that itch. Glad we have options.

This car will be a Summer toy. I wouldn't attempt to stretch my finances to get one if it wasn't for the 6MT. Dealbreaker.

[10"]

might as well drive an 80s Buick.

its a gussied up torque converter automatic that’s done to save money and because regular drivers were too dumb to figure out dual clutch transmissions.

Manual or bust—

[M_Power Rob]

Originally Posted by 10"

might as well drive an 80s Buick.

its a gussied up torque converter automatic that’s done to save money and because regular drivers were too dumb to figure out dual clutch transmissions.

Manual or bust—

Sorry but that is a blatantly, for a lack of a better term, stupid statement. You may perfer a manual but what you stated is absolutely incorrect.

[M2PDX]

Originally Posted by 10"

might as well drive an 80s Buick.

its a gussied up torque converter automatic that’s done to save money and because regular drivers were too dumb to figure out dual clutch transmissions.

Manual or bust—

I love manual transmissions, and my M2 order is so equipped.

But, your comment is totally wrong. The ZF automatic is a modern, quick, high tech transmission whose shifts can be electronically adjusted from the cockpit.

I'm not ordering one, but would never criticize anyone who did!

[Humdizzle]

like others said once you drive a DCT trans from porsche / ferrari / mclaren or even the last gen M-DCT transmission it leaves you spoiled. The ZF8 can't really match the engagement or downshifts of those.

The ZF8 is better around town left in automatic mode

[kyrix1st]

If you've driven the M-DCTs before you know the zf8 in the modern m cars a pedestrian transmission compared to that. Even the engineers recognized it in one of their technical videos.

[Rx-7ames]

Originally Posted by Albator_IIII

I am sure the 8AT is loads of fun. I, like other MT fanatics, want even more fun. And for us, the 6MT scratches that itch. Glad we have options.

This car will be a Sumer toy. I wouldn't attempt to stretch my finances to get one if it wasn't for the 6MT. Dealbreaker.

This is exactly how I feel. If it weren't for the manual then I would save $20k (after BMW employee pricing) and get an M240. Yes, I'm primarily making a $20k decision on the availability of a manual gearbox. The auto was fine, but the manual is the reason I'm getting this car.

[Rx-7ames]

Originally Posted by 10"

might as well drive an 80s Buick.

its a gussied up torque converter automatic that’s done to save money and because regular drivers were too dumb to figure out dual clutch transmissions.

Manual or bust—

I'm with the others on this one. Your statement is very wrong. If the zf8 was a "gussied up torque converter automatic" then the manual would be the only choice. But you are wrong. The automatic is technically a better transmission than the manual, even a lame old torque converter transmission. That's how good they are. The zf8 is, in every metric, better than you are in a manual.

But that's the beauty of choice. No one buying a manual is doing so because it is better or faster. We are doing it because it is more fun to drive. And that's the whole point of buying a sports car. No one needs a 450 hp coupe. We want one. And we want to have fun. But lets not pretend that the auto is a bad transmission to justify our reasoning in buying a manual.

[Ronin76]

Originally Posted by M_Power Rob

You should get what you want, not what someone else tells you to get.

BINGO!

[Ravenseal]

I've had the ZF on multiple cars, and I've owned the M-DCT as well. Agree that while the ZF is great and really smooth, it lacks the responsiveness of the DCT. When I test drove the M2 HEA car, I noticed they added a shift aggressiveness setting to the transmission that gives it a "fake" upshift kick like the DCTs have. The responsiveness on downshifts is still pretty lackluster. If I had a choice between a DCT and a 6MT for the G87, I think I would have chosen the DCT. The lack thereof made it a lot easier to go with the 6MT, which is in the spirit of this car, I suppose. The real downside of the 6MT for backroad warriors like myself is going to be the gearing. Going to spend a lot of time on 2nd gear hitting twisties, since I'm assuming 2nd is going to top out around 70-80mph. At least with the 8ZF, you can bounce through 2,3,4 on back roads - which is a fun feeling to be able to slap gears once the power band flattens out.

[Jaymelo238]

He drove the car for 2 miles. This review is meaningless.

[kyrix1st]

Originally Posted by Rx-7ames

I'm with the others on this one. Your statement is very wrong. If the zf8 was a "gussied up torque converter automatic" then the manual would be the only choice. But you are wrong. The automatic is technically a better transmission than the manual, even a lame old torque converter transmission. That's how good they are. The zf8 is, in every metric, better than you are in a manual.

But that's the beauty of choice. No one buying a manual is doing so because it is better or faster. We are doing it because it is more fun to drive. And that's the whole point of buying a sports car. No one needs a 450 hp coupe. We want one. And we want to have fun. But lets not pretend that the auto is a bad transmission to justify our reasoning in buying a manual.

I disagree. I've mentioned this several times, but a skilled MT driver will shift as quick as the auto; it takes more time for the engine to rev up and down vs. the actual shift times, which means there's plenty of time for both auto and MT to engage the next gear. Auto can be perceived fast because the ZF8 has extremely short first 3 gears.

And just because the MT has longer gearing initially does not mean the car is accelerating slower. In fact, you are staying in the optimum powerband longer because each gearshift, other than DCTs which add inertia, will result in deceleration. In principle, less shifts are better.
Not the perfect example because of the traffic, but the in-gear acceleration for MT vs. DCT is identical as shown below.

Gearshifts are fairly instant for skilled MT drivers, unlike the ZF8 which struggle to downshift in certain lateral G situations. It's really annoying when you are threshold braking and the car wouldn't give you multiple downshifts instantly. I'd rather shift one less gear with MT.

[Rx-7ames]

Originally Posted by Jaymelo238

He drove the car for 2 miles. This review is meaningless.

It's not a review. I thought I was pretty clear about that. It was a pretty simple statement. I hate the auto in the M3/4. I can tell that without leaving the parking lot. The auto in the M2 is different. I don't hate it. That's all. Thanks for reading.

[dominoM]

Originally Posted by kyrix1st

Gearshifts are fairly instant for skilled MT drivers, unlike the ZF8 which struggle to downshift in certain lateral G situations. It's really annoying when you are threshold braking and the car wouldn't give you multiple downshifts instantly. I'd rather shift one less gear with MT.

Just because a pro driver can manually shift as fast as an auto doesn't mean I can. Most of us are good but not that good. I think that is kind of the point in getting what works best for you.

[Humdizzle]

there are scenarios in which the manual will be faster.

certain tracks will not require many shifts. the lighter weight of the manual car will offset any shift speed or gearing advantages by the heavier automatic.

the pdk and manual gt3s are nearly identical in straight line speed as well. but thats because there is no turbo to spool and porsche offers a no-lift-shift. the s58 is a heavily turbocharged motor though and the manual cars lose alot of boost on the upshift. having had both a manual and dct S55-based car there is a clear difference in straight line performance

[VIERsr]

Originally Posted by Humdizzle

there are scenarios in which the manual will be faster.

certain tracks will not require many shifts. the lighter weight of the manual car will offset any shift speed or gearing advantages by the heavier automatic.

the pdk and manual gt3s are nearly identical in straight line speed as well. but thats because there is no turbo to spool and porsche offers a no-lift-shift. the s58 is a heavily turbocharged motor though and the manual cars lose alot of boost on the upshift. having had both a manual and dct S55-based car there is a clear difference in straight line performance

In that case (S55), the DCT has a lighter flywheel, which makes the engine easier to rev, the manual seems (and is) slower also due to greater inertia. With the torque converter you don't have a real flywheel, so you can't experience the same difference when driving both side by side.
Anyway the point is not the shift time (the ZF8 is fast enough and much faster than 99.9% of anyone with a manual), but the feel and response when driving beyond the shifts. The DCT gives you the feeling of a manual, the connection between the accelerator and the gearbox makes the response as direct as a manual, while with the ZF8 you always feel something like a 'filter', not as noticeable as the old automatic gearboxes, but still never as natural as a robotized gearbox (single or double clutch).
It's clear that this gearbox was chosen to make the xDrive possible, and it's equally clear that the S58's power band is better suited to the ZF8's ratios, but I don't like it and would still buy the M2 with the manual gearbox, having had the M2 with DCT.
But to each his own