325 auto or manual

Thu Jun 23, 2005 6:36 pm

hi guys,need some advice on auto boxes as never driven one and theres plenty advertised theses days,how do they accelerate compared to manuals?and are the cars worth more/less?going to view a couple soon and would app your help.cheers

Thu Jun 23, 2005 6:51 pm

If you live in London then a Auto is a must! they are slow as snails, drink more than a 3.0 M30 but they are so easy to drive! Effortless acceleration.

But if you have a workout left leg and live in oxford then you will be better off with a Manual.

A

Thu Jun 23, 2005 6:58 pm

i have a 535i sport auto, its so easy to drive and brilliant at cruising, for a nice relaxing drive i recommend an auto.

i have a 325i manual as well so i get best of both worlds

Thu Jun 23, 2005 7:04 pm

I WAS IN A SIMILAR SITTUATION AS YOU.WHEN I BOUGHT MY BLACK E30 THAT WAS THE 1ST TIME I DROVE A AUTO..

TAKE OFF IS CRAP....BUT ONCE U GET GOING ITS A SMOOTH RIDE.
MY 1 ESPECIALLY DOES GOOD ON THE MOTORWAY, CONSIDERING IT IS A 1.6i AND THE ONLY MOD IS THE SPORT BACK BOX...I MANAGED 125MPH...WHICH IS VERY IMPRESSIVE FOR A 316I.

IF YOU GO FOR A 325I THE KICK DOWN SHOULD BE NICER.#

CITY DRIVING CNT BEAT AN AUTO....GETS BORING SUMTIMES THO...GOOD LUCK

Thu Jun 23, 2005 7:12 pm

Demlotcrew wrote: they are slow as snails, drink more than a 3.0 M30 but they are so easy to drive! Effortless acceleration.

I have a 325i auto, I wanted a manual but the car that came up was to good to pass up just because of the gearbox.

If you get an auto make sure you get a big engine, its not so quick off the line but once its moving it DOES shift especially when it kicks down twice

I get 27mpg on a long motorway run but it doesnt get used a lot so petrol is not a factor.

I used to do a lot of karting all over the country and haveing an auto actually worked really well I often did over 300 miles in a day with a 3 hour race in between and you feel fine at the end of the day.

Thu Jun 23, 2005 7:59 pm

havent driven many autos, but all i can say is, i hate them, i would never have one given the choice, even if i do get old and lazy, if im that old ill expect to be driven not driving

Thu Jun 23, 2005 8:30 pm

thanks all,mmm,not convinced about the slow acceleration,maybe keep looking 4 a manual!

Thu Jun 23, 2005 9:03 pm

Auto for a convertible, manual in a saloon!

Thu Jun 23, 2005 9:12 pm

Simon wrote:Auto for a convertible, manual in a saloon!

noooo cabs have to be manual, even if they are slow, an e30 isnt the same if its an auto

Thu Jun 23, 2005 9:14 pm

jamesroools wrote:
Simon wrote:Auto for a convertible, manual in a saloon!
noooo cabs have to be manual, even if they are slow, an e30 isnt the same if its an auto

I mean for cruising

Fri Jun 24, 2005 1:07 am

jamesroools wrote:
Simon wrote:Auto for a convertible, manual in a saloon!
noooo cabs have to be manual, even if they are slow, an e30 isnt the same if its an auto

What you going on about...talking crap, yes its slower, but is still better than most auto's. wen i use the gears i can mash up most cars on the road......Need to know how to drive it....mine serves me well for now!.....saying that my plan to upgrade engine size im def going back to manual......but 4 now its ok.so dnt be dissing Autos mate!

Fri Jun 24, 2005 9:51 am

Had an auto (2) E30 since 1985. Bought mainly for London commuting but did the Portsmouth journey once a week. Now live there. The Sport's now a 2.7 and with the extra torque that gives it's better than a manual in my opinion. If I was sticking to a 2.5 I think I would opt for the manual.

Fri Jun 24, 2005 10:02 am

Demlotcrew wrote:If you live in London then a Auto is a must! they are slow as snails, drink more than a 3.0 M30 but they are so easy to drive! Effortless acceleration.

But if you have a workout left leg and live in oxford then you will be better off with a Manual.

A

You shouldn't be making such comments mate.

On an E30, like any old-ish car, if the car hasn't been maintained, it will show signs of ageing.

Autos are gaining popularity, and they're certainly no snails, as was proved by myself to a few people on a couple of occassions, inspite of my car being a cab, so heavier than a tin-top !

AND, you've experienced it with Mike318i in his mint 318iS, and you in your iS, against AndyP's auto touring (which is the heaviest E30 !).

What everyone must remember is that in general, people have been wary of auto boxes because, people don't know how to drive an automatic car correctly. Many of the old fashioned mechanics were not very used to fixing auto boxes, hence they created this 'image' about these boxes. That led to high costs of maintaining/repairing auto boxes.

You want to check how quick auto boxes are ? Check out some of the Police cars - I've seen LOADS of them being auto !

Fri Jun 24, 2005 1:16 pm

Bharat wrote:
Demlotcrew wrote:If you live in London then a Auto is a must! they are slow as snails, drink more than a 3.0 M30 but they are so easy to drive! Effortless acceleration.

But if you have a workout left leg and live in oxford then you will be better off with a Manual.

A
You shouldn't be making such comments mate.

On an E30, like any old-ish car, if the car hasn't been maintained, it will show signs of ageing.

Autos are gaining popularity, and they're certainly no snails, as was proved by myself to a few people on a couple of occassions, inspite of my car being a cab, so heavier than a tin-top !

AND, you've experienced it with Mike318i in his mint 318iS, and you in your iS, against AndyP's auto touring (which is the heaviest E30 !).

What everyone must remember is that in general, people have been wary of auto boxes because, people don't know how to drive an automatic car correctly. Many of the old fashioned mechanics were not very used to fixing auto boxes, hence they created this 'image' about these boxes. That led to high costs of maintaining/repairing auto boxes.

You want to check how quick auto boxes are ? Check out some of the Police cars - I've seen LOADS of them being auto !

I agree with you mostly....as i said in my post earlier, Nothing wrong with an auto...if you know how to drive it...mine for example.is a 1.6i normally a slug when i let it be....but when i start shifting the gears.and the kickdown....im off!

Fri Jun 24, 2005 3:27 pm

my only problem with auto's is it could kick down when ya really don't want it to.making you get a full 360 degree view off the road.
wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow. biff.my mate had one and we never had full confidence in it, because of this. if ya more off a cruiser than a screamer then auto is fine.

Fri Jun 24, 2005 4:40 pm

the later boxes are selectable - put it in sport and it won't shift up/down so much. I drive mine in 'economy' most of the time which sometimes means it changes up when I back off for a roundabout, then shifts down again when you gas it. But in sport that doesn't happen so much. And there's the 'manual change' option.

Someone mentioned the double kickdown

yeah, great. And even in 'economy' it pulls 6k revs if you step on the gas.

I got mine for commuting in traffic. sooo easy. and I actually enjoy driving it all the time, never missed the hand wanking at all.

Anyway, it reminds me of being in California, so its cool with me.

No idea about the affect on petrol consumption - suspect its more to do with traffic and how much lead you have in the right foot. These are thirsty cars anyway?

Fri Jun 24, 2005 7:16 pm

My cabs an auto and i can't fault it, its great for just cruising around in, I find the petrol economy pretty good to as i don't tend to race around everywhere in an auto!!

But saying this i do have have 2 other cars that are manuals but if i only had 1 car it would have to be a manual........

Fri Jun 24, 2005 11:50 pm

iv had 2 manuals and my motorsport convert was an auto. have a guess y i sold the convertie?

Sat Jun 25, 2005 5:52 am

Nice one simon!!

Cab is auto
Sport soon to be manual (picked up the donor car on Wed)

Autos are ok but still reckon for the real driving thrill you cant beat a manual, clutches can be used for more then just changing cogs, anyone who races bikes on or off road will vouch for that.

But unless you spend a great amount of time blasting round country roads an auto is fine (and with all of mine reliable if maintained)

But if yer a drift nut....... only one option, and its more than two pedals!

Sat Jun 25, 2005 6:30 am

having recently got an auto (gone soon thank god) after two 5 spds i have to say that i cant stand it....you can almost feel the acceleration being wasted by the torque converter. even for cruising i never found the 5 spd to be a problem....and dont even get me started about kick down!