M4 Manual or Dual Clutch Transmission DCT? Video compare

[trey100]

Enjoyed the video guys. Thanks for putting that together.

[s4awd]

After watching sports car racing and all using flappy paddles, I decided to give DCT another try. I just don't like it. Again it's my opinion and it's entirely subjective. In the video, the sound of the manual, shifting, rev matching, and the smile on the drivers face when shifting erases the laundry list of why the DCT is better

[F83]

DCT is indeed great but... C'mon It's an automatic.

[Praise Iommi]

Came to the same conclusion when I test drove a new F82 with DCT and a used F80 with a 6 speed. After that I felt safe ordering a 6 speed.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by SamsonM4

Was I freaking out?

I had a stupid grin on my face during most of the video because we had a lot of fun filming!

Hey Sam

As a high performance driving instructor, I need to nag you about something

You are sitting way too far from the steering wheel. With your shoulder blades against the seat back, you should be able to rest your wrist on the top of the steering wheel. This way, when you are seated with hands at 3 and 9, your elbows should have a ~90deg angle. This will allow you to do over 180deg rotations of the steering wheel without having to move your hands.

Sorry for this, but it bugged me the whole time I watched the vid

Cheers, cool vid and cool car

[CanAutM3]

Nick,

Another advantage you should list for the 6MT is the 89lb weight saving

[new2the3]

I have been driving 6mt in my 135i for the past 6.5 years. I love it but I feel like I'm getting tired of shifting Monday through Friday during my commute that has a ton of stop and go. I love it on the weekends and when I'm not in traffic (25% of the time). Would I regret a DCT?

[F83]

Originally Posted by new2the3

I have been driving 6mt in my 135i for the past 6.5 years. I love it but I feel like I'm getting tired of shifting Monday through Friday during my commute that has a ton of stop and go. I love it on the weekends and when I'm not in traffic (25% of the time). Would I regret a DCT?

Yes.

That's why I bought one last time. This time "gimmi 6Mt or forget it" was my motto.

[RocketBoots]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

Hey Sam

As a high performance driving instructor, I need to nag you about something

You are sitting way too far from the steering wheel. With you shoulder blades against the seat back, you should be able to rest your wrist on the top of the steering wheel. This way, when you are seated with hand at 3 and 9, your elbows should have a ~90deg angle. This will allow you to do over 180deg rotations of the steering wheels without having to move your hands.

Sorry for this, but it bugged me the whole time I watched the vid

Cheers, cool vid and cool car

I've yet to go to a high perf driving school, but from watching vids and my own experimentation with comfort and ergonomics, I sit in that position. I think it's great

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

Nick,

Another advantage you should list for the 6MT is the 89lb weight saving

Was just about to mention that.

Originally Posted by new2the3

I have been driving 6mt in my 135i for the past 6.5 years. I love it but I feel like I'm getting tired of shifting Monday through Friday during my commute that has a ton of stop and go. I love it on the weekends and when I'm not in traffic (25% of the time). Would I regret a DCT?

As much as I love my 6MT, if I had to deal with San Diego traffic on a regular basis, I'd either get the DCT or a different car.

On another note, I can say that the M-performance shifter much more promotes a "gripping it like a man's penis" hand position Just FYI.

[Doctor///M]

preach brother, preach!!

traffic... pshhht.

[nmurray22]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

Nick,

Another advantage you should list for the 6MT is the 89lb weight saving

This is a good point, I should have had that in there

[dmnc02]

Originally Posted by F83

Yes.

That's why I bought one last time. This time "gimmi 6Mt or forget it" was my motto.

Let's hope enough people will adopt it so as to keep the MT alive for at least another generation.

[Irishace]

I miss the 6MT in my E92 M3. That was a great car for an MT. That said the DCT, in my opinion, is a signature M car feature and although you loose some of the visceral driving feel the performance gains and mistake free driving just can't be argued. Mad props to the MT die hard fans. I am over it though, perhaps a sign of my age or my desire for maximum performance.

[Bimmer6]

This will always be an debate that will never be won. On the GT3 forum it went on for days, and Porsche made it easy the 991 GT3 only game with a PDK yes it was heavier. However 80% of them are tracked and the PDK was lighting fast and no manual could ever shift faster. When racing a car speed is the ultimate goal of you indeed track your car. The more power being added to cars a manual will just ruin the motor with one slip of the wrist.

Can't tell you how many Porsche guys that they would never buy a Porsche again they ruined the brand, but every GT3 was sold out. Now the same guys are buying the RS some paying up to 50k over MSRP. I should my 991S which was a 7 speed manual which I said I would keep for ever ...........now I will keep the GT3 for ever 9k RPM PDK is so fast it will pin you to the seat. When tracking you focus on lines and driving vs what gear do I need it's unreal. Good luck on your choices can't go wrong either way if speed is not the goal. The funny thing on the GT3 board they were arguing about a car that didn't exist a GT3 manual(:

[SamsonM4]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

Hey Sam

As a high performance driving instructor, I need to nag you about something

You are sitting way too far from the steering wheel. With you shoulder blades against the seat back, you should be able to rest your wrist on the top of the steering wheel. This way, when you are seated with hands at 3 and 9, your elbows should have a ~90deg angle. This will allow you to do over 180deg rotations of the steering wheels without having to move your hands.

Sorry for this, but it bugged me the whole time I watched the vid

Cheers, cool vid and cool car

This kind of feedback is welcome, and I appreciate it! I was in my highway cruising posture, considering both Nick and I were both in traffic for about two hours trying to meet up.

I will take the feedback to heart though. There's always something to learn, and I'd like to become a more technical driver.

[RocketBoots]

Originally Posted by Bimmer6

This will always be an debate that will never be won. On the GT3 forum it went on for days, and Porsche made it easy the 991 GT3 only game with a PDK yes it was heavier. However 80% of them are tracked and the PDK was lighting fast and no manual could ever shift faster. When racing a car speed is the ultimate goal of you indeed track your car. The more power being added to cars a manual will just ruin the motor with one slip of the wrist.

This just made me think of a funny, ironic fact. Probably 98% of M3/M4's are NOT tracked, but 90% of people get the 'track' tranny

[RocketBoots]

Originally Posted by Doctor///M

traffic... pshhht.

I have serious traffic road rage problems

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by Irishace

I miss the 6MT in my E92 M3. That was a great car for an MT. That said the DCT, in my opinion, is a signature M car feature and although you loose some of the visceral driving feel the performance gains and mistake free driving just can't be argued. Mad props to the MT die hard fans. I am over it though, perhaps a sign of my age or my desire for maximum performance.

Funnily though, the DCT was a better match for the S65 than it is for the S55.

[trey100]

I'd purchase one in a 6MT but one thing I noticed in one of Nick's videos showing launch control - in that first gear, with the shorter gearing, the revs fly right to redline. Looks vicious.

[Ragged Edge]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

Hey Sam

As a high performance driving instructor, I need to nag you about something

You are sitting way too far from the steering wheel. With you shoulder blades against the seat back, you should be able to rest your wrist on the top of the steering wheel. This way, when you are seated with hands at 3 and 9, your elbows should have a ~90deg angle. This will allow you to do over 180deg rotations of the steering wheels without having to move your hands.

Sorry for this, but it bugged me the whole time I watched the vid

Cheers, cool vid and cool car

Nick, another great vid, thanks!
Sam, you have a great looking car! Nice to be able to compare your mods with a stock M4 side by side. Just that seating position bugged me too!! sorry, just had to agree with CanAutM3 on that one. But thank you for making this vid possible!!
Someday soon I hope to join the ranks of F8x owners... enjoy!

[trey100]

Originally Posted by Bimmer6

This will always be an debate that will never be won. On the GT3 forum it went on for days, and Porsche made it easy the 991 GT3 only game with a PDK yes it was heavier. However 80% of them are tracked and the PDK was lighting fast and no manual could ever shift faster. When racing a car speed is the ultimate goal of you indeed track your car. The more power being added to cars a manual will just ruin the motor with one slip of the wrist.

Can't tell you how many Porsche guys that they would never buy a Porsche again they ruined the brand, but every GT3 was sold out. Now the same guys are buying the RS some paying up to 50k over MSRP. I should my 991S which was a 7 speed manual which I said I would keep for ever ...........now I will keep the GT3 for ever 9k RPM PDK is so fast it will pin you to the seat. When tracking you focus on lines and driving vs what gear do I need it's unreal. Good luck on your choices can't go wrong either way if speed is not the goal. The funny thing on the GT3 board they were arguing about a car that didn't exist a GT3 manual(:

The value of manual gt3 rs's on the used car market are through the roof too. A quick search online shows 2011's looking for $189k. That's pretty good value retention.

I think the demand is for that car specifically - manual or auto.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by trey100

I'd purchase one in a 6MT but one thing I noticed in one of Nick's videos showing launch control - in that first gear, with the shorter gearing, the revs fly right to redline. Looks vicious.

That short DCT 1st gear is utterly useless .