On another forum there appears to be a lot of hate going on for the auto version of Z3’s - I have owned a 2.8 Auto for 26 years and love it - I drive auto boxes due to an old sports injury making driving a manual uncomfortable for me - whats the thoughts on forum members on this?
Auto v Manual
- Thread starter z3ddie
- Start date
Personally I love an auto. When I was young I, like everyone else, wanted to be in control. That's what we said. Changing gear, double clutching on the way down would impress the girls outside the chippy. Was all part of driving
Back then some auto boxes were terrible anyway. Clunky and Maybe just 3 gears and a tiny engine which didn't have enough torque to keep going after such a big ratio change.
But then I had a mercedes 380SLC with auto and my eyes were opened. More torque than you can shake a stick at and super smooth changes. Just put your foot down and point it where you want to go and sit back and enjoy the ride letting the car do the work.
A Z3 is more of a 'sports car' than a big merc but I'm of an age where I wear my hat the right way round and just like sitting back and cruising. I don't need to stir a stick in a bucket of cogs to enjoy a drive.
So yep. I'd have a 2.8 Auto no problem.
Back then some auto boxes were terrible anyway. Clunky and Maybe just 3 gears and a tiny engine which didn't have enough torque to keep going after such a big ratio change.
But then I had a mercedes 380SLC with auto and my eyes were opened. More torque than you can shake a stick at and super smooth changes. Just put your foot down and point it where you want to go and sit back and enjoy the ride letting the car do the work.
A Z3 is more of a 'sports car' than a big merc but I'm of an age where I wear my hat the right way round and just like sitting back and cruising. I don't need to stir a stick in a bucket of cogs to enjoy a drive.
So yep. I'd have a 2.8 Auto no problem.
BMW - Manual. Mercedes Benz - Auto. 'tis the law of motoring since time immemorial 
Similar, manual when younger but love autos now I'm older. Retro fitted cruise to my Z and kind of wished I'd gotten an auto now so the car did even more of the work. The idea of just getting in and using your right foot to drive appeals. But then again, unnecessary double declutches and heel/toes are also fun to do haha
Cars to 'drive' should be manual. Cars to get from A to B can be automatic.
No matter how good modern autos are, they can never be as involving as a manual gearbox. It's simple.
But of course some gearboxes are better than others. BMW manual gearboxes are not the best IMO, but neither are some of their autos. Then again the ZF8 in more modern BMs are superb. The super-clever 7 speed DCT in my Audi is awful aswell. The manual in our Focus ST is very good.
But the manual in any Honda Type-R is an engineering masterpiece...it really is.
No matter how good modern autos are, they can never be as involving as a manual gearbox. It's simple.
But of course some gearboxes are better than others. BMW manual gearboxes are not the best IMO, but neither are some of their autos. Then again the ZF8 in more modern BMs are superb. The super-clever 7 speed DCT in my Audi is awful aswell. The manual in our Focus ST is very good.
But the manual in any Honda Type-R is an engineering masterpiece...it really is.
My Z3 3.0 auto is the first auto I have ever owned I decided to try it because I had driven a friends E46 auto and liked it. The auto box on the later Zs is much better than the old fashioned slush box wit 5 speeds and a useable manual function. After 160,000 miles I am still happy with it. I get my manual box fix with my 1971 Fiat 500 with a long retired synchromesh.
Sports cars need a manual gearbox: it is the law.
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2016
- Points
- 218
- Location
- Maybole , South Ayrshire
- Model of Z
- Z3 Individual Dakar / Orinoco Individual
I have both 1.9 ( m44) and 2.8 auto and 2.8 tu manual .
The decision on the 1.9 is easy manual is definitely better the auto box is only passable 1.9 manual much better
Reckon this would be because originally the box would be mated to a lazy torquey 6 cyl so doesn't like the high power band of the 4 cyl its ok if you are pottering around town but out on the country roads its struggles a bit to find the right ratio to be in if you demand power jumps down too many gears leaves engine high in rev range the changes up and doesn't use the engines pull efficiently.
The 2.8 auto is much better combo makes far better use of the engines drive characteristics ( as originally the 2.8 auto would have been in a 5 or 7 series) so big 6 mates much better.
Which is better is a difficult decision as for me depends what I am doing.
If going for a spirited country road drive has to be the manual as far more competent for that kind of work but for gentle cruise around or i town work auto is far more relaxing experience.
Never driven one in a zed but the later 5 speed auto as fitted to Mike's ( @mwpe) 3.0 is a far better box as i have driven it in various other bmw models and give far better flexibility compared to the earlier 4 speed so think auto wise in a zed best options are probably the 2.2 and 3.0 fitted with the later box.
Stephen.
The decision on the 1.9 is easy manual is definitely better the auto box is only passable 1.9 manual much better
Reckon this would be because originally the box would be mated to a lazy torquey 6 cyl so doesn't like the high power band of the 4 cyl its ok if you are pottering around town but out on the country roads its struggles a bit to find the right ratio to be in if you demand power jumps down too many gears leaves engine high in rev range the changes up and doesn't use the engines pull efficiently.
The 2.8 auto is much better combo makes far better use of the engines drive characteristics ( as originally the 2.8 auto would have been in a 5 or 7 series) so big 6 mates much better.
Which is better is a difficult decision as for me depends what I am doing.
If going for a spirited country road drive has to be the manual as far more competent for that kind of work but for gentle cruise around or i town work auto is far more relaxing experience.
Never driven one in a zed but the later 5 speed auto as fitted to Mike's ( @mwpe) 3.0 is a far better box as i have driven it in various other bmw models and give far better flexibility compared to the earlier 4 speed so think auto wise in a zed best options are probably the 2.2 and 3.0 fitted with the later box.
Stephen.
It's all personal choice.
Our family bus is a Grand Cherokee auto. Perfect for lazy driving around.
Misses Z3 is a 2.8 manual and I wouldn't change it.
My Z3 is turboed with more power then I need and converted to a six speed manual. Drives great and is a blast. But I can't shift fast enough especially when trying to drive with two hands on the wheel. Would love to convert it again to an 8hp70 auto.
Our family bus is a Grand Cherokee auto. Perfect for lazy driving around.
Misses Z3 is a 2.8 manual and I wouldn't change it.
My Z3 is turboed with more power then I need and converted to a six speed manual. Drives great and is a blast. But I can't shift fast enough especially when trying to drive with two hands on the wheel. Would love to convert it again to an 8hp70 auto.
- Joined
- May 9, 2022
- Points
- 59
- Model of Z
- Z3 Roadster
Everyone should drive what they like.
I grew up driving manual transmission cars and was in my 40's before I bought a car with an automatic transmission. Even my first pickup truck was a manual. The auto was much nicer for the commute and road trips, but nearly as much fun.
My dad raced vintage formula Jrs, so when he bought the Z3 it was, of course, a manual. It's now mine and I love it. I call it my "3 pedal fun car". If it had been an auto, I would be struggling between keeping the heirloom and getting what I really want. For the family car, an automatic transmission is fine. For a Z3 (for me), I want a manual.
I won't trash on anyone with an auto....drive what you like. It just wouldn't be my cup of tea.
I grew up driving manual transmission cars and was in my 40's before I bought a car with an automatic transmission. Even my first pickup truck was a manual. The auto was much nicer for the commute and road trips, but nearly as much fun.
My dad raced vintage formula Jrs, so when he bought the Z3 it was, of course, a manual. It's now mine and I love it. I call it my "3 pedal fun car". If it had been an auto, I would be struggling between keeping the heirloom and getting what I really want. For the family car, an automatic transmission is fine. For a Z3 (for me), I want a manual.
I won't trash on anyone with an auto....drive what you like. It just wouldn't be my cup of tea.
My previous Z3 was a 2.0 auto and it was fine for me. I suffered an accident at a track day, slipped on ice coming out of the drivers safety briefing would you believe, and since then have stuck with Autos due to hip problems. Then in 2022 I bought a manual old Fiesta and found that manuals were doable again, after 7,000 odd miles in my manual Z I have had no problems. Drive whichever you are most comfortable with and ignore the “real” sports car brigade.