I know he is. BUT You both have very valid points of view. The only way I will know for my self is if I drive one for a couple of hundred miles.

 

1. Would order the same car and options.
2. Excellent
3. Much less of a delay

The SMG is not less connected. From a literal view, it has a real clutch, pressure plate and flywheel and thus just as connected. It lets you be more connected to the car as you won't fishtail in a turn if you don't match revs to speed, you won't bog the engine or spin the tires if you select the wrong gear. I am able to concentrate more on my line through a turn and on what the tires are doing because I don't have to concentrate on how fast I can reliably control the clutch pedal and throwing the stick shifter through its gate. No missed gears, no wrong gears. Why do you think the road track cars (F1 etc) use the SMG technology; we actually got it from them.
The only reason I would defend a traditional manual tranny is because its traditional and there might be some sentimental value there.
Was fuel injection technology overkill; how about radial tires or disk brakes?
As fast as my ZX1000R Ninja shifts, I would love a SMG unit on it.

 

Motorcycles with SMG!!!!! I would kill...I mean murder.. to have SMG in my CBR600F4i. No more mid-turn transmission snaps, and no more sore fingers...SMG is the way to go.

 

Motorcycles with SMG!!!!! I would kill...I mean murder.. to have SMG in my CBR600F4i. No more mid-turn transmission snaps, and no more sore fingers...SMG is the way to go.
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You should take contact to some Drag Bike team, because they have quite easy solution to that. But only upwards .

Skaffa

 

Is it not fair to say that the benefits of SMG are more appreciated at the track.....so for regular driving, both spirited and mundane, wouldn't a regular manual, dare I say, be more fun.

 

Rob,

Please post pics of your car. Both your 545 and your 996TT

 

A manual is more traditional and thus might be more enjoyable. Setting the clearance in my points and setting the timing manually was more fun, is it better or more desirable to the current electronic ignition which is computer controlled?
Drum brakes were more fun, as you really had to think about stopping and how fast you were going. Disc brakes with ABS could be considered less fun, its also is now more computer controlled.
SMG is an "alternative" and I applaud BMW for offering us three transmission options, Mercedes only offers us one in the US.
SMG is not a traditional manual nor is it a steptronic tranny, if what it does seems less attractive, at least you have the alternative to check the option box for either of the other two.

 

I ponder this all the time. I have converted to SMG, but I honestly liked shifting the stick. The main thing the SMG offers is safety and convenience. But for sheer fun . . .

 

I ponder this all the time. I have converted to SMG, but I honestly liked shifting the stick. The main thing the SMG offers is safety and convenience. But for sheer fun . . .
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I like shifting a stick as well, just not all the time.

 

To all who replied,
Thanks for your input. Ordered a 545i with SMG on 11/22. Last known status is 155. On order from tirerack, 225/50HR-17 Dunlop Winter Sport M3 (got the last set they had in stock) with ASA JH3 rims.

Steve