Manual vs Steptronic

[Mikedav]

How many people have Autos here? Reason I ask is a good 50% - 65% of E46s I am coming across in my search for the right 330Ci are Auto, particuarly those with a nice spec list. My dad had a 530i Sport which was a fabulous car and the auto box suited it perfectly - steptronic when you are in the mood, auto when you aren't. But is the same true for the E46 Coupe or would I wish I had bought a manual?

Input much appreciated

[AlpinaAl]

Ive got an switchtronic and its cool and cause its an Alpina version I can change manually, but I wish it was a manual box, Im limited on tuning cause the box cant take a great deal so thats one of the reasons Im selling the car, at the end of the day I think its down to your own personal preferance

[Matt H330]

I was told catagorically by a 330 auto owner that it had to be a manual, which is why I have a manual. But having not driven an auto, it is a bit of a biased opinion, although I am sure that Peppernick was always saying that he wished he had bought a manual when he had his 330.

[Nickleback]

Ive got an switchtronic and its cool and cause its an Alpina version I can change manually, but I wish it was a manual box, Im limited on tuning cause the box cant take a great deal so thats one of the reasons Im selling the car, at the end of the day I think its down to your own personal preferance

I got the std steptronic fitted to the clubsport because of a lot of heavy traffic work & a K--ckered left knee cap!
If you really want to engine performance mod like S'charger then stay with the manual cos its a waste of time & money with the auto box.
As Al say's, its personal preference - your decision ? [read

[Lucky Bob]

I've got a six speed manual, which took seven weeks to find on BMW.co.uk because they seem to be auto's in the majority.

This is going to sound really anorak, but when you get the changes to just a right balance of performance and smoothness of change it's very rewarding.

However I was in London today and I would have killed for an auto, but not for long.

Go and have a test drive in one, just watch out for that big ole flywheel it will stall on you until you get it right, and as Al hinted torque converters tend to soak-up any hard earned power increase, but thats all autos, the mods will be along soon with some in-depth technical detail to help you.

[AlpinaAl]

If you go for auto and decided to go for more power you are limited to a max of 350bhp, take into account the box will sap a bit of it, there is the option to increase the line pressure but again for limited gains, after going oout with BUT's CSL he wish's that it was a manual, But in traffic my car is a god send compared to a manual clutch cause theres a lot of stop start driving her plus my miss has a knackered leg so finds the BM clutch to heavy

I want a manual now though because I want o be able to shove as much power under the bonnet and I cant do that with a auto plus I can alter raitos and increase the strengh a lot more.

But its your choice if you want comfert and a bit of crusing, an ocasianl track day then the auto is great

Power, drivablity, upgrades and a damn good thrashing, not to mention not being bothered about constant changing in traffic.---- Manual it is

[peppernick]

When it comes to driving preference, it's a personal choice. Neither is good or bad, just different. Just avoid the SSG.

Manual cars are a lot more tunable, you can play around with light weight flywheels, clutches and different ratio rear diffs. It's a passive part, so you can do what you want to it until it goes bust. Auto has a bit of autonomy, or at least programmed to perform in a certain way with limited adaptability. So you can't tell it to do what you want outside it's adaptability parameter.

However, not all is lost with autos in terms of versatility because of the advent of steptronic. And you can always do this (http://www.bmw-paddleshift-retrofit.com/) to increase driver's involvement ;)

[Har5ha]

have an auto..am happy with it...(but am a girl)

it is more fun to drive a manual..but driving around the streets of london in traffic...made me choose auto...!

taking it to santa pod was good...coz in the wet..everyone was wheel spinning..and my sis didn't have that prob...lol!

anyway..good luck with the hunt..

just avoid the ssg..as have heard its crap..and it drove Nick up the wall!!

[Har5ha]

sport mode is cool too...i never drive it steptronic to be honest...!

[Silver]

i have auto it alrite...really use it for crusing around really...

On plus side auto bmw...are worth more well u sell it back out...frm wat i been told by the dealers..

[A5GUR]

mike, dont i know you from somewhere? lol. you sold the Bora?

[Mikedav]

Lol hiya. Im recognising quite a few names on here ;) Shhh though, Ive not announced my planned defection yet!...wanna find the right car first.

Thanx for the input guys, I had always considered myself a 'manual only' person but the steptronic is definetly appealing on some levels. Definetly need to try one and see if I would be happy with it. I think my preference is still for a manual, but I think I wont discount well specced autos just because they autos.

And SSG seems to get poor Reviews across the board!