Who has gone from Manual to DCT, any regrets?

[kitesurfer]

So I am considering going to the Dark Side...

I am going to trade my Manual M4 for a M3 ZCP .... the back seat for my son is a + and trying to have more of a family car, my wife prefers an automatic even though she can drive a manual and would prefer that I get an auto this go around especially if she is gonna drive it.... I have been a long time buyer of Manuals e46, e92 and f8x generations. I did at one point have a 335i 6-A/T for my wife and was not a big fan of that Transmission.
I understand the benefits of the DCT both on the street and track (i.e. instant shifts, can shift mid corner, faster, easier to drive at at the limit, driving in traffic*which in not an issue where I live*)

I would like to hear from guys who where long time manual drivers who made the switch...do you regret/get bored with it or have you not looked back? My fear is that I will just get bored and regret the decision

Update 2 month review of my DCT f80 :

I figured I would come back and share my thoughts, now that I have spent over 2 months with a f80 comp pack DCT after having the manual f82.
I can honestly say that I don't miss the manual much if at all. The performance of the DCT is truly something special. After owning both Its evident that the car is engineered to be mated with the DCT. No Loss of power during WOT shifts is stunning. Not to mention mid corner shifting ability without upsetting the car. I could not forget to mention smokey burnouts are on demand when pushing the pedal through the kickdown
I am not sure how much torque management played a role in watering down the manual but something was going on there.
I am not regretting my decision one bit.

[JamesGames]

Originally Posted by kitesurfer

So I am considering going to the Dark Side...

I am going to trade my Manual M4 for a an M3 ZCP .... the back seat for my son is a + and trying to have more of a family car, my wife prefers an automatic even though she can drive a manual and would prefer that I get an auto this go around especially if she is gonna drive it.... I have been a long time buyer of Manuals e46, e92 and f8x generations. I did at one point have a 335i 6-A/T for my wife and was not a big fan of that Transmission.
I understand the benefits of the DCT both on the street and track (i.e. instant shifts, can shift mid corner, faster, easier to drive at at the limit, driving in traffic*which in not an issue where I live*)

I would like to hear from guys who where long time manual drivers who made the switch...do you regret/get bored with it or have you not looked back? My fear is that I will just get bored and regret the decision

Just by seeing your E90 / E92 / E93 and multiple transmissions you got before, I will guess it will be a relatively short flirtatious escapade with the DCT before you come back and rejoin the manual transmission club again due to boredom and wanting to shift.

I enjoyed DCT on the E92 M3 due to the NA blips and the high redline. Not so much on the F8X.. but thats just me personally.

[CaryTheLabelGuy]

Long time manual guy here, I had a MY15 M4 6MT for over a year and loved the transmission. However, I now have a MY16 M4 ZCP DCT and would never go back......ever. There are obvious things that I miss, but not enough to go back from the DCT.

It is just too good and too fast to ever think of going back and I would consider myself a good manual driver. That, to me, says a lot about the DCT.

[Pak317]

This is my first dct and I am really missing the manual. Find myself getting bored when I'm driving

[kitesurfer]

Originally Posted by CaryTheLabelGuy

Long time manual guy here, I had a MY15 M4 6MT for over a year and loved the transmission. However, I now have a MY16 M4 ZCP DCT and would never go back......ever. There are obvious things that I miss, but not enough to go back from the DCT.

It is just too good and too fast to ever think of going back and I would consider myself a good manual driver. That, to me, says a lot about the DCT.

You have had lots of good things to say about the DCT, to say you would really never consider going back is pretty big vote. Did you do the GTS flash? any days at the track or strip with it?

[kitesurfer]

Originally Posted by Pak317

This is my first dct and I am really missing the manual. Find myself getting bored when I'm driving

Did you have previous generations ? what does most of your driving consist of city, mountain runs, track days?

[schnell325]

Originally Posted by Pak317

This is my first dct and I am really missing the manual. Find myself getting bored when I'm driving

Same here

[Pak317]

Originally Posted by kitesurfer

Did you have previous generations ? what does most of your driving consist of city, mountain runs, track days?

Mainly city and some spirited driving on mountains or back roads. Had a few track days in Korea with my buddy's stripped e92 dct and his m4 dct. Still prefer manuals at the end of day

Btw I have the vf stage 1 and tcu

[CaryTheLabelGuy]

Originally Posted by kitesurfer

You have had lots of good things to say about the DCT, to say you would really never consider going back is pretty big vote. Did you do the GTS flash? any days at the track or strip with it?

I haven't taken this car to the track yet (just recently got my run-in service done), but I have driven it very hard and have launched it a number of time as well.

You will always miss a manual, but the advantages just outweigh the nostalgic/fun factor, at least for me. The DCT is just a better transmission and makes the car a better car.

I think about this every time I sit in my ZCP and hit the start/stop button.

[aboulfad]

I only drove manuals up till my M4, I did miss the fun and felt a bit bored the first maybe 6 months, but then you tend to forget it... I must admit it's so much comfortable in traffic not to have to clutch in and out every few feet... The DCT is also fun in manual mode!

[F80Dreamer]

I currently drive a manual car but have ordered the DCT for my 2017 order. Both obviously have pros and cons, but for me this car will be a daily driver and I am stuck in stop and go traffic for 90% of the time. The manual is just a beat down, so I am looking to get something that is a better all round option.

[Die ///M Rakete]

Originally Posted by kitesurfer

My fear is that I will just get bored and regret the decision

Your fear is well justified.

[rjb5183]

Had an E92 6MT, then went to a F10 M5 (DCT), and now back to a 6MT M4. Biggest factor for switching back to the M4 was missing the 6MT, followed closely by the weight of the M5.

DCT is a better transmission, no doubt, but the 6MT is more fun.

[FC4]

This is the first car I've ever ordered in automatic which is available with a stick. The manual in these cars is about average as it gets for a mid-level performance car. Sure, mechanically it doesn't like to be shifted fast, the ECU momentarily kills engine output after each shift, and auto rev-match can't be disabled in Sport+...but it has a clutch pedal!

Don't kid yourself. The decision would be quite difficult if the manual was actually good.

[Pak317]

Originally Posted by FC4

This is the first car I've ever ordered in automatic which is available with a stick. The manual in these cars is about average as it gets for a mid-level performance car. Sure, mechanically it doesn't like to be shifted fast, the ECU momentarily kills engine output after each shift, and auto rev-match can't be disabled in Sport+...but it has a clutch pedal!

Don't kid yourself. The decision would be quite difficult if the manual was actually good.

Interesting, haven't had a chance to drive a manual in the f8xs

[Sergm3]

Originally Posted by rjb5183

Had an E92 6MT, then went to a F10 M5 (DCT), and now back to a 6MT M4. Biggest factor for switching back to the M4 was missing the 6MT, followed closely by the weight of the M5.

DCT is a better transmission, no doubt, but the 6MT is more fun.

+1 Same situation as you. Had e92 6mt, went for f10 m5 dct now back f80 m3 6mt. Completely agree with you.

[FC4]

Originally Posted by Pak317

Interesting, haven't had a chance to drive a manual in the f8xs

Nothing really to get excited about, but some rant and rave about how great it is. It's all a matter of expectations, and with something as subjective as the feel of a shifter and clutch, you have to draw relative comparisons to classify it as "great." I can't think of a manual transmission in a $75K performance-oriented car which I'd rank below the M3 or M4. Corvette or Boxster/Cayman are worlds better. RS4/RS5? Never driven a manual, but sure...maybe those suck more.

I used to like manuals just for the sake of manuals, too. I got over that very recently.

[V3rbatim]

Went from evo x dct to evo X 5spd. Just missed the manual so much and hated when people would say "its automatic?" I love the dct trans though. Shifts so fast. Anyways i now have a 2016 m3 manual..

[kitesurfer]

I added a poll to this thread

[m3aviator]

My 08 was 6spd. Went for a ride in my friends DCT, and told myself my next M would be just that. I bought an 11 w/ DCT. Same car different transmission, completely different experience, just epic. I ordered my F80 w/DCT

[BMW M4 PWR]

Driven both, preferred the 6MT... ordered the manual👍 ...you'll be bored with the DCT, basically an auto.

[kitesurfer]

First off I want to give a big thanks to Tom Walsh Client advisor at BMW of Wilmington, NC. If you are in Southeastern NC and in the market for a BMW, he is a true car enthusiast, he and his Dad run the local cars and coffee events. Tom was very gracious & allowed me drive his personal M3 with a DCT!....I gotta say it presents a pretty compelling case, this is a tougher decision than I thought !!