What is your transmission? auto or manual
 

i just wanted to know what kind of transmission everyone has i have a auto, i know auto is corny but the car was passed down to me from my parents and i am happy to own it.

Hey, my '98 with automatic is still a very nice car. I bought if for my daughters to learn to drive on expecting they'd learn stick on my 535is after they'd learned how to stay between the lines, etc. But I enjoy it, too. Especially when I have to go to DC and get stuck in endless traffic jams on I-66 or the Beltway. Nothing wrong with the automatic. Nice short diff to maximize what little power there is and yet it still delivered 32mpg at an average speed approaching 90mph on the way back from Texas where I purchased it. Never gets less than about 28mpg even in my "city" traffic in Charlottesville. By the way, I use mid-grade gas with no problems.

-Phil

After driving both the automatic and manual ti, it's a close race to see which I like better. The automatic definately has its perks, as does the manual. Being stuck in traffic was easier with the auto, but acceleration and upshifting makes the manual shine. The manual would probably take the auto off the line, but in the time between shifts, the auto might could catch up. Having never driven both cars at the same time, I can't tell you for certain, however. (= I enjoy the manual more, since it lets me choose my shift points rather than having the computer choose them...which means that I can be in the best gear for the upcoming situations.... i.e. dead stop traffic or accelerating then hill climbing...you get the point.

I got a manual since I don't know how to drive automatic :_peace: .I would really be interested to see a stock 5 spd run a stock auto ti. Since the auto got the 4.44:1 rear end then it could be a good race. Ya'll with the autos need to get out to the track and get some times so we can compare (I'm gonna see what I can do in the 1/4 tonight).

I prefer the manual. I only like manuals, so my opinion is biased. I will say, that in a small displacement engine (less than 2.0 L) the automatic will suck up a good chunk of your horsepower and performance. Automatics are generally better suited to larger 4 cylinders, or better yet, 6 and 8 cylinders.

I have a manual transmittion in my 97. I feel weird when I drive an automatic, Im always looking for the clutch to shift. I also think driving an automatic car is a little mindless.

i would have prefered a manual...but i didnt pay for it...so i cant complain

i have auto by the way

It took me a while to find a manual Ti but it was worth it. After driving a few auto ones I was totally set on getting a manual one.

i have the benefit of having driven both the manual and automagic 318ti for quite some time.

the torque converter on the auto is impressive, and with the gearing i think it is only marginally slower.

the manual is undoubtedly more fun, but can be tedious at times (heavy or stop & go traffic). it also takes work to drive as smoothly as the auto, but i feel i'm a much more smooth driver overall because i have to plan shift points, can let the engine brake, etc instead of having to goose it to get power, or brake to slow down.


regardless of what tranny you have, the ti is still a fun car around the corners.

Mine is a manual. I can't stand driving automatics, it's way too boring. Whenever I have to drive an auto I'm always looking for the clutch and reaching over to shift. I love manuals.

Mine is a manual, too. Before buying, I looked into it and found that a lot of automatic drivers said they wish they'd gotten the manual. A lot said that they felt that there wasn't enough low-end torque in the automatic. ie, slow starts. Not sure if this is true, but do any you autos feel like they're getting left at the stop lights?

Mine is a manual also.

I like autos, and they are great for our traffic congestion, but I think the M44 is too small an engine to be really successful with an auto box.

I wish mine was a manual, but I bought it before I had a clue how to drive a stick.

The slow start thing is absolutely true. Its not impossible, but with the safety its very hard to launch the car at all. It can be done in the "manual" mode, but that is more trouble than its worth and still isn't the same thing.

I guess i will use this for my first post, i had a question regarding my Auto 98 318TI. After driving short trips around town my car makes a funny noise like pressure is being dumped off and I have heard it do this before when leaving a gas station but this time i was actually inside the car, it sounded like it was coming from the tranny. Also my gas millage is peaking at 22.8mpg on the highway at 80mph and around 20mpg in the city.

P.S. My father had the car looked at by a mechanic but i dont think he did anything....

I have an auto. I didn't really care too much about what transmission I got as long as the car was in excellent shape, had low miles, and a good price.

I've only ever driven a Saturn and a Porche 914 manual, and never had the opportunity to get a lot of practice in since I never really had to. Since central Seattle consits of a lot of big hills and I'm in traffic a lot, an auto is good enough for now. Strangely enough, when I drive in my dreams it's always a manual.