Manual or SMG?
Discussion
not boring at all.not that good when in auto mode but great in manual especially when getting a move on.
a bit clumsy round town at first but you soon get the hang of it.
blips on down shifts and very quick on upshifts in S5/S6.
having had all sorts of stuff(4 TVRs,lotus etc etc)i just thought a manual M3 wouldn't be very interesting,i wanted to have the SMG to make the car unusual for me,to add some extra interest.
a recent run to the coast was my first proper enthusiastic drive and the car definitely came alive,gearbox was great.
mike.
a bit clumsy round town at first but you soon get the hang of it.
blips on down shifts and very quick on upshifts in S5/S6.
having had all sorts of stuff(4 TVRs,lotus etc etc)i just thought a manual M3 wouldn't be very interesting,i wanted to have the SMG to make the car unusual for me,to add some extra interest.
a recent run to the coast was my first proper enthusiastic drive and the car definitely came alive,gearbox was great.
mike.
SMG all the way. When cold the drive is jerky however when warm and driving enthusiastically (particularly around corners) the ability to change gears whilst keeping both hands on the wheel gives you the security to push it that little further. If you have a car that can switch from auto, paddle or even stick then you have a car for all moods.
I've had M3s in both guises and (After getting used to it) the SMG is the one for me, the kick in the back in S6 (If you don't know what that is you need to turn off traction and turn the gear selection speed up to (the now revealed (Normally only 5 available)) setting 6). And you change gear at over 6000rpm it never fails to bring a smile to my face.
SMG is not remotely boring. It is still a true manual gearbox and you can feel that through the pedal. It is much misunderstood by journalists and maligned by those who don't understand it and think an old-fashioned manual is the only gearbox for a real man.
I'm happy with manual or SMG, having had M3s with each, but SMG's advantages are clear to me.
I'm happy with manual or SMG, having had M3s with each, but SMG's advantages are clear to me.
oh right, they sound quite advanced and not at all like the auto's ive driven. Ive driven lots of sport auto volvos such as the T5 or s60/v70 R's, and they were so slow on the upshift that you had to push the gear lever 500rpm before you wanted it to change up, no blipping on the downshifts either. What is the drive take up like on them tho, can you still feel the slipping of the clutches or does it feel properly connected like a manual? Ill have to get myself out in one.
Also what were the e36 smg evo m3's like? i know they didnt have the paddle shifters, but are they still good?
Ive never like autos due to never feeling that your in control if you know what i mean?
Also what were the e36 smg evo m3's like? i know they didnt have the paddle shifters, but are they still good?
Ive never like autos due to never feeling that your in control if you know what i mean?
Too be fair to the e36 smg, if you wanted to tame the m3 around town, the smg made the m3 eaisy to drive, especialling in traffic, once it learned your driving style it was quite good. you miss the ability to snatch gears though.
My compaints would be it doesnt hold well on a hill (like true auto) and reversing up hills to park was a strange balance on the throttle.
+ the expense when they break, which they seem to alot. ;0)
My compaints would be it doesnt hold well on a hill (like true auto) and reversing up hills to park was a strange balance on the throttle.
+ the expense when they break, which they seem to alot. ;0)
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