[curtdragon]

Has anyone bought an M2 and regretted not going with the other transmission?
I'm in a daily battle on what to get. Currently build is set to manual.

I know from reviews etc that the auto is made for this chassis. All my cars from 20-40 have been manual. Last two cars were a DSG Audi and my current Jeep.

I don't mind either but I know I won't have a fast manual for a few years unless I buy an old Porsche 944 or a 90s Honda. I don't have a commute but it will be fair weather daily.

I'm just having a hard time deciding

[Dave07997S]

I never would consider an auto.

[Ravenseal]

[laughMan]

Both are great transmission for this car!

Auto will be faster and match the power better with more gears, always in power band, definitely for better track time.

Manual will give you more engagement, although it doesn't has the best shifting action, its the best BMW offer today and it still give me joy as I roll through the gears.

Yes, Porsche has better gearbox action, but at 2x the price for a Cayman S! But I love to get myself 911 GTS4 7sp manual, but that is 3x the price!

If you want to keep the car for a long time, manual will be more special, as it is a dying breed. Otherwise, there is no bad decision.

[ednir98]

I haven't taken delivery of mine yet but I do have a ZF8 X5 and recently got rid of my manual F82. The ZF8 is a fantastic transmission but if I'm going to have 2 doors and bucket seats, manual is the only way to go. BMW doesn't make the best manual transmission ever but it's way more than enough to scratch that itch. If you care about engagement/experience/charm, get the 6MT. If you care about top performance out of the box (i.e lightining fast shifts), go ZF8.

[JABCAT]

If the M2 were a true sports car, I'd say definitely manual, but it's not & the auto is great. If it's going to be driven in fair weather, and you have another vehicle, get the manual. But if it's going to be driven in traffic, the auto provides very fast shifts & 6 different settings.

[mrdudley]

This has been asked so many times. The auto guys will say they are glad for their choice. The manual guys will say they are glad for their choice.

If you spec’d a manual and only have ever driven manuals, then go manual. Especially considering there will always be more automatic M cars in the future.

[SebsM2]

I found the auto boring when I test drove various G8Xs.

It felt appropriate for my 340i. I loved the dct in my og m2. In my opinion, the zf8 is fast but lacks a lot of connection. It further adds onto the disconnected character of the g8Xs. I love dailying my manual g87 although it does have its flaws. Get a short shifter ($400-500), cdv delete (free), and clutch stop ($2 to make) and send it.

[kraken]

Auto, just because I live in metro NY.... if I live out in the country, manual.
Stick is only fun when I'm the only one on the road lol.

[c1pher]

I love the auto in my M2. It really suits the car and depending on which mode you’re in can change its personality with a press of a button. The auto also gives you additional capabilities in transmission tuning. The car always seems to be in the right gear but is also responsive enough if you want to use the paddles too.

[MorganM]

I went with manual. I am happy for the experience but at this point I wish I could switch to an auto. I'm over the shifter. The clutch. if I had got an auto I would have missed the manual and regretted the decision for sure. I can't be helped. I should look into therapy. If I get something else at some point. It will be an auto and I won't regret it.

[MorganM]

Ok. Maybe I don't regret it. I'm happier with the manual. I wish I could have both. Like choose on a day to day basis. I just need two cars.

[x622]

I wish I got an auto because the tranny sucks.

There I said it.

[Bimma360]

If you can live with getting outrun by a X3M with two baby seats in the back, then you won't regret the manual.

I did that to a local M2 the other day in my tuned X3M, and that particular one HAD to be manual. It's the only thing that explains it (the power difference should negate the weight difference).

Funny enough seeing that M2 around town, and then seeing it super close at full tilt, it's pretty badass. Ever since I bought the X3M, I've been blown away at these S58 cars. All I've ever driven are old manual BMW and M cars, but I've been window shopping M4's ever since I got the X3M. I am now also entertaining the idea of an M2, which is why I find myself here.

I too would be conflicted between manual vs auto. I drive the X3M in manual mode 100% of the time, and I actually find myself shifting a lot more frequently than I do in my e36 M3. Coming to a red light and blipping down through the gears and using the transmission to slow down, is something you can do in the auto every single time you come to a stop. And while it's more fun to do it in the manual, I bet no one actually does it every time. It would be a tough one for me to decide too.

[fanofbmwe46]

Love the manual. Love how I can easily control the sound of burbles and rpms when doing low speed maneuvers. And how I can use rev match to tap into different downshift gates and get revs / burbles that way too. Just feel like I have so much more control of the car.

[BroDoze]

Don’t regret the ZF8 one bit. Agonized over the decision for months and I know I would’ve regretted the manual.

[T-Rexx]

If you want your fast car to be fast get the auto.
If you want the fun of a manual, prepare to be out run by my little sister in her GTI, and see how fun that is.
And FYI, paddle shifting is fun too, and still fast

[Scott Z]

Something I don’t see mentioned yet and perhaps not a big deal but you do lose the adaptive radar sensing cruise control when you go with manual.

So as I understand it, you get less horsepower and the loss of the good cruse control.

I wanted both and those were more the deciding factors over how well the manual shifted.

[DrewNewM2]

Originally Posted by Scott Z

Something I don’t see mentioned yet and perhaps not a big deal but you do lose the adaptive radar sensing cruise control when you go with manual.

So as I understand it, you get less horsepower and the loss of the good cruse control.

I wanted both and those were more the deciding factors over how well the manual shifted.

I haven’t used cruise control on any of my cars in 30 years. Definitely not part of the decision for me.

[DrewNewM2]

I have never purchased an automatic car and I’ve been driving over 30 years. I have had and have automatic company fleet cars and automatic cars are commuters to me, just like EVs. I simply must have a 3rd pedal in my “fun” cars. I also have a manual STi and a manual Bronco.

If I was going to buy an auto, it would probably be an R35 GTR, possibly g8X XDrive but only if I have other manual car as well. I don’t care if manual is slower. I’m not street racing people off the line and a couple more years of EVs and all our ICE cars will be slow, manual or Auto. Might as well have a car that’s more engaging and fun.

Save the manuals!

[ajchoi]

Originally Posted by Scott Z

Something I don’t see mentioned yet and perhaps not a big deal but you do lose the adaptive radar sensing cruise control when you go with manual.

So as I understand it, you get less horsepower and the loss of the good cruse control.

I wanted both and those were more the deciding factors over how well the manual shifted.

You also lose the ability to use the digital key if you go with the manual.

[RobM2]

Sounds like the decision is whether you want a proper M car or a fast luxury car.