If the m3 is such an enthusiasts car....

[Flying Ace]

successful troll is successful.

[DSilk]

The debate about whether the DCT or the 6 speed manual is better is an exercise in absurdity. The answer is that the transmission that you prefer is the better one for you. As mentioned before in another post the DCT shares certain characteristics of both fully manual and automatic transmissions. Like a fully manual transmission the DCT has clutches between the output shaft and the transmission, as opposed to the torque converter and fluid coupling found in traditional automatics. But many newer automatics have wet clutches rather than torque converters, so this distinction is being lost. Like automatic transmissions, the DCT can shift itself and is programmed to prevent downshifts into too low a gear (revving the engine beyond the limiter).

Enthusiasts who opt for the DCT generally like the fact that it is faster shifting as well as consistent with state-of-the-art racing technology, while enthusiasts who opt for the fully manual transmission generally like being more involved in the driving experience. One thing is certain, however. The advent and proliferation of automated sequential transmissions has opened up the market for enthusiasts' cars to poseurs who otherwise wouldn't want to put up with operating a clutch and shifting gears. Porsche sells far more cars now that they can all be had with 2 pedals than it ever did when you had to shift them yourself, and the nature of the owners in general has changed as well. The same is true of BMW. The e92 M3 is far more prolific than the e30 M3 ever was for the simple reason that it demands far fewer sacrifices from potential owners. The e30 M3 was a bare bones street-legal competition car with only a manual transmission, while its sibling 325i was more luxurious, had a 6 pot engine, and could be had with an automatic. It's no wonder all of these cars have gotten bigger, heavier, and more laden with luxury features. The plus of all of this is that the larger market ensures the survival of enthusiast cars. The downside is that they start to lose the very things that made them appeal to real enthusiasts to begin with.

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by jaehshim

why do u need a transmission
a real enthusiast rocks a 1 speed tranny tesla that drives itself.

got damn, you win this thread.

[e1000]

Originally Posted by DSilk

The debate about whether the DCT or the 6 speed manual is better is an exercise in absurdity. The answer is that the transmission that you prefer is the better one for you. As mentioned before in another post the DCT shares certain characteristics of both fully manual and automatic transmissions. Like a fully manual transmission the DCT has clutches between the output shaft and the transmission, as opposed to the torque converter and fluid coupling found in traditional automatics. But many newer automatics have wet clutches rather than torque converters, so this distinction is being lost. Like automatic transmissions, the DCT can shift itself and is programmed to prevent downshifts into too low a gear (revving the engine beyond the limiter).

Right, but also the types of gears used is the same for DCT and Standard vs vastly different for a traditional automatics.