Who has gone from Manual to DCT, any regrets?

[landshark99]

I drove manuals for years, my last being an STI, went from that to a GTR and loved the DCT, not in drive, only with the paddles. I now have a 16 F80 with a DCT and I will never go back to a manual. The car is just so much faster. Yes putting it in drive could be boring, but the whole point is to shift it. Enjoy your manuals while you can there will be less and less of them in the future.

[kitesurfer]

Guys thanks for all the feedback here. After driving a DCT car I made the decision to give the DCT a ago this time around.

[dmk08]

Originally Posted by kitesurfer

Guys thanks for all the feedback here. After driving a DCT car I made the decision to give the DCT a ago this time around.

Condolences buddy

[kitesurfer]

Originally Posted by dmk08

Condolences buddy

Brother I might be singing the same song as you with the e92 DCT in 6 months, I'll either be loving it or . For now the wife is happy with DCT decision

[BMW M4 PWR]

Originally Posted by kitesurfer

Guys thanks for all the feedback here. After driving a DCT car I made the decision to give the DCT a ago this time around.

Traitor... now go slip some dct clutches!


j/k

[KevinGS]

I had 3 manuals previously (a Mazda RX7, a Nissan 300ZX Turbo, and a Honda Accord) and now have a DCT.

Not one iota of a regret...and for me, worth every penny for me to get the DCT.

If I had to get a regular automatic with this engine, I'd rather have a manual. But the DCT is magical when you're pushing this car hard, because you can do things with this transmission that you could NEVER do with a manual...

[AutoTalent]

Originally Posted by kitesurfer

Guys thanks for all the feedback here. After driving a DCT car I made the decision to give the DCT a ago this time around.

Does DCT have anti-theft? I don't think so.

[dmk08]

Originally Posted by KevinGS

I had 3 manuals previously (a Mazda RX7, a Nissan 300ZX Turbo, and a Honda Accord) and now have a DCT.

Not one iota of a regret...and for me, worth every penny for me to get the DCT.

If I had to get a regular automatic with this engine, I'd rather have a manual. But the DCT is magical when you're pushing this car hard, because you can do things with this transmission that you could NEVER do with a manual...

Whats that? Go into automatic mode?

[brianeck]

Originally Posted by dmk08

Whats that? Go into automatic mode?

[KevinGS]

Originally Posted by dmk08

Whats that? Go into automatic mode?

Yes, that too. And believe me, I LOVE this benefit. Use it all the time. LOL

Also, in milliseconds, it will drop 3 gears, lose traction, and scare the crap out of anyone watching or riding.

Love my DCT, and my right knee really appreciates it too.

[dmk08]

Originally Posted by KevinGS

Yes, that too. And believe me, I LOVE this benefit. Use it all the time. LOL

Also, in milliseconds, it will drop 3 gears, lose traction, and scare the crap out of anyone watching or riding.

Love my DCT, and my right knee really appreciates the DCT.

Are you in Maryland or the UK?

[KevinGS]

Originally Posted by dmk08

Are you in Maryland or the UK?

LOL

Maryland

and, yes, my knees love the DCT.

[9SECDD]

Originally Posted by kitesurfer

Guys thanks for all the feedback here. After driving a DCT car I made the decision to give the DCT a ago this time around.

Be sure to report back whether you like it or not.

[donaldp]

I have driven manuals my whole life. Test drove a DCT and thought I would give it a try knowing that the DCT far outsell the 6mt. Only 1,000 miles into it, still not broken it admittedly, and I'm bored out of my mind. It seems as though the DCT is preferred for race/track driving but for daily drivers like me, the DCT is not any fun. I read in this post that if you're bored with your DCT, you're not driving it right. Perhaps, I'm guilty of that, but for me I miss the connection that is present with the manual. Add to this, the jerky downshifts and sometimes needing a brake pedal at a stoplight and sometimes not, I'm regretting my choice every day. Unless there is a drastic change for me after the brake in period is up, I will be selling. I will take the loss and someone else will benefit from my leap of faith.

[9SECDD]

Originally Posted by donaldp

I have driven manuals my whole life. Test drove a DCT and thought I would give it a try knowing that the DCT far outsell the 6mt. Only 1,000 miles into it, still not broken it admittedly, and I'm bored out of my mind. It seems as though the DCT is preferred for race/track driving but for daily drivers like me, the DCT is not any fun. I read in this post that if you're bored with your DCT, you're not driving it right. Perhaps, I'm guilty of that, but for me I miss the connection that is present with the manual. Add to this, the jerky downshifts and sometimes needing a brake pedal at a stoplight and sometimes not, I'm regretting my choice every day. Unless there is a drastic change for me after the brake in period is up, I will be selling. I will take the loss and someone else will benefit from my leap of faith.

Are you manually paddle shifting the DCT in sequential mode? Or using it in auto (drive) mode?

[donaldp]

Originally Posted by NJ-M4

Are you manually paddle shifting the DCT in sequential mode? Or using it in auto (drive) mode?

I've done both as well as shifting the gear lever which seems most natural to me.

Any advice will be appreciated.

[TruthGuY]

Had the E46 M3 in 6MT then E92 6MT got the F82 in DCT thought I was going to hate it I will never go back to manual I love it

[9SECDD]

Originally Posted by donaldp

I've done both as well as shifting the gear lever which seems most natural to me.

Any advice will be appreciated.

Try sticking to just the paddles, and try driving in only sport+ and S3. Drop back to Sport and S2 only when absolutely necessary. Never drive in efficient or S1.

I find auto mode boring and detached and do not like it's shift points sometimes. Only use it briefly if eating a sandwich. heh. The gear lever can be useful while turning a corner, but is also not engaging for us former manual guys. I think you need to jump to a whole new way of manually shifting (paddles) in order to be satisfied with the DCT when coming from manuals and loving them.

If it doesn't eventually click for you, go back to the stick manual by all means. These cars are too good to not enjoy!

[F80Dreamer]

After years of driving manual cars, my incoming M3 is DCT equipped...this is my daily driver, traffic has gotten pretty bad, plus my wife will be driving it once in awhile so the DCT was the way to go. I'm actually looking forward to the change, plus will give me a reason to buy a manual equipped weekend car in a couple of years (used Cayman, etc...).

[CaryTheLabelGuy]

Originally Posted by NJ-M4

Try sticking to just the paddles, and try driving in only sport+ and S3. Drop back to Sport and S2 only when absolutely necessary. Never drive in efficient or S1.

I find auto mode boring and detached and do not like it's shift points sometimes. Only use it briefly if eating a sandwich. heh. The gear lever can be useful while turning a corner, but is also not engaging for us former manual guys. I think you need to jump to a whole new way of manually shifting (paddles) in order to be satisfied with the DCT when coming from manuals and loving them.

If it doesn't eventually click for you, go back to the stick manual by all means. These cars are too good to not enjoy!

I agree with everything you're saying. However, I have one caveat: S2 is more rewarding for light/moderate part-throttle driving. Much smoother and actually shifts faster than S3 (during part-throttle), but doesn't have the violent "kick" between gears that S3 has. For WOT pulls (drag racing) or for lots of throttle modulation and WOT shifting (road racing, HPDE), S3 is the much better choice as the WOT shift is super fast, crisp and downright violent (in a good way) but the light/moderate part-throttle S3 shift is a little clumsy.

These are my "M-Modes":

M1 - Sport+/Sport+/Comfort DCT in S2
M2 - Sport+/Sport+/Comfort DCT in S3


Here is how I typically drive my DCT M4 ZCP:

Cold-start and warm-up (until oil-temp reaches 190F) - Effecient/Sport/Sport (default) with DCT in D1.

After warm-up - M1 for daily driving duties, occasionally switching to D1 if I don't feel like shifting myself. M2 if I know I'm about to start driving really aggressively.

[9SECDD]

Originally Posted by CaryTheLabelGuy

I agree with everything you're saying. However, I have one caveat: S2 is more rewarding for light/moderate part-throttle driving. Much smoother and actually shifts faster than S3 (during part-throttle), but doesn't have the violent "kick" between gears that S3 has. For WOT pulls (drag racing) or for lots of throttle modulation and WOT shifting (road racing, HPDE), S3 is the much better choice as the WOT shift is super fast, crisp and downright violent (in a good way) but the light/moderate part-throttle S3 shift is a little clumsy.

These are my "M-Modes":

M1 - Sport+/Sport+/Comfort DCT in S2
M2 - Sport+/Sport+/Comfort DCT in S3


Here is how I typically drive my DCT M4 ZCP:

Cold-start and warm-up (until oil-temp reaches 190F) - Effecient/Sport/Sport (default) with DCT in D1.

After warm-up - M1 for daily driving duties, occasionally switching to D1 if I don't feel like shifting myself. M2 if I know I'm about to start driving really aggressively.

Good points. Agree that S2 smoother. Just thinking that a guy bored with the DCT might want to experience the best of the DCT before giving up. I love the kick between gears in S3, but understand how it can be a bit much at times. hehe

[donaldp]

Originally Posted by NJ-M4

Try sticking to just the paddles, and try driving in only sport+ and S3. Drop back to Sport and S2 only when absolutely necessary. Never drive in efficient or S1.

I find auto mode boring and detached and do not like it's shift points sometimes. Only use it briefly if eating a sandwich. heh. The gear lever can be useful while turning a corner, but is also not engaging for us former manual guys. I think you need to jump to a whole new way of manually shifting (paddles) in order to be satisfied with the DCT when coming from manuals and loving them.

If it doesn't eventually click for you, go back to the stick manual by all means. These cars are too good to not enjoy!

Thanks for the guidance. 1200 mile service tomorrow then I will be able to enjoy what the DCT has to offer. Looking forward to your suggestions.