[PNorris]

I have been lurking for a little while. I will likely be getting a 335i here pretty soon, however, I have a quandry. I was originally all set on a 6MT, however, I have now heard that the 6AT is actually faster and a great tranny. I did the search tool and did not find anything directly on point. It could just be that I SUCK at the internet. Any input and be gentle. Thanks.

[TurboFan]

Boxers or briefs?


6MT!!!

[TurboFan]

6AT = Tighty whities!

[Zirenz2006]

The auto in the 335 is amazing. I also drove the 328 auto and you can't compare the transmission IMO. I have auto w/paddles and I love it. This topic has been beat to death here. Give it time though, the "Real drivers drive manual" crowd will soon rear their ugly heads. Go with what you like.

[Year's_End]

Search for the topic and you'll be bound to find something. There's no right or wrong. Just go with what suits your driving style/commute. You'll have the stick purists blatantly claiming that autos are for p*ssies, which is total bullshit in the case with the Step, and then you'll have those that needed an AT because of their current situation.

In the end it's up to you. I'm happy with my Step/Paddles combo.

[Rips335iCoupe]

Originally Posted by PNorris

It could just be that I SUCK at the internet.

Yes, you do!

http://www.caranddriver.com/roadtest...automatic.html

[retlod]

ATs used to be plain ol' ATs. Now they're "sport-shifters" or "autosticks" or "clutchless manuals." It seems as autos evolve, they yearn to go back to their roots and become more and more like manuals again. There's a reason.

Get the stick.

[Rips335iCoupe]

The evolution of an auto is heading towards a DSG type transmission. Far from any type of manual. Be happy with your stick now ... soon we will all be driving dual synchronized gearboxes .... that's the wave of the future!

[PNorris]

I completely and totally SUCK at the internet. Sorry for , however, this would be my first Bimmer. I have been an American car guy my entire life, as my pops was an American Car Dealer, however, when he retired GM treated him with about as much respect as an aids infected crack whore. As such, I am now looking elsewhere. Thanks for not getting the flame thrower out on me. Good C&D article. I was just curious what the all knowing BBS thinks.

[!Xoible]

6mt 6mt 6mt 6mt 6mt 6mt

i got 6at and man how much i regret it... oh man how much i regret it.

btw, i never repeat myself.... again, i never repeat myself

[KanosWRX]

I was up in the air between the 6MT and 6AT. I test drove a few cars and while I think the AT is a good transmission in the sense it shifts quick I do get that feeling that I still don't have enough control. I feel like I am missing some input with the car and feel disconnected and that its going to do something I don't want it to do. The paddle shifters were a nice toy, but I don't think from a pure performance standpoint it can beat the MT at this point. Not to mention I don't like the layout of the paddle shifters, they should have made them more F1 car like, right side goes up, left side goes down. None of this push pull on both sides, that's what I really don't like. They ergonomics just isn't right.

Oh and the sports wheel with the paddle shifters doesn't have the bumps for your hands at the 10 and 2 driving position. Its flat there. I have been used to MOMO wheels on my subarus for 6 years and love those little bumps, helps you drive a little better I think forcing your hands into the correct driving position.

So I would say the AT is nice but the MT is still what you go with if you want all out performance and control of the car.

[BMdblU]

6MT. Do you want to shift the car, or do you want it to shift for you?

[Rips335iCoupe]

Originally Posted by BMdblU

6MT. Do you want to shift the car, or do you want it to shift for you?

I want to do both .... AT!

[phantom330]

6 speed, more fun and don't have to pay 1k+ to have the computer do the shifting for you. It is one of the better autos I have driven, but I still like my stick.

[EDK99]

Do you need any help picking out your car color combo or whether to get leather or leatherette?? How about Sport Package vs Non-Sport??? We are here for you man!!

Oh BTW Welcome!!!

[Taittinger]

Originally Posted by phantom330

6 speed, more fun and don't have to pay 1k+ to have the computer do the shifting for you. It is one of the better autos I have driven, but I still like my stick.

They are both six speed.

[forza1976]

Originally Posted by TurboFan

6AT = Tighty whities!

LOL!!!

AT = Weak

[Gig103]

Take the 6MT! The 335i's AT is a good one, and is a faster shifter than a bad stick driver, but your poor left leg will be so bored! Oh, and possibly the rest of you... flicking a switch is nowhere near the same as using the 3 pedals.

If you want to spend $1200 for a computer in the car, put it towards iDrive

[Rips335iCoupe]

Straight from Car & Driver:

Yes, the 335i’s ZF-sourced six-speed automatic is among the world’s very best transmissions, and we can’t heap enough praise on it. Responsive and quick to act, it is the perfect autobox for this kind of car. In normal automatic mode, shifts are virtually invisible, but the character changes dramatically when prompted. Deputy editor Dave VanderWerp says, “Full-throttle downshifts are quite severe, but to me, that’s fine when I’m pushing the pedal all the way to the floor. The automatic generally does a single multigear kickdown instead of stopping off at other ratios along the way.” We also noted snappy rev-matching throttle blips when downshifting using the manumatic function (or paddles), and in the sport-shift mode, it eagerly takes the liberty of automatically downshifting during braking to set you higher in the meat of the power band whenever your right foot returns to the other pedal.

[phantom330]

Originally Posted by Taittinger

They are both six speed.

I think you know what I meant smart guy.

[Rips335iCoupe]

Originally Posted by Gig103

and is a faster shifter than a bad stick driver,

How about faster then a very good stick driver ....

[Rips335iCoupe]

I thought you guys would enjoy this.

Stick vs. Automatic: We can hear the emails coming!

Wise people say we should never talk about religion or politics. When it comes to those subjects, most folks are just too emotional to be able to keep the conversation on an intellectual level.

We agree with that philosophy and wish to add another subject: stick shift Vs automatic. Every time we voice our opinions on the matter we get voluminous response, usually in the negative. Nonetheless, our unemotional, scientific assessment of this burning issue is that automatic is the only way to go.

That's right, there's little room in this modern world for stick-shift automobiles. In reality they are NOT more efficient, they DON'T get better gas mileage, they DON'T give you more control on ice and snow and (here it comes, folks!) they ARE NOT FASTER! Believe it or not, modern manuals are NOT as reliable as automatics, but when it comes to older cars, that's not necessarily the case. So before you email us, read on...

First come the exceptions to the above statement:
On the racetrack a stick-shift car is de rigeur. In order to maintain the fastest lap times the engine's revs must be kept within a narrow range (for maximum torque) and the braking effect of the engine is needed for rapid deceleration into turns. The same holds true for driving those winding, narrow mountain roads. (Question: just how often do you intend to do either?)

Just how good are automatics?

Years ago automatics were sloppy, sluggish and mechanically inefficient. With the advent of locking torque converters, fluid dynamics and electronic shifts automatics have become incredibly good at transmitting engine power to the wheels. Four-speed automatics are pretty-much the norm these days, with five and six-speed models rather common. Those same technical advances have rendered automatics as reliable as any other driveline component. Any modern automatic will last the life of the car and many don't even need fluid changes.

Manual transmissions, on the other hand, are virtually locked in "technology limbo". Little has changed in their design over the past 40 years, other than adding a few gears to the older four-speeds. Clutches are - and always have been - the weak point in manual-shift cars. They wear out! In fact, clutches wear out faster nowadays because asbestos isn't used in their friction material anymore. Also, the diameter of the clutch is kept to a minimum for weight-savings and driver comfort. Almost all modern car owners' manuals recommend clutch replacement at 50,000 miles (and you can expect to spend a Grand or more).

Mileage?

It is possible to get better gas mileage with a stick-shift (slightly more direct mechanical coupling to the drive wheels) but it doesn't happen often. The reason is that few people drive their manual-equipped cars the correct way to achieve good mileage. Doing so requires constant attention to minimizing revs while avoiding "lugging" the engine. Most drivers don't understand engine dynamics well enough to get better mileage. Meanwhile on the automatic, the engine's computer "talks" to the transmission and maximizes efficient shifts. The automatic almost always wins the mileage contest in actual driving situations.

Control?

In snow, mud and other slippery conditions it's the driver's skill that counts, not whether he/she has a manual shift. "I drive a stick-shift because I get better control in snow," is a familiar comment. Nonsense! Anyone who understands the car's mechanical systems and the physics acting upon them will tell you there is no advantage with either stick or automatic. It's all in the driver.

What a twit! You said sticks aren't faster than automatics?

Yup! A stick-shift CAN BE faster than an automatic but seldom IS! Here's why:

When you read a performance specification about your car you always see that the manual version is slightly faster 0-60 mph than the automatic. You won't achieve that acceleration figure with your car unless you're a complete dufus! Why? Because the way the car is tested is to rev the engine to its maximum torque point and then slide the foot off the clutch. After the wheels spin and smoke and the car reaches its limit in first gear the clutch is slightly depressed and the transmission is "power shifted" into second, then third, etc. This is a ridiculous (and very damaging) procedure and only a fool would treat his/her own car that way. One hundred such shifts guarantees the need for a total transmission rebuild.

In real-life driving the automatic will always outrun the manual, pure and simple. When the manual outruns the automatic on any regular basis you can bet it will be soon be hauled in for expensive repairs!

So what does all this have to do with collector cars? Well, one way to make an older car feel newer is to improve its smoothness. The easiest way to do that is to install an automatic, either an original-equipment one that might have been offered in your car or a modern, overdrive automatic that will allow your '56 Buick, for instance, to cruise the highways at today's speeds without feeling like it's going to internally hemorrhage.