anybody miss manual, move back but then miss DCT?

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Having driven extensively in very heavy traffic in a manual transmission for all of my driving life using normal street cars, I just don't see the difficulty of a manual transmission. Especially in modern cars with hydraulic clutch circuits and drive-by-wire throttles. Using my E90 as an example, the clutch has easy take up and the ECU is programmed to keep the engine lit and spinning. Once in 1st gear the car will idle along at a few MPH with no need to control the throttle. My 2008 Z4 does this as does my 2022 Bronco.

Is a 1968 Camaro with a 400-block V8 and cable clutch a PITA in stop-and-go traffic, yeah, but it's not 1968 any longer.

It's not about difficulty but rather your leg getting tired after a while. Is it the end of the world? No. But does it get kind of old after a while? IMO, yes. I'm personally not concerned because it's rare that I'm in heavy stop and go traffic – it's really only going to be if there's an accident or if I'm traveling through a major city. But if I had to sit in it every day commuting or something like that for a significant amount of time it'd be a factor that I'd have to consider.

The car idling at a few mph in first is great, but the operative word in "stop and go traffic" is the "stop," so that doesn't do you a whole lot of good.

[thebmw]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

It's not about difficulty but rather your leg getting tired after a while.

I think a manual trans is a good, all extremity workout. If your left leg gets tired, it just means it is out of shape

[TimmyTurbos]

If you're a driver manual is the ONLY option. If you're a rider, DCT is the way to go.. Choose your weapon.

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by thebmw

I think a manual trans is a good, all extremity workout. If your left leg gets tired, it just means it is out of shape

Never skip le... er, manual transmission day.

[thebmw]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

Never skip le... er, manual transmission day.

Self driving cars are the only way to exercise the 5th extremity while driving.

[XutvJet]

I agree that DCTs, especially the BMW DCT in the F series cars, are far from perfect in stop and go traffic. They are lurchy in bumper to bumper traffic when the transmission is going between roll mode and disengagement. The overly grippy OEM brake pads on the F8X don't help either as they can grab very aggressively at very slow speeds and are hard to modulate in those situations. I had to install carbon ceramic pads to address this in daily driving. During normal driving and in Comfort mode, the DCT does one heck of a job at smooth shifting and emulates a planetary auto quite well. In Traction and Sport modes, the automatic shifting is also very good. In manual mode, it's pretty awesome and immediate. The only time it flakes out is when you upshift and it's expecting a downshift or vice versa. In those instances, the shift isn't immediate and more like a standard automatic in terms of immediacy.

I also say that after nearly 8 year of driving the 6MT in my 2016 M235, that experience was far from great. BMW clearly sees the 6MT in the F and G series as an after thought. A rubbery shifter, a clutch delay valve that makes the bite point move all around the place, a clutch pedal that rests 1/2" higher than the brake pedal, long gearing, and wonky throttle tuning (comfort is too laggy and Sport/Sport+ hyper) all compound to a generally average manual transmission driving experience.

I've driven an 8 speed ZF auto M235 and it was great. I can see what BMW went with it in the M cars. It gives up very little to the DCT in terms of max shift speed and is smoother around town.

[thebmw]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

BMW clearly sees the 6MT in the F and G series as an after thought.

They have not invested in manual trans R&D for over 2 decades. Whenever I drive the epitome of purity and the last true manual sports car, the Gen V Viper, it is so easy to see the difference between what a manual could be and what BMW offers. That said, I would still take the BMW manual.

I don't know why BMW cannot partner with Tremec and offer the TR-6060 or TR-6070. They don't have to invest in R&D and they bring the next generation manual trans to the market. It should convince anyone who is on the fence and attract new manual buyers to the brand. Plus, those manual trans can handle 650lbft+, unlike BMW's rating of 500lbft.

[Elderado82]

There’s really only one time I enjoy a manual transmission, and that’s when I can row through the gears and feel connected to the car and be in the moment. Any other time, I hate it. It sucks, it’s tiring, and you actually have to think. Plus, I’m getting older, and if there’s one thing I’m becoming more and more converted to, it’s the simplification of things.

I love manual transmissions 100%, but honestly, they’re only good for two things: being connected to a sports car or pulling equipment in a big‑ass diesel truck.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by thebmw

I think a manual trans is a good, all extremity workout. If your left leg gets tired, it just means it is out of shape

I was back driving my manual E90 on my (since retired) 80-mile the one-way commute in N. Virginia traffic the 3rd week after knee replacement surgery. My Doc agreed with you. When I asked him, he said, "Of course! It's the best physical therapy you can get."

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

I was back driving my manual E90 on my (since retired) 80-mile the one-way commute in N. Virginia traffic the 3rd week after knee replacement surgery. My Doc agreed with you. When I asked him, he said, "Of course! It's the best physical therapy you can get."

You should've seen if insurance would cover your car payment.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

You should've seen if insurance would cover your car payment.

I wish my therapist would have ridden along with me for observation. I got lucky, she looked like Daryl Hanna. Still does. Never missed one day of PT

[bvrider1]

“No Lift Shift” Really that good?

[M3Sleeper]

Originally Posted by baege

interesting...

there is definitely something racecar about a good DCT with the rapid shifts at your control and the sounds the engine makes

I guess the real question is would you actually choose DCT over manual in your weekend car?

that is the question I face

dont want to make an expensive move back to manual and then actually miss DCT

I can tell you want a manual just like I did back in 2020 when I purchased an M340i while I was waiting for the M3 to launch. That was a great car but I never was happy driving it. After the M340i I drove a DCT F80 M3 for about 6 months and although it was nice I never looked back once I hopped into my G80 M3 6MT.

There is no compairison to a true manual transmission in 2026 when they are relatively scarce and soon to be extinct within the sedan category. The few manual transmissions will be those saved from the past and a few sports cars and maybe an offroad vehicle and a truck like the Tacoma.

I would not want to dd a 6MT Tacoma but I do love driving my 6MT G80 daily.

For you just to drive on weekends and nice days the 6MT will be a great addition. Get one and keep a DD around..trust me you can afford it so that excuse won't work here

I never missed the DCT and I won't go back until my knees give out and I can't push in the clutch anymore.

[vt100]

Originally Posted by Elderado82

There’s really only one time I enjoy a manual transmission, and that’s when I can row through the gears and feel connected to the car and be in the moment. Any other time, I hate it.

Not sure I'm reading this correctly If you don't row through the gears - you just have a particular gear selected already and you just cruise in this gear No different from Auto or DCT So nothing to hate here

Originally Posted by Elderado82

they’re only good for two things: being connected to a sports car or pulling equipment in a big‑ass diesel truck.

Damn it! That's my dream - RAM 2500 Cummins with manual! Some day, some day....

[baege]

Originally Posted by M3Sleeper

I can tell you want a manual just like I did back in 2020 when I purchased an M340i while I was waiting for the M3 to launch. That was a great car but I never was happy driving it. After the M340i I drove a DCT F80 M3 for about 6 months and although it was nice I never looked back once I hopped into my G80 M3 6MT.

There is no compairison to a true manual transmission in 2026 when they are relatively scarce and soon to be extinct within the sedan category. The few manual transmissions will be those saved from the past and a few sports cars and maybe an offroad vehicle and a truck like the Tacoma.

I would not want to dd a 6MT Tacoma but I do love driving my 6MT G80 daily.

For you just to drive on weekends and nice days the 6MT will be a great addition. Get one and keep a DD around..trust me you can afford it so that excuse won't work here

I never missed the DCT and I won't go back until my knees give out and I can't push in the clutch anymore.

I am definitely feeling the pull of a manual back in my life!

the last time I felt this was when I moved from a manual cayman to a zf8 m240i

it took about 6 months in that case for me to really miss manual (the zf8 isnt at the same level as the DCT in the R8 in terms of response and engagement)

after the m240i I got a M2C 6 MT and loved being back in a manual and never missed that Zf8!

this time is a little different, because I am 6 years older, the DCT in the R8 is better than the ZF8 but still missing manual

I need to test drive a manual GT3 and see if I get the same `I need this back`feeling that I got when I first drove a manual after having the m240i

in that case it was a e86 m coupe and I felt so much emotion (I was almost brought to tears, but I think was due to both the manual and my love for e86s) I knew I needed manual back

I recently test drove a G87 M2 manual

I didnt get that I defintely need manual back feeling this time

maybe I am just getting old and lazy!

[XutvJet]

Originally Posted by baege

I recently test drove a G87 M2 manual

I didnt get that I defintely need manual back feeling this time

maybe I am just getting old and lazy!

It's because that 6MT is trash. Keep the R8 and get a fun $30K manual sports car like a 987.2 Cayman/Boxster, Miata, GR86/BRZ, etc., make it your own, and have fun driving it at 8/10+ on the B roads. When you want to go really fast, take the R8. I'd stop honing in on halo cars like a GT3. It's just too high strung for daily driving, IMO.

Why exactly do you say that you can't have two cars?

[Alfisti]

He lives in Canada, a good quality .2 boxster will be close to double that price. But i get your point. On 2 cars, i think he is downtown with one allocated parking space.

[JABCAT]

My manual sports car was driven ~250 mi in the last year & less than 450 mi the year before that. It's currently under a cover even though temps are in the 70's & 80s here. I do need to take it to get its annual inspection next week, so the cover will come off then for at least that short drive.

I'm getting more & more traffic around my area, constant road constuction, etc. which makes it really no fun to drive. And even though it has ~100+ more hp & is ~500 lbs lighter than my M2, my M2 feels just as quick with the extreme quickness of the auto gear changes.

[baege]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

It's because that 6MT is trash. Keep the R8 and get a fun $30K manual sports car like a 987.2 Cayman/Boxster, Miata, GR86/BRZ, etc., make it your own, and have fun driving it at 8/10+ on the B roads. When you want to go really fast, take the R8. I'd stop honing in on halo cars like a GT3. It's just too high strung for daily driving, IMO.

Why exactly do you say that you can't have two cars?

parking issues mean I can only have one sports car and I am debating if that should be my DCT R8 or whether I should go back to something manual

dont want to make a move to manual and then actually end up preferring DCT and missing it and wanting it back, that would be an expensive mistake, especially if I went to something like the Gt3

started this thread to see if anyone has actually missed DCT after going to manual in a sports car...so far no takers!

[M2CSDaily]

I’ll bite. I had 2 pdk Porsches (cayman and 911) then decided to get manual 991.1S, which I thought I would love, perfect spec, NA manual. However I never quite liked it, and did actually miss pdk. I also had c6 z06 (only available in manual), and now have M2 CS with DCT. I love the dct and do not miss manual, it really depends on the car, some are better as manual (generally smaller and or older cars, for example), but for me many cars are better suited for dct, like my M2 CS. Just my opinion and I’m clearly in the minority but there is at least one person who switched to dct from manual and doesn’t plan on going back. Only you can decide what matters, random people on the internet should not sway your decision

[Ohio Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by baege

parking issues mean I can only have one sports car

Is it a matter of garage vs street parking? As suggested, get a cheap, fun manual sports car like a Miata/BRZ/GR86 and park it on the street. Or, if a parking spot costs money, consider the savings of getting a car 10% the cost of a GT3 and how many years of parking that'll get you.

You're going round and round in circles with the one car requirement. Have you seriously looked at the implication of having a second car? It might not be as bad as you imagine and end up making more sense than gambling on a very expensive GT3 that you might regret getting.

[baege]

Originally Posted by M2CSDaily

I’ll bite. I had 2 pdk Porsches (cayman and 911) then decided to get manual 991.1S, which I thought I would love, perfect spec, NA manual. However I never quite liked it, and did actually miss pdk. I also had c6 z06 (only available in manual), and now have M2 CS with DCT. I love the dct and do not miss manual, it really depends on the car, some are better as manual (generally smaller and or older cars, for example), but for me many cars are better suited for dct, like my M2 CS. Just my opinion and I’m clearly in the minority but there is at least one person who switched to dct from manual and doesn’t plan on going back. Only you can decide what matters, random people on the internet should not sway your decision

you my friend are the first to say you missed a DCT after moving to manual!

appreciate you sharing your experience, I agree in the end it is subjective, but I find it helps to hear about the experiences of others

the fact that I even had the thought that I might end up missing DCT if I move to a manual does say something, there are clearly things about DCT I prefer

I need to drive a manual GT3 and that will bring some real clarity