[BMWGirlFL]

AT or MT? What will it be?

[Small Cap Trader]

If you're not going to buy a manual, there's no need to wait buying an M40i. For me, coming from a Manual Porsche Boxster GTS 4.0, it's manual or nothing.

[MisanoblueZ4]

This is likely a question aimed more towards new buyers who have waited for a manual to become available. So it will show the manual winning.

[Argo]

I still went ahead with the automatic purchase a month ago so I guess I voted with my wallet.

My previous car (987 Boxster) was a manual though, and while fun, the ZF8 is pretty great.

[StanDiego]

To be honest, the ZF8 is truly a great transmission that I enjoy. However, if left for myself to choose, I’d trade my Zed for the new manual. Unfortunately or not, my compromise with my wife in buying a new roadster was that it would be an automatic so that she’d be able to drive it in the rare occasion that I’d be unable to. She can drive a manual but she is fearful of it. She’s my co-pilot for life so a small price to pay.

The ZF8 is superior in every aspect except for one. Perhaps the word I’m looking for is visceral, the connection to the machine, that sensation of the hand on the shifter, the note of the exhaust, the rhythm of the engine, knowing intimately when to shift based upon that feedback, not the RPM gauge or the SHIFT indicator. On the open road, there’s no better feeling than that, rowing through gears, subconsciously interpreting all those senses for when to shift or downshift while listening to that beautiful song of the engine and exhaust singing as only a manual can do.

Alas, the days are numbered. For those of you who choose the manual, I live vicariously through you.

[Wynnsiensheng]

Based on traffic conditions where I live, I have to go with automatic.

If I lived elsewhere with less traffic, a manual would work for me.

[MadBullogna]

Random number pulled from my backside, I’ll say ~98% chance we’ll be speccing ours out as MT. I miss a manual, as it’s been 15 years give or take since I’ve had one. That said, and as has been brought up, I want to ensure my spouse can enjoy the car too. I’ve found two potential places near us, one promising, who teach MT with a focus on adult drivers, and am leaning towards that minor investment for him.

They supply the vehicles, and teach the basics, and once done it’d be ideal to give him a foundation to build upon, (without as many of those initial ‘omg’ moments he’d have learning them on a new vehicle, particularly at this price point). That said, until we sign off on the build, who knows, /shrug. (Nah, MT all day, hah).

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by Wynnsiensheng

Based on traffic conditions where I live, I have to go with automatic.

If I lived elsewhere with less traffic, a manual would work for me.

I am in a similar situation, anyone that has ever driven on I-95 in the Miami - Ft. Lauderdale area during rush hour would know what type of nightmare it is and only a masochist would want a car with a MT. 😥

[stlcdr]

If manual was available when I purchased mine, I would have gone with manual. Having now driven the auto, I'd buy the auto again. (unless I could have two, then it'd be one of each).

[Balr14]

I drove manual transmissions for over 60 years. It lost it's charm when I came to the realization the car can shift better than I can and it doesn't need my help. In fact, I am a hindrance to efficiency and performance. Having owned the ZF 8 speed, Porsche PDK and GM/Ford 10 speed, a manual transmission seems so old and pointless.

[823BMW]

I have a 2020 Z4 M40i that I purchased last year CPO and I’m still first on my dealer’s list for a manual. The ZF auto is quite good and I can tolerate it, but I still prefer a roadster to be a manual. I had a 2013 Z4 sdrive35i manual (should have kept it) and I am very excited BMW is finally giving me an opportunity to replace it

[Cliffj335]

"The ZF8 is superior in every aspect except for one. Perhaps the word I’m looking for is visceral, the connection to the machine, that sensation of the hand on the shifter, the note of the exhaust, the rhythm of the engine, knowing intimately when to shift based upon that feedback, not the RPM gauge or the SHIFT indicator. On the open road, there’s no better feeling than that, rowing through gears, subconsciously interpreting all those senses for when to shift or downshift while listening to that beautiful song of the engine and exhaust singing as only a manual can do."

Have to agree with StanDiego on this. My wife can drive a manual as well, but prefers not to. However, that would not be my determining factor.

If I were just buying my first Z4 M40i, I would likely go manual and purchase with a leap of faith that I would love it. I've had BMW manuals in the past, and the one in the new M40i should be at least as good or better. With that said, I agree with StanDiego on how good the ZF8 performs. It is a fantastic transmission and works well with the B58. I have a blast every time I go for a drive and will never reach even 8/10ths of this car's capability.

If i consider trading my current M40i on one with a manual, I have to consider the cost differential and what am I gaining. No real difference in body style with the "LCI". My MY22 has all options except Active Cruise. So a trade would only gain the manual transmission and the Active Cruise. Well, also staggered wheel size and maybe a different rear diff. What is that worth? For me, probably not worth the 20-30K I expect as a price differential.

[Horseman]

I don't find enough fun in an MT to go out of my way to get one. My hands also won't allow me to do it either. Paddle shifters are enough fun for me to still have all the fun I need with the option to just sit in traffic and STILL be able to feel my left leg when I get home.

[ebirotedu]

TL;DR: if there had been a manual two years ago when I got my Z4 I’m 99% sure that’s what I would have ended up with since I was looking exclusively at manual equipped cars initially.

If there’s one thing I don’t like about the ZF, especially in sport mode, it’s how abrupt and jerky it can be at very low speeds like when coming to a stop, or slowing for slow turn and then accelerating. Every time that happens I think about how much better a job I would do with a manual. . And driving a manual in traffic was never a thing that bothered me. Maybe because mine all made decent torque at low RPM and didn’t need a lot of revs to move along.

But otherwise I think the ZF 8HP fits the character of the Z4 perfectly based on the way I’m using it, which is more all-day GT than anything else. Guess I’m getting old.😂

But who knows? If and when I get a chance to drive a manual equipped Z4 I might change my mind. I totally see the appeal even if I’m not convinced it’s for me.

Anyhow, I am abstaining from the poll as I am not in the market!

[Horseman]

Saw this on BMW Switzerland. Only the 20i is manual transmission.

[Argo]

Oh yeah sports plus with the transmission in S mode is extremely jerky when coming to a stop and going again. Definitely one of the lowlights of the car so far.

[tracer bullet]

Manual all the way for me. My very fist car was an automatic (got totaled by a friend I lent it to like 2 years into owning it), after that I've only had sticks for my primary cars for like... wow more than 30 years now. My X3, my old truck, others are auto because there was no option and that's OK, they were in addition to my daily's, but no thanks for those daily's.

I've been lucky to live relative to work or my hours where there's not much for stop and go. I manage fine when I'm in some but it's not at all a daily experience so my scenario is luckily different.

The Z4 would be a fun car to replace my 135i with, and as such, to be a fun car it needs a stick. Automatics can still be fun, but are less fun. Just an opinion of course.

But I totally get others who feel differently. You aren't wrong. Just depends on your desires and / or situation.

[MisanoblueZ4]

I think some are confusing jerky with sharp downshift from the car, it’s meant to be fast and abrupt when driven at higher speed in the rev range.

Sport mode with shifter to the left is at home in aggressive driving, not put-putting from stoplight to stoplight at lower speed imo.

I haven’t tested the theory myself yet but I’d bet on twisty mountain roads where you can be at speed the Sport S mode will shine.

[Z4-2023 Mike]

Love my Automatic 2023 Z4 M40i. I would never consider MT…way too much work and distraction.

[ebirotedu]

It’s fair to say that sport and sport shift modes are not tuned for stoplight to stop light driving. But even twisty mountain roads have stoplights, stop signs, and merges. So, unless you’re looking down at the console before every stop, merge, and slow turn to switch into comfort mode, you’re likely to experience what many of us ‘confused’ owners have characterized as jerky stops and starts.

I can say that I never experienced anything like that when I rowed my own gears. And since this thread is a poll asking manual vs automatic, I thought it was fair to bring it up since it’s a common complaint. It’s also somewhat remarkable because the transmission is otherwise incredibly competent and shifts beautifully, so this is one of a very few things I find worthy of complaint after having driven many miles of twisty mountain roads in mine.

Originally Posted by MisanoblueZ4

I think some are confusing jerky with sharp downshift from the car, it’s meant to be fast and abrupt when driven at higher speed in the rev range.

Sport mode with shifter to the left is at home in aggressive driving, not put-putting from stoplight to stoplight at lower speed imo.

I haven’t tested the theory myself yet but I’d bet on twisty mountain roads where you can be at speed the Sport S mode will shine.

[MisanoblueZ4]

Originally Posted by ebirotedu

It’s fair to say that sport and sport shift modes are not tuned for stoplight to stop light driving. But even twisty mountain roads have stoplights, stop signs, and merges. So, unless you’re looking down at the console before every stop, merge, and slow turn to switch into comfort mode, you’re likely to experience what many of us ‘confused’ owners have characterized as jerky stops and starts.

I can say that I never experienced anything like that when I rowed my own gears. And since this thread is a poll asking manual vs automatic, I thought it was fair to bring it up since it’s a common complaint. It’s also somewhat remarkable because the transmission is otherwise incredibly competent and shifts beautifully, so this is one of a very few things I find worthy of complaint after having driven many miles of twisty mountain roads in mine.

That’s the point though, in comfort mode the transmission is not harsh or jerky. Sport mode changes its character just as Sport Plus (Engine) amplifies the throttle sensitivity.
Yes the transmission is snappier in up or downshift, that is “ life in the Sports lane” lol. Up to the driver to decide.

[BMWGirlFL]

I enjoy the sharp, harsh, jerky, etc. - shifts, stops and road bumps. Have grown partial to sport & lever to the left when I remember to think after starting the car.