[Coconut]

I already have my fun manual so auto for me.

[BRAKE!]

Originally Posted by AndyinHou

I want a manual really badly, but my wife will drive the car every now and then, and she doesn’t want (or trust herself) with a manual gearbox sadly.

Get the manual

[reward72]

MT unless they offer an AWD version which would certainly come only with an AT. MT is more fun, but with our Canadian winters, AWD would be nice.

[zero21]

Originally Posted by AndyinHou

I want a manual really badly, but my wife will drive the car every now and then, and she doesn’t want (or trust herself) with a manual gearbox sadly.

I had the same consideration until I realized I was buying the car for myself, not my wife. Plus, she would rather ride shotgun anyway ha.

If you need another car your wife can drive, find a beater or have her go to a driving school for stick shift, and then buy the stick shift!

You have options here, and a community of support! 🙂

[AndyinHou]

Originally Posted by zero21

I had the same consideration until I realized I was buying the car for myself, not my wife. Plus, she would rather ride shotgun anyway ha.

If you need another car your wife can drive, find a beater or have her go to a driving school for stick shift, and then buy the stick shift!

You have options here, and a community of support! 🙂

She’s quite happy in her X3M, but every now and again (ie, when hers is in the shop for a puncture, which happens a lot in Houston), she takes mine!

[Bumpinjeep]

Originally Posted by T_U_D

Manual. So long as the legs/knees are fully operational and there is the availability to check the box for a manual transmission that will always be my selection. The minuscule time advantage of the automatic cannot replace the overall fun factor of the manual. Furthermore, the G87 will be the last I.C.E., manual transmission M car to be offered.

+10000000

Here's the kicker, with the right driver, a manual can actually be faster than the DCT and since the DCT shifts faster than the ZF-8, no brainer.
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...-drive-review/

But yes, OP, here's the real question you should be asking yourself;
Do I want to drive this car or be driven by the car?

You know the answer...

[KC87ZB]

Originally Posted by AndyinHou

I want a manual really badly, but my wife will drive the car every now and then, and she doesn’t want (or trust herself) with a manual gearbox sadly.

Several other responses but also consider that this car comes with rev match capability if you want it on and it should come with hill hold like other bmw manuals I have driven. Pretty easy to launch when not worried about rolling.

I have had the same discussion with my wife and she said "buy the manual, we'll figure out the rest"

[curtdragon]

Originally Posted by AndyinHou

I want a manual really badly, but my wife will drive the car every now and then, and she doesn’t want (or trust herself) with a manual gearbox sadly.

Bro. Who's driving the car? Does she every now and again drive yours currently? How often And why? Make sure those situations don't happen and you're golden

[moodyhank82]

I would personally buy an M240 xdrive with the cooling and tire package if I was considering an auto G87. To me the main reason to get the G80 or G87 over the M340 or M240 xDrive is the manual option.

[curtdragon]

Originally Posted by moodyhank82

I would personally buy an M240 xdrive with the cooling and tire package if I was considering an auto G87. To me the main reason to get the G80 or G87 over the M340 or M240 xDrive is the manual option.

This and the extra track features is why I'm going with this.

[Rx-7ames]

Originally Posted by bcterps

The MT or bust, if AT was the only option, I'd probably go with a different car.

My thoughts exactly. If auto was the only option I would just order an M240 in Thundernight Metallic and tune it to make an easy 450hp.

[Rx-7ames]

I have driven so many auto M3/4 and I'm just not impressed for casual daily driving. It seems like an auto M car just wants to always go fast. It's very annoying in parking lots. But then I drove a manual G82 M4 and fell in love. It feels so much better. It goes fast when you want to go fast, but you can also casually drive slow and it is very comfortable. That did it for me.

[curtdragon]

Originally Posted by Rx-7ames

I have driven so many auto M3/4 and I'm just not impressed for casual daily driving. It seems like an auto M car just wants to always go fast. It's very annoying in parking lots. But then I drove a manual G82 M4 and fell in love. It feels so much better. It goes fast when you want to go fast, but you can also casually drive slow and it is very comfortable. That did it for me.

LOL that's a terrible problem to have. Go fast all the time 😆😆

[JCZ5]

Originally Posted by jay1k2

I was originally going manual but now I can't decide. I just had a manual GT4 which is probably one the of best manuals out there and don't want to be disappointed with a rubbery BMW manual. I had the ZF in the Supra. It's no DCT but still pretty good. Still on the fence.

This is my scenario as well…I did previously own a F87 M2C and also drove a F80 M3. From my recollection, the G80 M3 manual was slightly different, maybe shorter than my M2C? I’m not sure if that was in my head or not.

Anyone know definitely if all the manual boxes on the F and G generations are the same?

[theblackfalcon]

My JCW is a manual. It's a pleasure to drive. My wife and I both drive it as a second car and enjoy it even in city traffic sometimes. I've also driven the JCW as an auto. On paper the JCW is faster as an auto as well. The manual is a pleasure to drive and has a soul. The auto to me lacks soul and connection to the engine and the car. My 15 year old is learning to drive it and commented to me the other day that he now understands why I love the car so much. I'm assuming the connection to the vehicle will be the same with the manual in this car which is why I ordered it that way.

[Xspeedracer]

Manual only who drives a sports car with an auto or you were to young to learn on a manual I started with a 1973 Bavaria when I was 16

[T_U_D]

I recently saw this and had a good laugh. Thought I would share.

[Albator_IIII]

Originally Posted by sl0m0

That's funny. I recently bought my 12 y/o a 72 super beetle for her first car. No chance of staring at a phone while driving that. Also to refresh my wife on driving a manual so she can make the decision on if she wants to practice enough to be comfortable driving the m2.

12 yo?

[sl0m0]

She is really tall, so we are starting to teach her out in the field. Plus she needs the 3 extra years of practice. I realized that after being out on my brother's 5 acres that only has 6 trees and she crashed the go-kart into one of those trees. I also needed something to refresh my wife's skill with a manual. It's gonna be a family weekend car till she turns 16.

[Albator_IIII]

Originally Posted by sl0m0

She is really tall, so we are starting to teach her out in the field. Plus she needs the 3 extra years of practice. I realized that after being out on my brother's 5 acres that only has 6 trees and she crashed the go-kart into one of those trees. I also needed something to refresh my wife's skill with a manual. It's gonna be a family weekend car till she turns 16.

Seen. Here they can get the learner's permit at 14. Been trying to convince my boys to take their written test to start their education.

[sl0m0]

Originally Posted by Albator_IIII

Seen. Here they can get the learner's permit at 14. Been trying to convince my boys to take their written test to start their education.

We already ordered her 2 copies of the DMV book. She knows we aren't just handing her keys at 16, that she's going to have to know what she is doing.

[Dinosoar]

Oh, automatic all the way. Hey, it's a proper sports coupe, has to have an automatic. Can't put 1980s tech on a 21st century sports car!

Manuals are for control freaks, autos are for speed freaks. I will admit, both can be for enthusiasts.

Hey, they don't do manuals on a whole lot of race specs out there from GT4 to F1 and almost everything in between. Since when are autos NOT an enthusiast's choice? Manuals are slower, they're a liability on track (in the braking zone), and you can't shift once the car's taken a set in a high-speed turn. And, you also cannot take advantage of 8,9 or 10 gears.

While I am being a bit cheeky, I do believe autos are superior and totally an enthusiast's choice. And, I am a Gen Xer who learned to drive a manual on a '66 Beetle when I was 7; my track car is manual too. I just feel that managing the throttle, brakes and steering through the four tires is the point of it all, nothing to do with rowing gears for me.