Turbo, Torque, F80, and 6MT

[grendel88]

First of all, this just my opinion on manual car experiences. Second, I love all brands of cars, every brand has something cool in their lineup most of the time. Third of all, I know there are a ton of threads debating the manual and DCT, but those threads all get hung up the philosophy of shifting by yourself as as opposed if all cars are more fun to shift.

I had a 2015 DCT F80 for about year as my commute car. I got it because I loved my 2011 E92 DCT, which I got because DCT then the best tech then. Before that I had a 6MT RS4.

Recently, I cleared out my car collection and wanted to go back to an everyday car that does everything. Because of the end of year money, M3s had amazing lease and finance deals so I looked really hard at a F80 Comp pack 6MT. I loved the look of the Comp pack and figured the 6MT would make the car more fun to drive than a DCT, forcing you to engage more on your driving experience.

But after a 20 min test drive, I quickly realized that F80 motor made the 6MT kind of boring. I think I long associated manuals with high revving engines that made you work for the torque, like in Hondas, NA BMWS, NA Porsches, and my old RS4. Once I experienced a 6MT on a broad torque band engine like in the F80, shifting became more of an exercise than an experience.

I guess all of this should have been obvious when thinking about it, but it really became evident in a mixed test drive. A DCT or PDK with this engine is better. Maybe on the track the involvement level is higher because of the higher speeds and more technical nature of track shifting and driving, but even on a back road, I think the F80 is not the best platform for the manual.

In the end, I decided against a $75K MSRP F80 6MT with comp pack and full leather even though the 36/10K minimal drive off lease $700 a month. For me in the SF Bayarea, this is an amazing deal, but even with the Comp and the 6MT, it was pretty much the same car I jumped out of in 2016.

It's amazing how much our car tastes evolve over time. I totally understand why E36s and air cooled 911s get so much money now.

[Jaymax85]

here come the butthurt 6mt owners lol

[Aaaaaaaaa]

Originally Posted by HELLOimJ

here come the butthurt 6mt owners lol

Am 6MT owner. Can confirm butt hurts.

For me really no other choices. Name another new luxury sports sedan with 6MT that leases decently.

[nyc f82]

Went from a 15 6mt f82 m4 to a 17 zcp dct f80 m3 and have no regrets. I owned nothing but manuals previously and the DCT is superior along with the performance advantage compared to a manual. When I had my 6mt f82, when shifting quick the car felt delayed between shifts like the DME wasn't allowing the car to shift as fast as it was supposed to. It could have something to do with the boost curve between shifts or the way the factory tune is designed. With the DCT shifts are super fast and the surge between shifts when in in the most aggressive setting is amazing.

[rr006rbc]

Originally Posted by pheerlx

Am 6MT owner. Can confirm butt hurts.

For me really no other choices. Name another European new luxury sports sedan with 6MT.

Agreed, for price point and fun factor nothing compares; hence this is why it's my second F80 6MT after my first lease matured.

[RobbyMack]

Different strokes for different folks. Isn't choice grand? There is no right or wrong here. You can wax poetic all you want about a DCT but I for one am happy BMW still offers a MT for those of us that want it.

[doug_999]

To me, having a manual was always about involvement, not about having to rev the car to get power.

In fact, I like my M2 manual a LOT more than my E60 M5 manual, because I don't have to rev the crap out of it to get some power/torque - but then again, that has nothing to do with it being manual.

Ultimately, if the DCT makes the car feel better for you and manual provides no value, then heck yea, get it!

[gatorfast]

Cool story bro

[Ian1973]

I guess I've owned so many manuals since the '80's, manuals don't mean high revving, low torque cars to me, it just means a more engaging way to interact with a transmission. lol

You are thinking to much.

[TonySCV]

I've own a DCT F80, and a 6MT F80. Two different experiences. Each with their own pros and cons. No "right" or "wrong" option.

[S.Carter]

HEREEEEE IIII COOMMMMEEEE lol. For me, I think I would have been able to use the DCT on track a lot better, there were times when I was in a corner and taking a hand off made it sketchy to shift. That being said, I love my manual. It has both rev matching and non so I can make it smooth or aggressive depending on how I feel. The thing revs to 7500 and torque is peaked at like 3k? I dunno, I love the thing. To each their own.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by pheerlx

Am 6MT owner. Can confirm butt hurts.

For me really no other choices. Name another new luxury sports sedan with 6MT that leases decently.

There is literally only one other luxury sport sedan with a 6MT, period: the ATS-V. In fact, that car, the M3, and the 340i are now the only six cylinder sport sedans sold in America. There is one V8 “sport sedan” - the M6 grand coupe. Every other sedan with a manual transmission has a four cylinder engine, and the majority of those are economy cars.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by grendel88

I know there are a ton of threads debating the manual and DCT, but those threads all get hung up the philosophy of shifting by yourself as as opposed if all cars are more fun to shift.

Nevertheless, there is no need to start a new thread to add your two cents. Furthermore, I’ll bet if you were to look hard enough, your point has been raised before. in fact, I know that I’ve seen others make the similar statements. Let’s keep the MT vs. DCT debate to one thread.

http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=916402