[shata]

Today made me think why I should drive my E46 (auto) to work, 45min of stop n go some of it on incline. My Leg hurts pretty bad.

E90 6MT is nice when its free though.

What are your thoughts on manual as DD, do you drive another car to work or just put up with the pain lol.

[VTECaddict]

I DD a manual. There's no pain. The E90 clutch is light as a feather.

[krhodes1]

If you are shifting constantly in traffic, you are doing it wrong. Just ease back and leave enough space to ride through the stops at a constant speed. While you would think that the gap will fill with other cars, usually it won't. Saves much wear and tear on you and the car. I do it all the time when I have to be at my companies head office in Waltham, MA, right off the notorious Rt 128 traffic nightmare. You will get where you are going all of 30 seconds later than you would driving like a ball of aggression.

[MiamiFan13]

Originally Posted by krhodes1

If you are shifting constantly in traffic, you are doing it wrong. Just ease back and leave enough space to ride through the stops at a constant speed. While you would think that the gap will fill with other cars, usually it won't. Saves much wear and tear on you and the car. I do it all the time when I have to be at my companies head office in Waltham, MA, right off the notorious Rt 128 traffic nightmare. You will get where you are going all of 30 seconds later than you would driving like a ball of aggression.

^^^ what he said.

No matter what....its worth whatever headaches you must endure in order to have a pure manual when the road is yours.

Eventually, if you drive enough, you won't even think about shifting in traffic. It becomes 2nd nature. I did 28k a yr for 5yrs in the worst traffic commute in my area....never considered an auto for a second during any of those 2hr commutes.

[beskone]

+1000

I live in Los Angeles, so EVERY day is stop and go. Wouldn't give up my 6-MT for anything. I've gotten used to the ebb and flow, lots of times I just sit in 2nd or 3rd for most of the trip. Easy to modulate to keep with the flow of traffic.

[reeltime]

I also DD with my E90 6MT. Like everyone is saying, it's not that bad and it's not worth giving it up.. MT alllllllll day

[bumere90]

As much as I love manual trans I am so sick of it. I am ready to purchase another E90 but with an automatic trans.

[project6]

US first world issues. Try driving in Abu Dhabi, Seoul, Manila...hardly any vehicles with automatics and the you haven't seen an actual traffic jam until you've driven in these cities. And no pain experience.

[xxnick305]

I use my 6mt as a daily driver and I have never regretted picking the transmission that I did. In bad traffic I always try to leave a good amount of space between me and the car in front of me so that I can just stay in first or second without having to stop. I can get pretty pissed sitting in traffic, but I get equally pissed sitting in traffic in an automatic.

[phazen23]

You do it enough and you'll get used to it (assuming you don't give in and buy an automatic out of frustration first). I've driven manuals for a while now (over 10 years), and only in the most extreme traffic do i even notice the effort. The rest of the time I actually enjoy zipping through the gears.

[dreamingat30fps]

I've been on both sides. Had a manual, got sick of traffic, got a GTI DSG (first fancy dual clutch system, thought how bad could it be). Once I had the auto I came to realize traffic sucked anyways. Hated the auto, went back to manual with the 335 and then on the Z4 and I'm not looking back. I try to avoid traffic whenever possible.

Now if I lived in a city where I had to deal with bumper to bumper commute every day. I might consider an auto, but honestly that would just be horrible no matter what I was driving so I would get an automatic beater and drive that. I think it would be a waste to use the BMW in that scenario.

[Bimmer100_]

I don't understand this question, driving manual regardless of conditions should be second nature...

[ABerry]

Yup I DD a manual in traffic too.. yes I'd rather have auto in traffic but sometimes I barely have to shift

[gatoman39]

The solution to all of this is to own 2 cars. A beater commuter car in automatic Camry/Corolla/Civic. And a fun weekend car 1M comes to mind.

[John 070]

c'mon now the Holland Tunnel was backed up to who knows where last Sat. and my wife was driving. I didn't hear her crying about the clutch. Are we not men?

[BMdblU]

Learn to drive, and maybe do some squats

[blingman]

I drive an auto and do enjoy it in stop and go traffic but DONT DO IT. I miss driving a manual and wished I got it on my 325, would probly feel faster too.

[jvsxn]

To be honest, I miss driving a MT in traffic. Work out them leg muss-kulls!

[AndreyT]

Originally Posted by shata

What are your thoughts on manual as DD, do you drive another car to work or just put up with the pain lol.

The myth about MT being a problem in traffic is just one of those "sounds right" myths invented and propagated by those who have never driven MT and hate themselves for it. How you managed to get your leg to hurt is beyond me.

MT is operated on automatic, subconscious level, meaning that it is never a problem, traffic or not. People who drive MT cars on the daily basis simply never notice the fact that MT is actually "manual". If you drive MT and notice that it diverts your attention or requires excessive physical effort, then you are doing something wrong.

The only real problem with MT for novice drivers is uphill starts. But that is quickly learned. As for traffic... The issue with driving MT in traffic is fake, it simply doesn't exist in real life.

[phazen23]

Originally Posted by gatoman39

The solution to all of this is to own 2 cars. A beater commuter car in automatic Camry/Corolla/Civic. And a fun weekend car 1M comes to mind.

Your logic is sound, but you're absolutely nuts if you think i'd want to commute in a civic/corolla instead of my 335, automatic or otherwise.

[turb0mik3]

I have 2 cars, my BMW and my DD volvo. Wish the Volvo was a manual!!! So much worth it. I would actually want a manual for the road and a super quick dct for the track!

[John 070]

Originally Posted by AndreyT

The myth about MT being a problem in traffic is just one of those "sounds right" myths invented and propagated by those who have never driven MT and hate themselves for it. How you managed to get your leg to hurt is beyond me.

MT is operated on automatic, subconscious level, meaning that it is never a problem, traffic or not. People who drive MT cars on the daily basis simply never notice the fact that MT is actually "manual". If you drive MT and notice that it diverts your attention or requires excessive physical effort, then you are doing something wrong.

The only real problem with MT for novice drivers is uphill starts. But that is quickly learned. As for traffic... The issue with driving MT in traffic is fake, it simply doesn't exist in real life.

Right on, could not agree more. So many people now seem to embrace the DSG or DCT or PDK. We get it, it is faster. If I were playing a video game, and I wanted the highest score, I too would opt for an auto.

But driving in the real world is different. Either you like manuals, or you don't. Traffic doesn't play into the decision of getting a clutch or an auto. It doesn't play into it one bit.