SMG or Manual?
Discussion
I am about to buy a 98 S reg M3 convertible SMG but last night I was told that these are slower than the manuals.
Can anyone tell me if this is true and if so, would I have to be a test driver to notice.
Also, does anyone have the 0-60 etc for a 98S convertible?
Any help would be welcome.
Cheers
Chambers
Can anyone tell me if this is true and if so, would I have to be a test driver to notice.
Also, does anyone have the 0-60 etc for a 98S convertible?
Any help would be welcome.
Cheers
Chambers
The reviews of the time had them a little slower, but prob less than 0.5 sec to 60 (so up to about 6 secs or so).
More the point is that they also considered the SMG box to be flawed and less desirable / fun to drive than the 6 speed manual.
Suggest you try a manual one as well and see wot u fancy !
More the point is that they also considered the SMG box to be flawed and less desirable / fun to drive than the 6 speed manual.
Suggest you try a manual one as well and see wot u fancy !
I have driven E36 M3 SMG and 6-speed manual.
The SMG is seriously flawed - shifts too slow. Real pause in the action.
The change is sweet in the manual E36, especially with Schnitzer short shift. Would recommend this unless you do a lot of miles in heavy traffic and need the convenience of an 'automatic'.
Rgds
Domster
The SMG is seriously flawed - shifts too slow. Real pause in the action.
The change is sweet in the manual E36, especially with Schnitzer short shift. Would recommend this unless you do a lot of miles in heavy traffic and need the convenience of an 'automatic'.
Rgds
Domster
I am about to buy a 98 S reg M3 convertible SMG but last night I was told that these are slower than the manuals.
Can anyone tell me if this is true and if so, would I have to be a test driver to notice.
Also, does anyone have the 0-60 etc for a 98S convertible?
Any help would be welcome.
Cheers
Chambers
Which do you think will break first - the manual or SMG ?
If I was buyng a 5 year old BMW, I would take the simple option otherwise keep the BMW warranty running until you sell it...
Hi all
I've just brought a new M3 SMG - well - I'll pick it up in the next couple of weeks. I generally prefer manual cars - I returned my new F355 Spyder F1 after a couple of days - as I hated the F1 shift. All of my other current cars are manual.
I have driven both the manual M3 (which I think is a great choice) - and the SMG M3 (which has it's own benefits).
I think that if I where the only driver of the M3 - then I would have gone for manual. As my partner Penny will be driving it as well - and she prefers the auto function - the SMG suits really well.
I would say that the SMG is much better than the Ferrari F1 change (of old) - althought this has been revised subsequantly and know is much of a muchness.
I think that the SMG gear shift in "Supersport mode" or whatever it is called is a little harsh - I've spent years (and indeed am still) learning how to double de-clutch and heel and toe - so the SMG takes a lot of fun away.
However, I can also say I have spent years driving around the centre of London - and the prospect of using a manual gearbox with an automatic option is apealing - must be getting old!
I'm not sure yet - as I haven't really put any miles under my belt - but I'll let you know what it's like. I suspect that it will take a certain amount of driving style chnage - as with any new car - but can not forsee any major issues.....
Maybe it's time to look at a fezza F1 again...!
Anjum
I've just brought a new M3 SMG - well - I'll pick it up in the next couple of weeks. I generally prefer manual cars - I returned my new F355 Spyder F1 after a couple of days - as I hated the F1 shift. All of my other current cars are manual.
I have driven both the manual M3 (which I think is a great choice) - and the SMG M3 (which has it's own benefits).
I think that if I where the only driver of the M3 - then I would have gone for manual. As my partner Penny will be driving it as well - and she prefers the auto function - the SMG suits really well.
I would say that the SMG is much better than the Ferrari F1 change (of old) - althought this has been revised subsequantly and know is much of a muchness.
I think that the SMG gear shift in "Supersport mode" or whatever it is called is a little harsh - I've spent years (and indeed am still) learning how to double de-clutch and heel and toe - so the SMG takes a lot of fun away.
However, I can also say I have spent years driving around the centre of London - and the prospect of using a manual gearbox with an automatic option is apealing - must be getting old!
I'm not sure yet - as I haven't really put any miles under my belt - but I'll let you know what it's like. I suspect that it will take a certain amount of driving style chnage - as with any new car - but can not forsee any major issues.....
Maybe it's time to look at a fezza F1 again...!
Anjum
I have an E36 Evo with SMG and I bet I can drive it quicker than the manual. Yes there is a delay at lower revs but that diminishes the higher up the rev range. Anyway you build the delay into your driving just as you allow for a delay during clutch shifting with a manual. Its just that you let off slightly later.
The benefits of this are the car never misses a gear or makes a wrong down change which if in the manual can take out the engine if too low gear is selected accidentally.
It took me two weeks to get used to the SMG and I hated every minute of it. I even considered getting rid of the car. After a driving holiday down to Tuscany last year I dont think that I would entertain anything else.
SMG is vastly inferior to the SMG2 but when you spend the time to respect its quirks, you find yourself thoroughly enjoying the experience.
0-60 is still claimed to be 5.3 secs and on the subject of performance I went head to head with an E46 SMG up a slip road and to 100mph he pulled 1/2 a car length. So find a good, well cared for example and have a small amount of respect for a system which was the design test bed for many systems around now, and you may find you enjoy the experience more than most make out.
I am biased, yes indeed, being an owner of one. However, these cars are currently a steal at around £14-16k. If it has a BMW Warranty, dont worry about reliabilty. I have never had a problem.
I must stop these Friday pub lunches......
The benefits of this are the car never misses a gear or makes a wrong down change which if in the manual can take out the engine if too low gear is selected accidentally.
It took me two weeks to get used to the SMG and I hated every minute of it. I even considered getting rid of the car. After a driving holiday down to Tuscany last year I dont think that I would entertain anything else.
SMG is vastly inferior to the SMG2 but when you spend the time to respect its quirks, you find yourself thoroughly enjoying the experience.
0-60 is still claimed to be 5.3 secs and on the subject of performance I went head to head with an E46 SMG up a slip road and to 100mph he pulled 1/2 a car length. So find a good, well cared for example and have a small amount of respect for a system which was the design test bed for many systems around now, and you may find you enjoy the experience more than most make out.
I am biased, yes indeed, being an owner of one. However, these cars are currently a steal at around £14-16k. If it has a BMW Warranty, dont worry about reliabilty. I have never had a problem.
I must stop these Friday pub lunches......
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