Steptronics Vs. manual
- Thread starter rugby7
- Start date
rugby7 said:
Getting ready to purchase a 330xi....and seriously debating between the manual and the steptronics. Test drove the steptronics and it is pretty sweet, but I am not very familiar with them. Anyone out there have one and have an opinion. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks.![[cheers]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_cheers.gif "Cheers [cheers]")
Thanks.
My car is fine because it is a daily driver and it helps me during traffic.
Yesterday, I had to accelerate fast from a stop light because I was not on the right lane. I put the shift in sport and drop the accelerator and all I can say was WOOOOOOOWW. I was running 60mph in no time. Felt like less than 7 sec for me. Definitely faster than my prior IS300
So if you don't worry about anyone else driving it and does not drive in Traffic all to often go get that manual or SMG. Otherwise you have the option of the Step.
Next Car M3
I really consider the steptronic to be just an automatic. The car shifts for you. It does have the two extra modes that are pretty cool. If driving pretty fast, it does do a good job of holding the gear for you. There's also the manual mode where you do it yourself, but it's kinda slow to change gears. The shifts in the regular mode are really smooth tho.
Depending on how much traffic you get, that's how I'd decide on whether to get a manual or steptronic.
Which freeways do you travel on a lot?
Depending on how much traffic you get, that's how I'd decide on whether to get a manual or steptronic.
Which freeways do you travel on a lot?
hey rugby7, welcome to BMWboard. myself, i would recommend the manual tranny for two reasons. one, they are a lot of fun to drive, especially in a BMW. two, unless you are fighting hard traffic every single day, the BMW manual is really easy to drive, and wouldn't be stiff to drive in stop and go like other cars would be.
As a long-time manual gearbox lover, I'd definitely prefer manual over Steptronic. I must confess, though, that I test-drove an X3 w/ Steptronic the other day and I was mighty impressed by the transmission. Gearshift was very solid, and it sure didn't feel like a "regular" auto tranny. So I'm pretty sure you'd be happy with either 6MT or Step. The one option I'd avoid is SMG. I drove a new Z4 w/ SMG and it did not impress me too much. (SMGII for the M3 is probably a different story.)
You will always want to choose a manual over any auto UNLESS you frequently drive in traffic. That being the case the steptronic is great. You use it as a regular automatic most of the time, but you just pull the lever to the left and it goes into sport mode (higher rpm shift points, but still fully auto) or from sport you can go into manual mode by moving the shift lever forward to downshift, and pulling back to upshift. It is not a true manual but can be alot of fun. Also you never to need to worry about damaging the engine because even in manual mode it will shift automatically at redline.
If you're on the fence, you should probably go with the automatic.
In my opinion, you either love manuals (and therefore aren't going to be on the fence) or you just like them. To drive one every day, you really need to love them.
One factor to help you decide (aside from traffic conditions) is to determine who else needs to drive the car. In my case, my wife doesn't NEED to drive the car so going with a manual sort of seals the deal that she won't!![[clap]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_clap.gif "Clap [clap]")
In my opinion, you either love manuals (and therefore aren't going to be on the fence) or you just like them. To drive one every day, you really need to love them.
One factor to help you decide (aside from traffic conditions) is to determine who else needs to drive the car. In my case, my wife doesn't NEED to drive the car so going with a manual sort of seals the deal that she won't!
The majority of the cars I've owned have been manual sports cars, but my next will soon be a 330ci steptronic. I swore I'd never get an auto bimmer but recently moved and have three words : Los Angeles traffic.
My first mod will be Dinan's auto-software that is supposed to give you near-total control of gear selection when in M mode and somewhat faster shifts cutting into that slight delay from the computer.
Does anyone have experience with the dinan software?
My first mod will be Dinan's auto-software that is supposed to give you near-total control of gear selection when in M mode and somewhat faster shifts cutting into that slight delay from the computer.
Does anyone have experience with the dinan software?