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View Poll Results: SMG or Manual...that is the question.
I'd take SMG if it was offered. 10 31.25%
6 speed manual forever! 22 68.75%
What's SMG? 0 0%
Voters: 32. You may not vote on this poll

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      05-11-2007, 07:32 PM   #1
Dammmittt
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SMG or 6 Speed

This discussion is irritating me on the other boards. All of you M'ers out there. Would go for the SMG if it was offered on the M coupe/roadie?

For me the answer is not only no but hell no.

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      05-11-2007, 08:29 PM   #2
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I test drove an M with a SMG and it was a very bad experience. It was like I was a kid who's never driven a stick before. All that lurching... The horror! I also didn't like the fact that the SMG had to warm up to get optimal performance.
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      05-12-2007, 01:31 AM   #3
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I learned in an automatic, but all of my cars that I've ever owned have been manual. After you get through the learning curve (and initial frustration) with a manual transmission, it's hard to choose anything else. For me, I like the feeling of absolute control over your car. So hell no is my answer too (unless I live in Frisco )

I do like the option of an SMG. It's a nice step towards full manual, and I'd recommend it to anyone who is leaning towards stick but isn't fully convinced that it'll work out for them. Although I keep hearing that advances in SMG may mean the demise of stick shifts, I think SMGs may actually cause the demise of full automatics. After all, SMG signals gearshifts electronically, so it's not that difficult to include it in all automatics.

I would be saddened if they had an SMG option on the Z4M. But that's just IMHO... maybe I'm just too traditional.
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      05-13-2007, 06:40 PM   #4
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I had SMG in the old Zed (04 3.0i) and after getting used to it I loved it.

Hell, it would even blip the throttle when downshifting!

However I do enjoy the control of the six speed manual transmission on the ///M Roadster.....
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      05-13-2007, 09:45 PM   #5
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I don't know how much traffic you guys go through in the day. But I gave up my manual for an automatic. My left leg was getting really tired.
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      05-13-2007, 10:26 PM   #6
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SMG is for Girly men
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      05-14-2007, 06:25 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by enfield View Post
SMG is for Girly men
I'd be tempted by a newer generation DSG style box
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      05-14-2007, 08:09 AM   #8
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DSG is very cool. Have any of you guys tried it out yet? If I had to choose, I'd pick DSG over SMG.
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      05-14-2007, 08:20 AM   #9
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OK, I'll ask what's the difference?
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      05-14-2007, 09:27 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by enfield View Post
SMG is for Girly men
I knew my comments would get me in trouble

I will keep my big mouth shut...
I will keep my big mouth shut...
I will keep my big mouth shut...
I will keep my big mouth shut...

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      05-14-2007, 09:59 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 561design View Post
DSG is very cool. Have any of you guys tried it out yet? If I had to choose, I'd pick DSG over SMG.
Yes I've driven both.
I drove an A3 3.2Q with DSG... I liked it a lot.

Still don't know if I'd give up the manual though.
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      05-14-2007, 10:10 AM   #12
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So, is DSG the Audi version of SMG?
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      05-14-2007, 10:54 AM   #13
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I have also driven Audi's A3 with DSG. Very nice... hardly any lag time between gearshifts (0.2sec!). I think BMW is eventually going to have a double clutch system like Audi/VW.

I don't care... gimme my 6MT!!!
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      05-14-2007, 10:57 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dammmittt View Post
So, is DSG the Audi version of SMG?
Yes. There is literally no lag time in between shifts.
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      05-14-2007, 11:18 AM   #15
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There has to be lag...nothing is perfect, even .08 seconds is lag...just not noticable
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      05-14-2007, 11:18 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dammmittt View Post
So, is DSG the Audi version of SMG?
Yes and no.
Completely different technology.

BMWs SMG replacement will be a DCT (dual cltch Trany) similar to Audi DSG.
Check this out... ZF Sachs site
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      05-21-2007, 09:02 AM   #17
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SMG was more of a "lets try this out for 1-2 years" option when I purchased the car. The only "Pro" I would give the transmission is the availability to drive in fully automatic mode for traffic reasons or when I'm carrying coffee and food for the kids and I don't feel like spilling anything. The "CONs" are too many to list. A few would be: Jittering, Clicking into gears, cant go from 4th to 2nd in a quick change.
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      05-21-2007, 09:19 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alexm999 View Post
SMG was more of a "lets try this out for 1-2 years" option when I purchased the car. The only "Pro" I would give the transmission is the availability to drive in fully automatic mode for traffic reasons or when I'm carrying coffee and food for the kids and I don't feel like spilling anything. The "CONs" are too many to list. A few would be: Jittering, Clicking into gears, cant go from 4th to 2nd in a quick change.
Apparently though, the SMG system is not as responsive as a manual transmission, and the automatic mode is not as smooth as the BMW automatic transmission. So you don't get the best of either. It might be worth giving up a little bit though in order to get a hybrid transmission. Not to me though....having a steptronic is the compromise. The new (2006+) non-M Z4 automatics have paddle shifters which are quite fun.

If you're gonna buy an //M though, I think manual is most appropriate.
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      05-21-2007, 09:46 AM   #19
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I've never used an SMG but I'm completely happy with my 6 speed Steptronic with paddles and sport button. I understand the traditional appeal of stick shifts but.....come on guys the future is here now and it's really good. The main thing that keeps me from considering a M is the manual transmission. One rush hour on I-5 in North County San Diego would have me screaming for mercy with a stick shift.
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      05-21-2007, 02:19 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by takedown8 View Post
Apparently though, the SMG system is not as responsive as a manual transmission, and the automatic mode is not as smooth as the BMW automatic transmission. So you don't get the best of either. It might be worth giving up a little bit though in order to get a hybrid transmission. Not to me though....having a steptronic is the compromise. The new (2006+) non-M Z4 automatics have paddle shifters which are quite fun.

If you're gonna buy an //M though, I think manual is most appropriate.
If you're going M, 6sp is the only tranny available.... just the way it should be.
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      05-21-2007, 02:52 PM   #21
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Now all you gotta do is vote.
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      05-21-2007, 03:33 PM   #22
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either is better than my Step. If I hadn't gotten a really good deal on mine, i'd go for the manual.
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