Chief F1 Fan

Autoweek has a short article this week saying BMW is thinking about replacing manual trannies on their M cars w/ SMG option only. I don't think I would like that as an enthusiast even tho the smg is a fu*kin' blast to drive!

chikai

huh...what are these corporate heads thinking? do they even drive these cars?

AtlCl

If that occurs, I will never buy a beemer.

I understand SMG is cool and all, but I take great pleasure in the physical act of pressing the clutch and throwing the car into a lower gear. I don't care that the SMG is quicker at shifting, there's just less driver interaction with the car. There's nothing like ripping through gears manually. If BMW does it, Fuk em. Maybe I'll get a used M5/M3 with a 6 speed. (one day)

Water-S

are you kidding the M3 and M5 is a "stick car"(there's certain cars in my opinion are must have sticks in(like ZO6 Vette,SS camero, Cobra Mustang, (the CL can go both way and be cool ), but the M3 and M5 is a must for a stick. I personally feel it's like your take your car to the vet to have him "fixed" if you get a automatic in a hot rod like a M3 or M5

1SICKLEX

That would be dumber than making Bangle chief designer....

NJTypeS

I don't know. SMG is sweet. Maybe killing off a regular manual is a bit extreme, but it would be nice of them to offer both choices on all their models. I think SMG type transmissions will eventually become more common on other cars too. Look at our auto sticks. A lot of cars have them now. Its only a matter of time until SMG's get more popular.

Nashua_Night_Hawk

I will go with SMG or better CVTs....

kensteele

I said this a couple of years ago right here in the acura forum (wherever we were) and I'll say it again. In our lifetimes (20-30 years to go), the manual shift will be NOT obsolete BUT absent on the modern family sedan/van/coupe. Manual shifts can only be found on exotic sport cars, motorcycles and other specialty vehicles. IMHO, of course.

Tom2

BMW will never stop the manual trannies.

Besides, look around......there are more and more vehicles popping up with manual trans options than in a very long time.

Take Mercedes for instance. 5 or 6 years ago, you couldn't buy ANY model in the United States with anything but an automatic trans. Today, there are a few Mercedes models available with manual trans.

Red Rider

True, but very few people are buying them. More cars with auto Trans are being sold than ever. Even in the land of the manual Europe, autos are becoming more popular. I guess they figure if F1 can go clutchless, why not. Also since manuals usually get a bit better mileage, the U.S. companies are including more manuals in the lineup to increase their corporate fuel mileage.

Tom2

Well, if nobody is buying them, then how would the increased fuel economy help the manufacturers CAFE?

Red Rider

I'm guessing it's an average by model, not by how many sold.