Anyone live in SOCAL or other big cities that own a manual? Just curious how the stick is in traffic. My sales rep is trying to talk me out of SMG so I am not sure what I should do.

 

What are your reasons for wanting the SMG and what is the salesman's reason for telling you not to get it?

 

I like to be more engaged then in the auto, however I would like to use the auto feature on the SMG while in heavy traffic. If people say the stick is not really an issue then maybe I would consider it. Sales person says the SMG is really a crapy transmission.

 

I live in Boston and I don't have much problem because the clutch pedal on the 5 series is very light and very little effort is needed to get the car moving.

 

SMG is the BOMB. The dealer doesnt want you to buy it because it has a bad resale value, but its only been in the market for like 4 years. The SMG is so much fun. If you live in traffic, deffinetly get the SMg and you woont regret it. Ive had it for only a week and love the SMG. It is just like the manual, but better in my opinion. Since i do traffic driving daily, this is the most resnable choice.

 

TONS of us here have SMG and live in dense city traffic. No problems. Best transmission ever.

 

if you have to ask then manuel is not for you.
go for SMG.

if you find inconvenience or tireness driving manuel, the nperhaps you should stay away from the stick.

 

Call me crazy, but on a luxury sport sedan, I like a Steptronic.

 

Okay, "You're crazy"

More seriously, to try and help SD330i out, I think it's clear that the dealer's opinion shouldn't carry as much weight as the experienced SMG owners on this board.

SD330i, have you read our SMG FAQ and the many topics linked inside it? If not, check it out here.

If you are sure you want a manual and not a Steptronic, then the best choice for urban traffic is clearly SMG and, in my opinion, not SMG's auto mode. In all my years of driving sticks, the problem with traffic was my left leg, not my right arm. In other words, it's the clutch pedal that makes driving a stick in traffic tiresome, not the act of changing gears. With the SMG, even in traffic, I recommend shifting it manually for best control and smoothness of the shift. You can flick the paddle with whatever hand is on the wheel and not even think about it in traffic. Often times, you're not even getting out of first gear so the point is moot anyway. If you still feel like using auto mode, it's always there for you if you want it...

Over the past few years, I don't remember hearing too many negative comments from SMG owners, only SMG non-owners!

 

i have never been an e60 SMG...but i think the main reason that your sales man is telling you to stay away from SMG is because it is so diffrent from auto i think...the SMG handles like the car is a manual and it is changing by it self, but the Step, is an auto and much smoother..
i think u should get SMG for the fun, espically if your getting a big engine..but my best suggestion is to test drive the SMG..then decide...