MDCT vs SMG II

[synclastica_86]

If you are just looking at shift times and performance, the new MDCT wins flat out - no questions asked. But what about from a drive enthusist's stand point? Which would give the most satisfying drive?

Please don't bring 6MT up here, this is just a comparison between the paddle shifters. Besides, posts about how the 6MT makes you more of a man is beyond beating a dead horse.

Anyway, back to the topic. With the old SMG, the car jerks when you up shift. You can feel the auto-clutch letting go. The MDCT, on the other hand, has seemless shifts. There is no or little disturbance in power delivery; therefore, lacking that distinct jerk. Is the MDCT too perfect? Is it so perfect that it takes away from the driving experience?

[!Xoible]

liars... SMG better

[M-Maika]

Originally Posted by ///Mantis

liars... SMG better

Best Regards, Maika

[modthispny]

when you click the paddle on an SMG car, no lag. With DCT, lag.

They need to fix the lag..asap.

[synclastica_86]

I think that the lag is psycological since there is no disturbance in power. The instant letting go of the clutch that causes a brief stop in accleration is no longer there. The only thing that you'll feel in an MDCT is the next gear being engaged. If anything, when comparing the time from you grab the right paddle and from the time that the next gear is engaged, the MDCT will be faster for sure. Thus in real life, the "lag" is reduced.

[PPINESM3]

DCT no question

[e46e92love]

As long as on the track, during hard threshold breaking M-DCT prevents down shifts, SMGII will continue to be the winner in my book.

[Crea]

SMG is more engaging to drive imo... it feels like a true sequential gear box.

DCT is too smooth. Its almost like driving a torque converter automatic without the power loss.

[footie]

Everyone here commenting on SMG feeling better and more enjoyable but the poll tells a different story. SMG was the most unrefined gearbox ever invented and should have been dropped before it ever made producion.

[sayemthree]

SMG for the track

DCT for the streets.

[masmole]

M-dct > Smg3 > Smg2

[mofomat]

Of the people voting, how many have actually driven both?

[Year's_End]

I loved the SMGs in the M5s and M6s at the M School. I loved the way the shifts felt under full load. It's perfect...for a track. Factor in times where you're not tracking (basically 99.9% of driving) and the DCT is far superior.

However, this thread is only discussing which one provides a better "experience" when driving briskly, and with that in mind I'd rather have an SMG. Faster shift speeds be damned, I like that jerky feeling when I'm hauling.

[masmole]

Originally Posted by mofomat

Of the people voting, how many have actually driven both?

I've driven all three on a track (E46 M3, E92 M3, E63 M6, E60 M5).

I haven't noticed any failure to downshift with the M-DCT as someone has mentioned, but then I don't deny that it doesn't exist. Perhaps, it's track-specific and can only be induced under certain circumstances. The only disclaimer is that I have a lot more seat time with both SMGs but very little with the M-DCT since it is relatively new. But so far, so good.

[hakaida442]

I think this poll should've been made after the sep dct software update

[Sticky]

Have DCT, had SMG II. The DCT is a better transmission but the SMG reacted better, I liked the way it responded and felt. It was not faster but due to the lag it sure felt like it.

The DCT is almost too good, you can't even feel it in auto, like a CVT. In S6, it shifts really freaking hard though. It would be perfect if it just shifted exactly when the paddle or stick was pulled (are they going to fix this?).

[Sticky]

Originally Posted by hakaida442

I think this poll should've been made after the sep dct software update

What is in the update?

[ChrisFastM3]

I didn't vote cuz I haven't driven the DCT yet. I have been driving smg since 2002 though. SMG is not a bad transmission. To perform a smooth shift you have to left your foot off the gas, just like a manual. Also to perform a smooth downshift, you have to blip the gas, again like a manual. If you don't do this, it will be jerky. Master it like I have & it's smooth and precise.

[synclastica_86]

What's goin on here? The poll and the post tell different stories!

[swamp2]

Originally Posted by sayemthree

SMG for the track

DCT for the streets.

Less the one bug of inability to downshift at limit braking

DCT>SMG III>SMG II

Street, track, strip, etc. - anywhere.

[ChrisFastM3]

something tells me that the majority of the people who voted have not tried 1 vs the other or just not enough time behind the wheel of both..........

[positiveions]

I never drove an SMG. The only car I drove was DCT. I like the DCT only because it is a seamless shift, and very smooth.