[vkk]

Hey guys,

My wife convinced me to put an auto on my ED order for the 328xi. I'm really having misgivings and inner pain.

Anyone have any words of consolation or do you think I should stand my ground and change to a manual?

I've only driven the car in automatic, but of course, I've only driven stick for my earlier cars.

Would the tiptronic be a good approximation of the manual in terms of control of the car?

Thanks

-Vinay

[Snakeii]

imo NEVER GET AN AUTO, i hate them i had a 525d with the latest 2007 auto and it was horid, if you try and pull away quickly you can smell the clutch, to much sleeping and its no fun, no heal toe and blipping the throtel on downshifts =/

[oneshare325]

how old are you? I feel age is a key player in this decision! I am 21 and i have a Steptronic and regret it every day! My M3 will be a manual, I know that for sure!

[Snakeii]

im 18, and my dad drives my 330 as well he is nearly 50 he still agrees with me when i bought it that manual was the way to go (he has a auto 540)

[Greeney]

My M3/M5, will be an SMG . SMG FTW!

[AlecX5]

Originally Posted by vkk

Hey guys,

My wife convinced me to put an auto on my ED order for the 328xi. I'm really having misgivings and inner pain.

Anyone have any words of consolation or do you think I should stand my ground and change to a manual?

I've only driven the car in automatic, but of course, I've only driven stick for my earlier cars.

Would the tiptronic be a good approximation of the manual in terms of control of the car?

Thanks




-Vinay

OK. I've owned many (at least 15) manual cars. It's just the way I like them. My current car as well. My last car was an '02 325 with auto. First car with an auto tranny. It was OK, just not a stick if you know what I mean. All that being said, I think you should go with the auto on this one. Here's why. A: it's what the wife wants. (why give her something to complain about for the next 5 years). B: the new auto box is fantastic. I drove an auto for a demo before I bought my 330 and I was VERY impressed. WAY better than the one before it. Snappy shifts fast. I almost bought my new car with an auto. But I have a wife that likes manuals too. So, no slush-box for me. I guess I just want to say that the auto was super impressive and that it's really a solid alternative to a manual.

Good luck.

Alec

[s4iscool]

Only reason I got back into "faster" cars is to drive a manual. I would regret getting an auto, and even the great DSG in VAG cars is not enough to satisfy the urge to row your own gears. If you have pains now, they wont go away with StepT, which is even worse than the much praised DSG. ALL IMO of course!

[Snakeii]

the bmw auto is NOTHING to right home about imo, its not the most responsive auto i have driven at all, if you just comuting and doing nothing else aprt from that then by almeans go for it, but if you like to ahve a bit of fun everyso often and drive a bit fast then get a manual, imo the wife knows nothing! manual FTW

[742]

Who is going to be the primary driver? I believe, having wasted some money over the years, that if the primary driver is not happy the car will not be in the family for long—which means a big hit on depreciation.

I am a manual guy. My wife also drives manual. My 16 year old daughter is learning to drive in a manual car. I have never understood this “women don’t do stick” thing. Perhaps your wife’s view might change with some instruction on basic manual driving from someone who is not related and who does not make a big deal of it. Your local BMW club might be able to help.

If it is your car perhaps you could arrange a Performance Center delivery and have her take one of the women’s courses?

>>>Would the tiptronic be a good approximation of the manual in terms of control of the car?<<< IMO, no. "If we are going to get the car with an automatic we might as well get the Volvo"--was my wife's view. Oh, and Snakeii we are both older than your father.

[PresaMat]

I would not recommend the auto in the 328xi... If it was the 335i that is another story - the 335i's auto is one of the best autos you can get. The 328 is nothing special. I definately would go with the manual and save some $$. Hell... if you were going to go with the auto... for not very much more you could get a similarly optioned 335i (with manual).

[vkk]

Thanks guys, good info, keep it coming.

Actually, my wife can drive shift, she just doesn't like to.

I'm very old compared to you guys who asked the question. No need to bring age into this.

[Fraggy]

Im liking the Auto and its the first auto I have owned out of 7 cars, 4 of them being BMWs.

I always drive in Manual mode so Im always connected to the car just about like I was with the manual. I still choose at which RPMs to shift the car, downshift, etc. Its fun doing all these gear changes and not having to fuck with a cluch.

Theres nothing like being dead tired and shifting like crap on you way home because you are tired and dont put the effort into releasing the cluch correctly everytime.

[jasper]

Leave her.

[742]

Originally Posted by vkk

Thanks guys, good info, keep it coming.

Actually, my wife can drive shift, she just doesn't like to.

I'm very old compared to you guys who asked the question. No need to bring age into this.

Several thoughts come to mind.

Assuming this is your car, and you are older and established in your marriage, do what I do when I really want something. Beg and whine.

Or suggest to her that she could go around with a manual BMW castrating males left and right with a simple raised eyebrow and a curt “…of course it is a manual—why else would one drive a BMW?”

And/or use the cost difference between the manual and slushbox, x10, on jewelry.

In any case, good luck. If you have time I suggest a few days in Luxembourg during your ED. Great history, fascinating architecture/ruins and wonderful people--but often missed by the vacationing herds.

[Snakeii]

the auto in the 335 and 328 is the same =/

but imo get WHAT YOU WANT ITS YOUR CAR, and how can you not like driving a stick shift...

[kaji335i]

Originally Posted by Snakeii

the auto in the 335 and 328 is the same =/

but imo get WHAT YOU WANT ITS YOUR CAR, and how can you not like driving a stick shift...

Actually isn't the 335 auto a ZF transmission, while the 328 is made by GM?

[ksfrogman]

If you're getting a 328 instead of a 335, my guess is that you're not terribly concerned about squeezing in the most power available in an E92. You live in Seattle and are ordering an "xi" instead of an "i" likely because you're a practical man, and once again, because you're not interested simply in straight-line all out performance on dry roads. You are also married, so you're torn between the practicality of considering your significant other vs placating your desire to own a manual trans. Your wife wants the steptronic, which means she either cannot drive a stick or prefers not to. When you two travel together, she might be less inclined to drive when you're tired.

[a burrito]

honestly i think you've answered your own question...you know you want manual so just forget the wife and go with your transmission.hahaha

[Carnage]

Originally Posted by ksfrogman

If you're getting a 328 instead of a 335, my guess is that you're not terribly concerned about squeezing in the most power available in an E92. You live in Seattle and are ordering an "xi" instead of an "i" likely because you're a practical man, and once again, because you're not interested simply in straight-line all out performance on dry roads. You are also married, so you're torn between the practicality of considering your significant other vs placating your desire to own a manual trans. Your wife wants the steptronic, which means she either cannot drive a stick or prefers not to. When you two travel together, she might be less inclined to drive when you're tired.

. Best answer so far and as usual, right on the mark.

If you were looking at a 335, i'd say get the manual but since we're talking 328xi, the auto is probably the way to go in your particular situation.

[RiXst3r]

Originally Posted by Snakeii

the auto in the 335 and 328 is the same =/

This statement couldnt be any more wrong... its totally different. 335i auto actually has 100ms shift times (e46 m3 SMG is 125ms with DSC on, 75ms with it off), and a newly designed locking torque converter to get rid of extra power loss... If I got a 328, it would have been stick... I wouldnt want the slow GM slushbox... but thats me

[krafty04]

I was blown away by the shifting process on the 335i coupe I drove.. six gears, as smooth or as hard as you wanted to shift, especially in DS mode. Throw in the paddles and I belive the car shifts quicker then you could with a clutch, foot, and brain reactions.. (ie. the 100ms shift time). It was a no-brainer for me, plus cruising along in 6th gear, pull out to pass a car, and have the step kick down 3 gears and launch you, in 100ms, c'mon.. who you kidding?

[Lassaxi]

I'd get the auto. But, as I've said in other threads, I don't think I can credibly call myself a driving enthusiast anymore.

In my younger days I couldn't understand why anyone would get an auto tranny BMW. Manual is more fun, better control, more sporty, etc..

But now I understand. I'm married, have kids, and I don't drive like I did when I was 18. I drive like a man who has something to lose (e.g., the aforementioned wife and kids). BMWs are great cars, but I don't find driving in general to be as much fun as it was when I was younger and could enjoy the "sport" of it more. Nowaways driving is more of a chore for me, and an auto makes the chore simpler.

Also, there's something to be said for keeping your wife happy. The amount of enjoyment you'll lose by getting the auto is not that big of a deal in the grand scheme. Keep the wife happy, and you'll keep the car longer. Better yet, keep your wife happy and you'll keep your wife happy. That may sound redundant, but I think you know what I mean.