How do YOU drive your Steptronic?
02-16-2011, 09:52 AM
#21
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My Ride: 535i
02-16-2011, 10:08 AM
#22
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My Ride: 2015 535D M Sport
SMG isn't faster. It's just a manual transmission with automatic activation of the clutch. Manually shifting of the MT can be far quicker than automatic shifting of the SMG.
DCT on the hand is the obvious quickest across the board. DCT engages both rails of the gear selection simultaneously so the shift between gears is not affected by the delay of changing shift rails.
As for traditional auto vs manual; while many purists prefer manual transmissions (for obvious reasons), it?s been proven time and time again that automatics shift faster than manual (all things being equal). The time it takes for a user to manually depress the clutch pedal, grab the gear selector, make a gear change, and release the clutch has been proven a slower process then a traditional automatic shifting tranny can accomplish. Granted automatics are less efficient than manuals resulting in greater drivetrain power loss, can?t handle the same power outputs as manuals, and are significantly heavier than manuals. This is why they?re less popular in high power or high performance environments.
DCT on the hand is the obvious quickest across the board. DCT engages both rails of the gear selection simultaneously so the shift between gears is not affected by the delay of changing shift rails.
As for traditional auto vs manual; while many purists prefer manual transmissions (for obvious reasons), it?s been proven time and time again that automatics shift faster than manual (all things being equal). The time it takes for a user to manually depress the clutch pedal, grab the gear selector, make a gear change, and release the clutch has been proven a slower process then a traditional automatic shifting tranny can accomplish. Granted automatics are less efficient than manuals resulting in greater drivetrain power loss, can?t handle the same power outputs as manuals, and are significantly heavier than manuals. This is why they?re less popular in high power or high performance environments.
02-16-2011, 12:29 PM
#23
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Location: Santa Fe Springs (SFS) - L.A. (SoCal) USA, North America, EARTH
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A little research on the ZF HP26 series transmissions will reveal that the torque converter locks very soon after launch and each shift thus elimininating much of the TC loss that people who dislike AT's complain about. As with all AT's, the torque converter also provides some degree of torque multiplication that is useful at launch. As much as I like to drive an MT from time to time, the AT has some pretty good performance benefits that cannot be overlooked.
02-16-2011, 01:04 PM
#24
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My Ride: 550i
Get a bimmer with manual trans. BMW with auto is not even BMW - it's for lazy people which mostly care about how good cap holders are, or those without left leg.
02-16-2011, 02:31 PM
#25
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My Ride: 2008 550i Sport
or for those who need their BMW to be drivable by their wife's who can't drive a manual ..!
02-16-2011, 03:35 PM
#26
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My Ride: F10 535i: Jet Black, Black Dakota leather, Sport Auto, Cold Weather, Driver Assistance, Driver Assistance Plus, Dynamic Handling, Luxury Seating, M Sport, Premium, Technology, Rear Sunshades, Auto High Beams, BMW Assist w/enhanced BT and USB.
Shameful!! Teach that woman to drive a stick........
When I was learning to drive my dad insisted that I learn stick. "Anything else is not driving, it's simply steering!" If I wanted him to buy me a car, it was going to be stick so I'd better learn how to drive it. I did!!!
02-16-2011, 04:10 PM
#27
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My 535 is the first automatic I've owned since I had an 82 Accord in high school. I know many will scream blasphemy, but I almost got a MT but preferred the SAT. I felt the shift throws were a bit long, but more importantly, I'm not as young as I used to be, and sitting in traffic for 45 minutes every day with my old G35 was getting a bit tiresome.
The auto in sport mode is hands down the fasting shifting auto I've ever experienced.
The auto in sport mode is hands down the fasting shifting auto I've ever experienced.
02-16-2011, 05:10 PM
#28
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02-16-2011, 05:12 PM
#29
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My Ride: Alpine White 2006 530Xi (SLD)
Yeah, that "without left leg" thing kinda went overboard a little, didn't it? 
Let's stick to good humor... with that, I'm out 
Let's stick to good humor... with that, I'm out
02-16-2011, 05:26 PM
#30
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