I was in the same position re: auto/DSG, always had manuals and not been impressed with the auto in various hire cars over the years.
I was looking at the BMW M140i, but really wasn’t sure on the auto which is all that’s available now.
Fortunately BMW were offering 24hr test drives, so I took one out and it did take several hours of driving before I started to get that engaged feeling with the paddles and the box in manual. It’s just different, and took a lot of getting used to. Once I had a few hrs under my belt and found some empty twisty countryside roads I had a proper spirited drive with the car in sport and the box in manual and did find that there was that same feeling of engagement and satisfaction that the manual box gives when you get the gear changes just right through a set of bends etc. That and the sound of that B58 straight six
Having had the 140 for 6 weeks or so now I love the ZF 8 speed box. Best of both worlds, leave the car in comfort and in drive and the daily commute is easy and silky smooth, but kickdown gives you all the power when you want to overtake. Sport mode with box in manual gives you the more engaging drive for when you want that.
Think we’ll see less and less manuals in the performance end of model line ups.
I was looking at the BMW M140i, but really wasn’t sure on the auto which is all that’s available now.
Fortunately BMW were offering 24hr test drives, so I took one out and it did take several hours of driving before I started to get that engaged feeling with the paddles and the box in manual. It’s just different, and took a lot of getting used to. Once I had a few hrs under my belt and found some empty twisty countryside roads I had a proper spirited drive with the car in sport and the box in manual and did find that there was that same feeling of engagement and satisfaction that the manual box gives when you get the gear changes just right through a set of bends etc. That and the sound of that B58 straight six
Having had the 140 for 6 weeks or so now I love the ZF 8 speed box. Best of both worlds, leave the car in comfort and in drive and the daily commute is easy and silky smooth, but kickdown gives you all the power when you want to overtake. Sport mode with box in manual gives you the more engaging drive for when you want that.
Think we’ll see less and less manuals in the performance end of model line ups.