Ok, so this may have been covered before but I'm new so I can be forgiven. :D

So, basically... manual or Auto/Tiptronic? TBH I'm on the fence on this one but which is better? Loads of people tell me "manual is better, as you have more feel and when you're racing around its better" but others love the comfort and ease of auto.

YOU DECIDE

I've had both several times in M sport 330's and have to say I much prefer the tiptronic. I've even had the reverse fail issue and still went back to tiptronic

All depends on the motor in my opinion.

E38 750il = I WOULD ONLY WANT Auto

E46 M3 = I WOULD ONLY WANT Manual

I will base my poll answer on something neutral like a E90 320i. My opinion would be Manual

Never had an auto and can't say I would want one! It's manual for me :)

Manual all the way !!

I would always prefer manual, too easy without it..

Steptronic/Tiptronic on anything 2.8 and above (5/6/7 series), smaller 1/3 series should stay manual... Sounds like I'm sitting on the fence but the larger vehicles don't drive too well with Manual boxes !

Have to agree with Dabsy, the steptronic for the bigger beamers, but manual for the more "sporty" ones

Ze tiptronic is awesome,just as good as manual but quicker and smoother.If tired just slip back into auto sport mode.If you try it you will never go back.

I have just bought an X5 tiptronic. Until now I have never been a fan of auto's, "too slow, thirsty, boring". 1 week on I am converted!! When you are stuck in traffic, bung it in auto. On the open road I am delighted with the tiptronic but am still forgetting if its push or pull for up or down gear!!

My beloved M-Tech 328i, which had most of M3 go faster mods ie suspension, intakes, exhaust and lsd rear axle, was magic with the M3 manual gearbox and I dont think it would have suited auto but the X5 really does so I suppose it depends on the car,

(either that or I am getting past it!!)

cheers crofter

Think of it like SEX... "Pull DOWN" = Trousers off - "Push UP" = DVD's available on selected Porn Sites LOL

Deffo the manual its a personal pref. Just dont get why they dont give us the latest m5 with a manual otherwise would finance one straight away, i'll just stick with my manual e39 m5 real drivers machine!!

Always loved manual boxes, my E92 is a 3.0d auto and wouldn't have it any other way

I Have a BMW which has Tiptronic gears which is an auto gear box for normal use but if you wish you can push the gear leaver to one side and nudge the gears up or down maually, this also siffens up the suspension I think and changes the gearing to more of a sporty mode. I think the auto box is still cuts in to safety protect the engine. Just drive your new car in auto and give it a try when you feel comfortable just have fun...

-----------------------------

2013 MERCEDES BENZ SL-CLASS

I have had two 2.8 bmw's previous being manual and present e39 528i sport mtec being auto

And I gota say I prefer the auto

manual- more fun

I am constantly on the fence about this. When I brought my 330ci the only one I could find with the spec I wanted was an auto and didn't have time to wait it out. I will be honest I do enjoy the auto but I am always wondering if I should have got a manual and contemplating changing but I haven't gone any further with it. I do think my torque converter is in a bad way which could be giving me a bad experience with the auto.

The outcome is that I am 50/50, I enjoy the auto but if I had a choice of the two I dont know which I would pick....

I had the 6 speed ZF auto when I had an E90 320d and with a remap I felt the auto suited the car and the torque curve, in manual mode it was pull back to go up the gears and forwards to go down.

The 5 speed ZF auto on my E39 525i is slightly different in that you have to pull back to go down the gears and nudge it forwards to go up.

The only 5 series model I would want with a manual would be the M5 but with the 5 series being the size it is the auto suits the car more and is a more relaxing drive and it shifts fast enough in sport mode and holds on the gears until 6500rpm.