M3 SMG Gearbox

[Bananaman]

Is the SMG Gearbox better than the Manual on the M3 ???

[m12_nathan]

Drive them both to find out?

[michael_jcws]

I prefered the SMG to the Manual, which was a shock to me.

Cheers

Michael

[razor]

I test-drove both, SMG after manual, a few weeks ago. I also preferred the SMG, probably for novelty value tho and it was only a 20-25 minute drive in each. I wonder how people feel after several weeks or months of owning an SMG; do many SMG owners wish they'd gone for the manual?

[djohnson]

Down to individual preference. I drove both and liked the SMG as a gadget but liked the manual better for everyday fun so bought the manual. Many people love the SMG though.

[scared but happy]

SMG is very clever for its own good sometimes. In 'auto' mode it makes it quite a good cruise machine also very good for quick off lights launch mode.
But after a while of driving one I felt detached.

[team underdog]

scared but happy said:

But after a while of driving one I felt detached.

Would agree with that. SMG is a bit of a bitch at slow speed / parking etc - lack of manual clutch makes it a bit sensitive.

I'd go manual, but thats just me.

[VSP90]

Go for manual. I sold my M3 SMG because I hated the gearbox. Fantastic if you are driving the sock's off the car but cr-p at slow speeds around town etc. My next BM will be a manual.

[Zod]

SMG is fabulous, but takes some getting used to. Ask at www.bm3w.co.uk. The proportion of converts to SMG there is enormous.