Trouble Picking Car (M3 Manulal or SMG)
- Thread starter Bmw's_Finest
- Start date
Well first of all the E46 (2004) M3 is an inline six cylinder, not a V6 and that's a good thing.
In terms of the transmission, I've driven both and I can tell you that I much prefer the manual version of the M3. It's a heavy gearbox that likes to be pushed around a bit but at the same time you really can finesse it if you manage to get on top of it. You need to be on your toes with this gearbox though.
The SMG is a little different. Because you dont need to use a clutch or stoke the gearbox with a lever it does mean you can concentrate solely on piloting the car which means you'll probably be a little faster in outright terms. The SMG, on it's fastest setting, will bang through the gears faster than if you have a true manual so if that's important to you then go with the SMG.
There are others on this board that own M3s and some will tell you differently from me but I would go with the manual just because I think its more fun and you need to use more of your driving skill to use it well. Having said that, there are definitely merits to the SMG II system so it ultimately depends on what you prefer. Test drive both and decide form there.
Manual all the way!![[thumb]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_thumb.gif "Thumbs Up [thumb]")
In terms of the transmission, I've driven both and I can tell you that I much prefer the manual version of the M3. It's a heavy gearbox that likes to be pushed around a bit but at the same time you really can finesse it if you manage to get on top of it. You need to be on your toes with this gearbox though.
The SMG is a little different. Because you dont need to use a clutch or stoke the gearbox with a lever it does mean you can concentrate solely on piloting the car which means you'll probably be a little faster in outright terms. The SMG, on it's fastest setting, will bang through the gears faster than if you have a true manual so if that's important to you then go with the SMG.
There are others on this board that own M3s and some will tell you differently from me but I would go with the manual just because I think its more fun and you need to use more of your driving skill to use it well. Having said that, there are definitely merits to the SMG II system so it ultimately depends on what you prefer. Test drive both and decide form there.
Manual all the way!
