I've decided on the E92 328i coupe, and aside from some minor option decisions, my biggest concern is whether to get auto or manual.

My typical drive is 75% highway, 25% city. I currently drive an '04 Jetta GLI wt 6 speed. My wife would like me to get the auto, and having driven one several times on test drives, I don't have a huge problem with the trans. (DS mode is not bad at all)

However, I would like to hear from those of you who loved driving stick, but made a change and are still satisified you made the right choice.

:help

I did. Fortunately the only time I drive the E92 is when I absolutely have no other choice (the MZ4 Coupe is low on gas or the Missus doesn't like riding in the E30 318is beater).

The automatic is marginally better than the automatics we've had in the past (her E46 323Ci was an auto as well as the 545i we had). Get the paddle shift option, it's absolutely vital since the car refuse to start from 1st gear from a stop. It's an acceptable compromise for my wife to drive. If it were up to me, I'd teach her to drive a stick and be done with it.

It weren't up to me.

I did. Fortunately the only time I drive the E92 is when I absolutely have no other choice (the MZ4 Coupe is low on gas or the Missus doesn't like riding in the E30 318is beater).

The automatic is marginally better than the automatics we've had in the past (her E46 323Ci was an auto as well as the 545i we had). Get the paddle shift option, it's absolutely vital since the car refuse to start from 1st gear from a stop. It's an acceptable compromise for my wife to drive. If it were up to me, I'd teach her to drive a stick and be done with it.

It weren't up to me.
I don't know your wife (or do I? :devillook) but from my own experience and that of some people I know, even if were up to you, it would most probably be easier to live with an auto than teach the wife to drive stick. Kinda like it is easier to say "Yes you are right dear, rather than explaining why she is wrong" :rolleyes, unless you had success with the latter which will automatically grant you Deity status in the married men's club.

Actually, my wife drives manual very well; she just doesn't like the hassle (read talking on cellphone, drinking coffee, etc, etc)

I guess I am concerned about whether the auto gets as much out of the engine as the manual. To be honest, I rarely drive at 9/10ths, so maybe I am overthinking the whole thing.

Get the step, she gets an auto, you can drive it in manual mode.

I got the steptronic w/paddles in my 335i coupe and I don't regret it at all. In fact I never even considered the manual transmission. I have plenty of other cars with manualt trannies, and my wife can drive a manual transmission quite well.

I ordered an E92 328i with an auto today. The commute is too many shifts and excess wear and tear on the M3. After talking it over with some of the techs at the dealership where I work, they said the autos are better than the ones in past three series. Still the final judgement is on hold until the present 3 Series get some more miles on them. The Maintenance Free Warranty is going to take care of the problems for the two year lease, so it is a no-brainer for me.

Get the step, she gets an auto, you can drive it in manual mode.

A poor substitue, IMO, for a true manual. I'd like to know how many people actually continue to use the paddles, or shift the auto themselves after a couple months.

The auto industry has done a fabulous job, IMO again, in selling the "manumatic" functionality. Hey, I shifted automatics myself back in the 60's. Nothing new here -- just the ability to shift and not miss the next gear. The trans will do what it wants, you are simply allowing it to move to the next higher gear when it determines it's time. Try this, accelerate briskly and shift up -- see when the trans finally moves to the next gear -- same time as if you didn't touch the thing yourself.

Get the manual, it is super easy to drive. The clutch is really smooth, and when your on a hill.. the car kind of holds itself so you dont roll back. My commute is about 40 miles, mostly freeway, so 6th gear comes in handy. And i drive this car all over town, and never have once thougth... " why didn't i get the auto".

And remember ... you can't track an automatic :D
HTH

my brother has a 328i w/ auto and no sport paddles, and it really is a great tranny. But after driving a 335i stick, you really will regret getting the auto if you love manuals. Now when the DCT tranny comes to the 335i, I'd be all over that

I've decided on the E92 328i coupe, and aside from some minor option decisions, my biggest concern is whether to get auto or manual.

My typical drive is 75% highway, 25% city. I currently drive an '04 Jetta GLI wt 6 speed. My wife would like me to get the auto, and having driven one several times on test drives, I don't have a huge problem with the trans. (DS mode is not bad at all)

However, I would like to hear from those of you who loved driving stick, but made a change and are still satisified you made the right choice.

:help


I drove a 328i w/ an auto tranny at the ultimate drive and was very disappointed with the throttle response, it was slow as hell, but once the it got going there is alot of power in that engine for what it is.

If you must go with the auto I would get paddle shifters so you could atleast have better control of your throttle response if you want quick acceleration.

I'd go manual though, these numbers are from the coupes, but the difference is fairly sigificant in the 0-60 times for the 328, where as the 335 is not so significant.

328, 0-60
6.2 s manual
6.8 s auto

335
5.3 s manual :rolleyes
5.5 s auto

A poor substitue, IMO, for a true manual. I'd like to know how many people actually continue to use the paddles, or shift the auto themselves after a couple months.

The auto industry has done a fabulous job, IMO again, in selling the "manumatic" functionality. Hey, I shifted automatics myself back in the 60's. Nothing new here -- just the ability to shift and not miss the next gear. The trans will do what it wants, you are simply allowing it to move to the next higher gear when it determines it's time. Try this, accelerate briskly and shift up -- see when the trans finally moves to the next gear -- same time as if you didn't touch the thing yourself.

I know people have a preference, but you can't argue that the step is smoother, easier and faster. Those were selling points for me, on top of the convenience factor.

And remember ... you can't track an automatic :D

:rolleyes

You can track whatever the hell you want if you know how to. Hell I tracked a Chevy Malibu automatic with 3 usable forward gears a couple of weeks ago. :lol

I drove a 328i w/ an auto tranny at the ultimate drive and was very disappointed with the throttle response, it was slow as hell, but once the it got going there is alot of power in that engine for what it is.

That's because it starts out in 2nd to save gas.

Get the manual, it is super easy to drive. The clutch is really smooth, and when your on a hill.. the car kind of holds itself so you dont roll back. My commute is about 40 miles, mostly freeway, so 6th gear comes in handy. And i drive this car all over town, and never have once thougth... " why didn't i get the auto".

And remember ... you can't track an automatic :D
HTH

Nope, that's why you drive the step in manual. Problem solved.