BP, I totally agree with you. This was far from a scientific test, and was just my observations at the track. As you noted (and I should've specified) there are way, way too many variables in play to call this as accurate info. IMHO the auto vs. manual debate offers negligible differences, depending on car setup & driver skill, all else being equal. Sadly, I doubt any factory test numbers, or other test figures are trustworthy either, for the same reasons.
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Ok....so...we are now past the ///M issue. Good. Let's stay on point.
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Call Me Dane l 2/2004 330i ZHP l 18x8 ET45 BBS CK's wrapped with Michelin Pilot Sport AS3+ @ 245-40-18 l KW V1 Coilovers in front l KW V1 springs w/ Bilstein B8 dampeners in rear l BMW Performance Rotors l UUC StrutBarbarian l Racing Dynamics Rear Strut Bar l Jim Conforti Shark Injector l Light Birch Interior Trim l Bimmian Celly Mount l M3 Trunk Mat l l e90 Performance E-Brake & Shift Knob l M3 Tri-Stitched Boots l AL Headlight Retrofit with ZKW Lenses l CobyWheel Wrap w/M3 Stitching l LCM sw 4.5 triple blink and rear fogs l Maple Interior Trim
It seems to me the question at hand are:
1. which car is faster, the auto or manual ZHP, in a straight line test?
-This assumes when driving the auto...you mash it off the line (and continues through the 1/4 mile).....and the manual driver hits all shift points, at the optimal time and with max fluidity.
2. which car is faster, the auto or manual ZHP, in a track type setting?
-This assumes same expert driver, drives both cars.
Call Me Dane l 2/2004 330i ZHP l 18x8 ET45 BBS CK's wrapped with Michelin Pilot Sport AS3+ @ 245-40-18 l KW V1 Coilovers in front l KW V1 springs w/ Bilstein B8 dampeners in rear l BMW Performance Rotors l UUC StrutBarbarian l Racing Dynamics Rear Strut Bar l Jim Conforti Shark Injector l Light Birch Interior Trim l Bimmian Celly Mount l M3 Trunk Mat l l e90 Performance E-Brake & Shift Knob l M3 Tri-Stitched Boots l AL Headlight Retrofit with ZKW Lenses l CobyWheel Wrap w/M3 Stitching l LCM sw 4.5 triple blink and rear fogs l Maple Interior Trim
No, actually I didn't at all.
If it's the same ratio on the same engine...great. But it isn't.
You fail to still realize that.
Enjoy.
IMO Manual is better at both. You chose your shift points, and it's always ideal to short shift to gain torque in any setting IMO. HP drops off alot in last RPMs
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If we've got another ZHP coupe out in SoCal, I'd be all for going on a flat, straight road and run some comparison tests
Make a YouTube clip or something.
there are many of us in the Republic of SoCal, come down to autoX one month in SD and we'll get our answers
The auto has fairly closely spaced gears *until* the 3rd-4th shift. At that point there is a very large drop from what I remember. I did occasionally feel that the autos felt torquier in the lower gears... but 4th and 5th gear really destroyed it for me. Those cars were begging for another gear in between.