M4 Manual or Dual Clutch Transmission DCT? Video compare

[bradleyland]

Originally Posted by Simon H

Nick,
I picked up on you having trouble, with getting the car in Park ?. If you push the start button twice, on switch off, it will put itself into Park, every single time, regardless if you have it in gear or Neutral. Great video, thankyou, but dont you dare swap for a manual, regards, SIMON.

Aaaah, so that's why I never have the P issue. I habitually press the start/stop button to shut the radio off when I park the car. Hence, my car always goes in to park. I never did understand the complaints.

[Car22]

Originally Posted by jbl16

Nope, DCT offers the best of both worlds. True stop and go traffic gets old very quickly with a MT.

+1. Daily driving Seattle traffic, after depressing a clutch every 30 secs I wanted to hang myself. No single best answer between transmissions except perhaps how often and where you drive your M. For me, DCT as my daily love affair. I was manual for a long long time before that. Bottom line, if you're one of the fortunate few driving an M, feel good about it and enjoy!

[shortseller]

Originally Posted by M3 Number 86

me too I can't stand that! I don't know how many times the first thing that goes through my head is - sitting too far.

As long as you can do a full 180 degree turn with both hands on the wheel comfortably while staying planted in the seat is fine as well.

Especially when you consider he drives a manual, sitting closer is a given when compared to the DCT, atleast that's how it is for me.

[VCP]

I own both and the DCT is hands down winner for performance. The 6spd is a love affair. I do not find the DCT less engaging either, to the contrary it is more engaging in a different manner.

[sroc]

335i was manual, 1st M3 was manual too, 2nd M3 was DCT and now I'm getting an M4 - Back to Manual!!!!!! I miss it a lot. Gotta Row!!!! Gotta Row!!!!

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by bradleyland

Regardless of how lazy I'm feeling, I can ...enjoy the awesome S65 induction sound of a massive throttle blip as I downshift.

but even in 6MT, you should ALWAYS downshift with a blip.

also, I think it's kind of cool that the Cadillac V cars have no lift (up)shifting.

[rap427]

You are the real deal and get the real fun of performance cars. Time will tell as to where this goes but rumor is Porsche is rethinking drop of manual on GT 3s and turbos. Buyers did not stop wanting manuals, manufactures got tired making them and forgot about the customer who wanted them. Remember when Ford/GM etc quit convertibles and now they roll them out as a new invention.

[Mr.SugarSkulls]

Oops, delete!

[rap427]

Another point on this is my guess many do not know how to shift a manual hence the slamming of old school. 2/10's of a second do make make the world of speed start and stop unless you are John Force.

[GMe90]

Nice video. Honestly, I would rather take a 328i with MT over a DCT M4. To each his own.

[Remonster]

My last car was DCT and I did enjoy driving it for 3 years & about 38,000 miles but going back to 6MT was just so much better for me. People have different tastes and priorities, I would say that the majority of people would love the DCT as it is a nearly flawless transmission, it is smooth and responsive and very intelligent when left to shift on its own, but if you truly enjoy shifting your own gears then you can never be fully satisfied without three pedals and a shifter.

The last 3 BMWs I ordered were 6MT and I waited ~3 months for each of them to be built and shipped over and I'm about to do it all over again.

[sycd]

Originally Posted by rap427

The real question is do we drive these cars for all out speed or the joy of driving a performance car. Most if not all my cars will exceed 150 mph and a couple 190 mph, now ask me how often I have driven over 90 mph.

Exactly. I don't remember last time a few tenth of a second in the 0-60 mph would have mattered for me, on the other hand driving manual makes driving the car more enjoyable every day (had a DCT E92 before the F80.)

[Powaup]

Hey Nick, let me know if you want to trade my 6mt M4 for your SO DCT

[sycd]

Great video. It's hard to believe that only a tenth of the M3/4 sold are manuals. Hopefully this should help the manuals keep their value in the future.

Speaking of which, I was checking the trade in value of my M3 the other day for sh... and giggles, and was pleasantly surprised to find it was about the same as what I paid new. I know to take KBB with a grain of salt, but compared to other cars I've owned it's a huge difference.

[Lorde]

If you had manual and get DCT, you will miss rowing your own gears. A lot!

[JunkStory]

comparing manual to auto is always opening a can of worms, on par with discussion about politics.

[Devilzmantis]

I think if it's a roadster or a smaller 2 door... definitely the manual. So much more fun in smaller cars for me.. but when you goto an M4/M3, you can't go wrong with either DCT or Manual.

[snaimpally]

Originally Posted by nmurray22

Maybe the hardest choice when ordering these cars is which transmission to get.

Which transmission is in fact the easiest choice. My personal feeling is that M cars should come only with a manual.

Thanks for making and sharing the video.

[dr.schmid]

Originally Posted by ForsaBee

Your friend was freaking the f*ck out when you drove his car!!! HAHAHAH. his face is hilarious!

I was literally thinking the same thing thats so funny. sorry sam.

[VCP]

I feel M cars should come with whatever sets fastest lap times.

[s4play]

Originally Posted by JunkStory

comparing manual to auto is always opening a can of worms, on par with discussion about politics.

Just like sex and religion at the dinner table with your in-laws


Most of my weekend "fun cars" are manuals and my last e90 m3 was a DCT, true disappointment Probably the main reason I sold it after one year of ownership compared to 7 years in my e46 m3 which was a manual.

Case in point, I've had 3 R8's all manuals and love the car but if you ever try to get me into an paddle shift R8, I'd sell it in a heartbeat. The ONLY car good enough to be paddle shift and worthy of my garage stable would be the 458 only because it's that good. The m3 no way, give me a 6MT please.

[M3 Number 86]

in all honesty though, for porsche, bmw, ferrari, all other performance car makers - I think the FIRST priority of having an automatic transmission is that you open up SALES VOLUMES like crazy!

Now anyone can buy these cars for status symbol and actually drive it around town. I wonder how many DCT buyers actually shift themselves? I would say a small number of them.