[hinckley]

Originally Posted by Ender_

Nope - its gone in 2019!

I didn't know that. Shame … nice car.

[ScottAndrew]

Originally Posted by MarcoZandrini

....a manual transmission option! In the US we can only get the 8 speed automatic transmission. Why? BMW has to sent each engine-transmission combination through EPA testing to determine emissions, and DOT testing for mileage.

It's a bummer, but generally speaking, if you want your cars cheaper than everybody else, stuff gets taken out.

Having said that, BMW only offers manuals (currently) in the lower-order G20s anyway, none of which are sold in the US as there's no demand, nor is there much demand for manual transmissions in BMW's main competitors. So it's a triple foregone conclusion I'm afraid!

[Fuller]

Originally Posted by cupojava

He can get a car that has been stuck in a timewarp for the last 16 years: the Nissan 350z.

Yep, and Miata, Subaru wrx, camaro, vette, mustang, challenger. I've also heard the bmw g80/82 will likely retain a manual option. It looks like manual rwd will be mostly limited to sport focused cars and American muscle cars.

[MT4life]

Originally Posted by Ender_

Nope - its gone in 2019!

What's gone? I've read there will be 2019 Golf R with MT.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by Blubaron79

And move to..? manuals are gone everywhere.

The brand new Genesis G70 has a manual transmission option for the four cylinder model.

That's the only one left in the class. The F30 3 Series and Cadillac ATS Sedan had available manual transmissions but they are gone after MY2018 production ends (this month). The Audi A4 had a manual transmission option as well, but that has also been discontinued after MY2018.

[hinckley]

Originally Posted by MT4life

What's gone? I've read there will be 2019 Golf R with MT.

This article states that a MT is available for the 2019 Golf R.

[SmoothStyle1]

This is why I intend to hold on to my 340i 6MT for a long time. Quite possibly the last performance 3-series with a manual transmission mated to an inline 6-cylinder.

[2015M4inCT]

I read somewhere a quoted line from a BMW employee that it's autonomous and safety driving aids that are ultimately killing off the clutch pedal.

[Gamb1t]

Originally Posted by 340i6MT

I read somewhere a quoted line from a BMW employee that it's autonomous and safety driving aids that are ultimately killing off the clutch pedal.

Uh no. BMW consumers did.

Manuals will be exclusive to enthusiast performance cars realm.
Perhaps the M version may still have the manual.

[Kevin1987]

I love a good manual transmission and I hope the new M3 offers one at least. My only concern is that 3 series is good for those who can't afford a new M3. Maybe BMW should consider bringing us a less expensive M3 that costs less for those who want a MT and don't want to spend over $60k or so. I would have personally loved another 340i xdrive. Europe still gets MT though for 320i and lower models. Too bad no 320i here. There were earlier reports that the 330i would still offer a MT. Too bad it didn't come true.

[Kevin1987]

Originally Posted by SmoothStyle1

This is why I intend to hold on to my 340i 6MT for a long time. Quite possibly the last performance 3-series with a manual transmission mated to an inline 6-cylinder.

I think there are many others with the same sentiment. Someone already launched a petition it looks like.

https://www.change.org/p/bmw-bmw-of-...n-bmw-3-series

Just keep asking BMW.. maybe they'll bring us one like they did for the previous generation M5/current M6.

[pz619]

I don't think a change.org petition is going to do anything. They likely saw manual f30 sales, extrapolated and forecasted manual sales for the G20, had a good laugh and decided it isn't worth it from a business perspective.

And I like manuals. My m2c will be a manual, but I do realize this is likely the last new manual car I'll likely buy. It's sad, but I think we all knew this day is coming. At least some of the M cars will still offer a manual.

[JayPichardo]

https://www.carscoops.com/2018/10/u-...-bmw-3-series/

Sadness!

[Kevin1987]

Originally Posted by pz619

I don't think a change.org petition is going to do anything. They likely saw manual f30 sales, extrapolated and forecasted manual sales for the G20, had a good laugh and decided it isn't worth it from a business perspective.

And I like manuals. My m2c will be a manual, but I do realize this is likely the last new manual car I'll likely buy. It's sad, but I think we all knew this day is coming. At least some of the M cars will still offer a manual.

Probably true. But it's good to see that some other people care about the MT too. Who knows maybe they thought enthusiasts will be happy with their new "sporty automatic" but in reality most of them want a true MT. But if enough people ask them for it, who knows. They do have one for low end versions (320i and below in Europe), so it's not like they have to build it from scratch. I don't see why they can't make one for the 330i/340i as well in the future, especially when they did it for the M5/M6 just for North America. But I think ideally they should make a cheaper version of the M3 with a MT. But I signed the petition anyways. Let's see!

[SmoothStyle1]

Originally Posted by NH_F36

https://www.carscoops.com/2018/10/u-...-bmw-3-series/

Sadness!

Even though purists might lament the demise of the manual, BMW claims that the eight-speed automatic in the new 3-Series provides improved acceleration and performance over a stick shift.

What BMW and others fail to realize is that it's more than just the acceleration and performance numbers, it's about the connection and control you have with your car with a MT. Even tho many of the automatics have the pedals shifters that is still not comparable since they are sequential and lack the true control of a MT.

[G80indy]

Originally Posted by SmoothStyle1

What BMW and others fail to realize is that it's more than just the acceleration and performance numbers, it's about the connection and control you have with your car with a MT. Even tho many of the automatics have the pedals shifters that is still not comparable since they are sequential and lack the true control of a MT.

Totally agree

All the hype about the G20 line being a new driver focused car improvement over last gen?!
Tough to stomach the ultimate driving machine no longer has MT!
I hope someone from BMW is reading this stuff

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by SmoothStyle1

What BMW and others fail to realize is that it's more than just the acceleration and performance numbers, it's about the connection and control you have with your car with a MT.

BMW absolutely knows that - it's why they still offer manual transmission for some of their vehicles. Its just that as a business, if not enough people choose that option to make it profitable, or at least not a loss generator, it can no longer be justified. And that's where we are today - BMW's data is telling them that not enough people who buy a 3 Series choose a manual transmission anymore.

Even tho many of the automatics have the pedals shifters that is still not comparable since they are sequential and lack the true control of a MT.

Technically, they are not sequential, though the interface would have you believing that if you've never used one extensively. Irrespective of that detail, though, it's the lack of clutch pedal that manual purists really miss.

[SmoothStyle1]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Technically, they are not sequential, though the interface would have you believing that if you've never used one extensively. Irrespective of that detail, though, it's the lack of clutch pedal that manual purists really miss.

What does this mean? You have to go thru the gears in order so how is that not sequential?

With a true MT you can downshift from 4th directly to 2nd in a corner. You can't do that with paddle shifters.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by SmoothStyle1

What does this mean? You have to go thru the gears in order so how is that not sequential?

With a true MT you can downshift from 4th directly to 2nd in a corner. You can't do that with paddle shifters.

I almost didn't bother making that point because I don't want to derail the thread. But the fact is that, with many (if not most) automated transmissions, you can do multi-gear downshifts. BMW's DCT allows this by using the kick-down switch in the gas pedal in conjunction with the downshift paddle. However, you can also skip gears by using quick, successive paddle pulls. In this case the transmission never engages the intermediary gears nor closes the clutch.

I believe - though admittedly haven't researched this in some time, and don't recall details - that some of BMW's and others' traditional automatic transmissions with torque converters also have these features.

However, as I say, none of this matters to someone who wants control of the clutch with a real pedal. So, for the sake of this particular thread's discussion, it's all academic anyway.

[MT4life]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

I almost didn't bother making that point because I don't want to derail the thread. But the fact is that, with many (if not most) automated transmissions, you can do multi-gear downshifts. BMW's DCT allows this by using the kick-down switch in the gas pedal in conjunction with the downshift paddle. However, you can also skip gears by using quick, successive paddle pulls. In this case the transmission never engages the intermediary gears nor closes the clutch.

I believe - though admittedly haven't researched this in some time, and don't recall details - that some of BMW's and others' traditional automatic transmissions with torque converters also have these features.

However, as I say, none of this matters to someone who wants control of the clutch with a real pedal. So, for the sake of this particular thread's discussion, it's all academic anyway.

This is all like a bad fake gran turismo playstation game. Just drive it like a normal auto and stop pretending lol.
Nothing will ever replace 3 pedals and a real shifter feeling.

[volsfan0911]

Originally Posted by MT4life

This is all like a bad fake gran turismo playstation game. Just drive it like a normal auto and stop pretending lol.
Nothing will ever replace 3 pedals and a real shifter feeling.

#preach. I couldn't agree more. Unfortunately, the manual's demise is nigh. This upcoming M could be the last for BMWNA. I got a little teary eyed trading in my GTI last year - could very well be the last manual I get to own.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by MT4life

This is all like a bad fake gran turismo playstation game. Just drive it like a normal auto and stop pretending lol.

And queue thread derailment in 3, 2, 1.

It's not really about pretending anything. It's about maintaining control of which gear ratio the transmission is currently using - a crucial piece of functionality for keeping the engine in the power band and maximizing its potential - while also having the quickest shifts. You give up clutch control for quick shifts - that's the tradeoff. The ability to select the gear you want when you want it is not given up.

Nothing will ever replace 3 pedals and a real shifter feeling.

For the manual purist, that's true. Nothing wrong with that.

Anyway, hopefully everyone is content to have learned something at the expense of this little side-discussion. We can get back on topic now.