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04-06-2026LAST POST
Bitch that's just that many more shifting events for an automatic to crush you with disappointment. The only place an automatic is almost palatable is on the freeway between exits where you can almost forget you're driving pathetic automatic scum.

I guess, if you don't take care of it.
OC40 wroteWaaah! Heard this lately from a ninety year old lady (once befriended with mom) whom I invited to a café. (BMWs are nearly unknown in her one-horse village (except the young guys.)Did you even consider a Mercedes?
Joachim wroteFunny enough, this was a 50 year old that has owned Audis and BMWs! He somehow thinks MB is “upper echelon”Waaah! Heard this lately from a ninety year old lady (once befriended with mom) whom I invited to a café. (BMWs are nearly unknown in her one-horse village (except the young guys.)
First was a couple of guys in a car next to me -- we were stopped at a light -- motioned for me to roll down the passenger window. I did. And heard "Nice car."
And then "What did it cost?" Told them. Got a thumbs up. Then the light changed.
Then just before the snow storm hit was at a local gas station fueling the M8 and a guy in a vehicle at the other side of the pump starting talking to me. Asking me how fast it is -- I told him I don't recall the performance specs but I assured him it was fast -- and then he asked me if I worked for Walmart. Was in Bentonville AR which is where the Walmart Home Office is located so the question was not unexpected.
Told him I was retired and he asked me what I did. Told him I wrote software for 30 years in CA. He offered he was from Van Nuys. That's in southern CA while I lived in northern CA (SF Bay Area). Told him I had been to southern CA on business several times and found the people and place very nice.
He pressed me about have I ever gotten on it...
Told him a bit but the car is so fast and the roads around this area are not really conducive to unleashing the M8 so about the time the scenery begins to blur I have to get off the gas.
Seriously, it always makes the day then when we are chatting eye to eye on the street about the amazing technology and even about the flaws every car has. Once a Turkish guy with a 320D tough me his methods how to enhance the shine of my car, "because he liked it".
It's all like this when there's the conversation about the car's value, not the driver's one. Unfortunately, each country might have many people who have resentments against those who seem to possess something more or better than them, and instead to enjoy the other one's happiness in this one point, they are verbally attacking ad hominem so they feel better.
It feels good to not being alone here.
c1pher wroteBe ready to answer this one from a cop. I say, "Only 156-mph at Virginia International Raceway. I've read that the top is 188."What’s the fastest you’ve ever gone in it. I have actually had police ask me that question.
If it ever happens again, I might add, "How fast have you had yours?"
BenFenner wroteThis! I drive Southern California traffic from San Diego to Ventura and out to Palm Springs... it sucks no matter what car you're in, so at least be in a manual so you can enjoy the moments of bliss when they happen!Using excuses to drive an automatic, especially daily driving in a city or with traffic.
Gee, if they were the same engine, with the same number of cylinders, with the same amount of turbos/superchargers, with the same drivetrain (AWD/RWD/FWD), with the same tires, with the same chassis, with the same blah blah blah...they'd be the same car!! In that moment, car A was faster than B.
Maynard wroteInvite those a-holes to the track.Those who assume a DCT is universally an inferior experience; or that you are not a 'real sports car person/real driver' if you did not choose a manual.
StradaRedlands wroteI had this mentality for a while but eventually I relented in NJ traffic, there is simply nowhere where I can have fun for more than a few seconds during my commutes. I bought an E60 528i daily driver, the 6HP is passable but could use a service, I plan to swap to an 8HP in the coming months which is the only auto I can really tolerate. I think the 3 stage + 8hp combo will make it a lot better to drive.This! I drive Southern California traffic from San Diego to Ventura and out to Palm Springs... it sucks no matter what car you're in, so at least be in a manual so you can enjoy the moments of bliss when they happen!
I still have my E92 but now it's only used for fun drives and I love the car more for that, maybe I'm less of an enthusiast than I thought?
Leucosticte wrote8HP is such a great transmission... ZF really perfected that thing!I had this mentality for a while but eventually I relented in NJ traffic, there is simply nowhere where I can have fun for more than a few seconds during my commutes. I bought an E60 528i daily driver, the 6HP is passable but could use a service, I plan to swap to an 8HP in the coming months which is the only auto I can really tolerate. I think the 3 stage + 8hp combo will make it a lot better to drive.
I still have my E92 but now it's only used for fun drives and I love the car more for that, maybe I'm less of an enthusiast than I thought?