Looking to buy & I'm torn....6MT or DCT??

[SilentAttack]

I love MT vs. DCT threads it's a circle of joy.

[Law]

Plenty of seat time in both and will choose 6MT every single time.
It all depends on your preferences. Plenty of reasons to choose DCT: your wife drives it, 0-60 times, track times, comfort, smoothness, something new, tech factor. Drivers who choose 6MT feel the aforementioned factors are not enough to justify compromising the physical mechanical connection to driving a performance car. All preference.

Some like their beef grounded up and packed into a burger that can be picked up anytime by anyone and eaten within a few minutes. It's a fast meal, gets the job done, your kids love it, no regrets.
Others would rather have beef in the form of a steak at a dinner table with a fork and knife. It may take longer to eat, require more finesse, and be harder to find and justify, but the experience and feeling is just that much more rewarding.

I chose the steak.
Some people choose fast food.
Some people go back and forth.
Either way, as long as your appetite is adequately fulfilled with no regrets, that's all that matters.

[e-solo]

Originally Posted by Law

Plenty of seat time in both and will choose 6MT every single time.
It all depends on your preferences. Plenty of reasons to choose DCT: your wife drives it, 0-60 times, track times, comfort, smoothness, something new, tech factor. Drivers who choose 6MT feel the aforementioned factors are not enough to justify compromising the physical mechanical connection to driving a performance car. All preference.

Some like their beef grounded up and packed into a burger that can be picked up anytime by anyone and eaten within a few minutes. It's a fast meal, gets the job done, your kids love it, no regrets.
Others would rather have beef in the form of a steak at a dinner table with a fork and knife. It may take longer to eat, require more finesse, and be harder to find and justify, but the experience and feeling is just that much more rewarding.

I chose the steak.
Some people choose fast food.
Some people go back and forth.
Either way, as long as your appetite is adequately fulfilled with no regrets, that's all that matters.

DCT=burgers and MT=steak. Classic!
I like...........burgers I guess?!?!

[Law]

Originally Posted by e-solo

So DCT=Burgers and MT=Steak! Classic!
I think I like........burgers?!?!

Same god damn cow but different ways to experience it.
You want a Big Mac that tastes that same every single time & can be devoured super quick? Get DCT.
Don't mind a little work for a nice piece of steak? Get 6MT.

I like metaphors

[Techjunkie666]

I have a 6MT for track and DCT for DD. Although I traded in the DCT after the never ending DCT leaking issues.

[AirbusPilot]

Pretty funny reading the snarky, "justifying what I bought" comments like "DCT is for girls" "I drive a 6MT because I have balls", "DCT is just an automatic", etc.

lol, whatever.

OP, just get what you want. Of course, you'll have to decide that. It's really more a matter of taste, like picking a color.

Just my opinion, but the DCT seems a better match to the high revving, low torque V8.

[Edward]

Originally Posted by AirbusPilot

Just my opinion, but the DCT seems a better match to the high revving, low torque V8.

This is a good answer. A car that comes to life from 5800-8200 benefits from shorter gearing that allows for it to stay in that range during performance driving. If a car can get from one gear to the next both up and down the gears, it wins in performance. Yes it's also faster but that's not nearly as much of a benefit to me as the sound of the car with the crisp upshifts and barking downshift blips.

The DCT gives this car a whole different dimension that it would otherwise not have. Might as well have a black lunged out RS4 because there's not much different with that powertrain.

There's a reason why ultra high performance cars all skew towards DCT as the preferred or only transmission option.

If the yearning for an archaic method of gear selection still gets you going, DCT will fall pretty short of that. So if you haven't driven both, this thread is premature. The more appropriate questions to ask between the two are questions about reliability or driveability etc.

[Brian0473]

Drive both then decide.

I really like my DCT and it is my first true double clutch equipped vehicle. In traffic it's pretty much like a traditional auto, but with the occasional stumble. When you want to go fast it's really pretty awesome. Even in D if you crank it up to the sportier settings it downshifts lightning fast and holds onto gears well.

The good news is you can't go wrong either way!

[edwinm3]

DCT and while my old E90 M3 was 6mt it is not nearly as much fun as the DCT is plus the sound with a full exhaust with the DCT shifting is just sick. Come on guys we're not in the 80's anymore.

[edwinm3]

Originally Posted by Dashman

Quoted for truth

lets not forget the 6mt grinding issues

[Techjunkie666]

Originally Posted by Dashman

Quoted for truth

I should add though, the DCT is fun to drive when it works and the instantaneous shifts with rev match is awesome. The 6MT feels more connected and gives me the old school feel.

If you want a light M3 then, I would get one with 6MT and no added options like idrive and such.

Both DCT and 6MT are great but its down to what you like. Test Drive both. Cant go wrong with either choice.

[Techjunkie666]

Originally Posted by edwinm3

lets not forget the 6mt grinding issues

and money shift.

[edwinm3]

Originally Posted by Techjunkie666

and money shift.

True

[gatorfast]

Classic automatic vs manual debate. Never gets old.

[Hagasan41]

Just get both.... Problem solved.

[jtodd_fl]

The new M4 will totally have this. DCT with paddles and an actual stick for "manual rowing mode".

Btw: not really. Save your googles.

[bing240sx]

i was in the same position... live and die by manual transmission... but i couldnt find a good 6MT so i went with DCT and i much prefer it.

when i go with the F30 M3 i will again go DCT.

[sunsweet]

6MT has zero grinding issue. I have a 2013 and did not have a single grinding. Some people do not know how to drive a manual without ruining the synchros (or they bought their cars from someone who did). And the M3 MT synchros are easy to mess and will get messed up with that type of driver. Once the damage is done, it's there, it does not go away by changing the driver. And that is why you get those people who are decent MT shifters but who bought a used car with messed synchro who will blame the gearbox when they should blame the previous incompetent driver. I know because I bought my M3 new and this gearbox does NOT grind.
I testdrove a DCT at the track for hours. It is the option you need if you do not want your foot and shifting hand dexterity to be a factor in your lap times. But if you plan to drive the car for years on public roads, and like the reward that comes with the responsibility of doing your own shifts. 6MT all the way !
And yes, the DCT is a glorified automatic.

[SlowSaloonM3]

Ppl need to stop it with the exotics in dct because blah blah. These are companies that need to make SALES. You open the demographic to everyone if you have automatics

I wont doubt that there is a performance advantage as well too but sales wont be as high if only offered in manual.

Ppl need to also stop with the downshift rev matching and awesome shifts. You know in a manual it does that too right? Only if you know how to do it right.

If dct is so great, how the hell are miatas and s2ks and porsches screaming past everyone at the track?

Transmission is only about preference.

[AirbusPilot]

Originally Posted by pkim1079

If dct is so great, how the hell are miatas and s2ks and porsches screaming past everyone at the track?

Transmission is only about preference.

Because they are being driven by better drivers? Because they are fast? Who knows? The DCT doesn't render other fast cars suddenly slow.

[Vic311]

Originally Posted by Lute

Actually it's not. It's a lifestyle choice.

The MT says: Step up partner and let's see what we can do in this car today. It may be beautiful, it may be ugly but whatever it is, we will do it together.

The DCT says: Let me handle this, why don't you just sit back and have another Big Gulp.

LMAO!!! Pure gold.

[SlowSaloonM3]

Originally Posted by AirbusPilot

Because they are being driven by better drivers? Because they are fast? Who knows? The DCT doesn't render other fast cars suddenly slow.

Exactly my point. Doesnt render 6mt slow. There it is!!