Originally Posted by
Simmsled
I have owned and sold two manual ZHPs since I have owned my Steptronic ZHP. Each time I have tried to convince myself that the manual is absolutely the better car. If I'm going back to my time attack track days, I'd choose the manual. It will net you the fractions of a second to yield faster lap times, it weighs marginally less, and actually gets better gas mileage. BUT, how often are you going for those fractions of a second when you are off the track and actually on your drive to Starbucks? Yeah.
Any BMW without a true manual couldn't be a 'pure' BMW though, right? It may be the only choice for some, but I find that there is absolutely no penalty in true driving enjoyment when you are whipping it like Fangio. To me, the enjoyment comes from 'driving'... focusing on my corner entry speed, my line, balancing the car mid-corner with the throttle to max my grip in the traction circle, and powering out in anticipation of doing it all again. The Step takes nothing away from that. Thats why I still own my Steptronic.
very well put. i owned a 330i M Sport Step (canadian spec...which i'm not sure if it had the same programming or not) for a short while, and i thought it was fantastic. it really is the only automatic i've driven that i could live with every day.
ultimately, for me, i love shifting. i love the feel of my gearbox and linkage (i have a getrag in my car for some reason, and my linkage has been tweaked to reduce slop). but i could definitely enjoy owning a Step.
peter
2004 330i ZHP
2005 330iT ZHP
2010 328iT M Sport