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How many G29 Manual Z4s will be sold in the UK in 2024?
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deltasierra
Member
Using an Automatic changing gears as you would in a manual takes a lot of practice and paddle changes don’t make it any easier. If you have a manual changes become second nature, it’s easy to use the paddles to overtake a car, it’s not easy to use on a twisty road.
I have paddles but I find if I want to overtake or be a hoon the sport button is just as effective.
I have paddles but I find if I want to overtake or be a hoon the sport button is just as effective.
Despite my initial aversion to the MT colour scheme I've really warmed to it now. I think it's distinctive and rather lovely, though I may change my mind once I see one in real life. Would I buy one ? There's an itch there. I really like the AT in my M40i, but I remember the hard charging MT pump from my old M3. Maybe it's all a bit much at my age but I still enjoy charging about in our MT hot hatch. One to ponder for a while I think.
Maybe I really need to have more time paddling my AT. 35Not getting involved in the manual vs auto debate.
My PERSONAL choice would be manual for a weekend car. Love the extra engagement with a manual, but that dreaded London traffic as a daily is a no for me. I’m too old. Bad enough the car is so low to get in and out of!
I would also add that modern auto and dual clutch gearboxes are excellent and light years better than the sludge boxes of old.
My PERSONAL choice would be manual for a weekend car. Love the extra engagement with a manual, but that dreaded London traffic as a daily is a no for me. I’m too old. Bad enough the car is so low to get in and out of!
I would also add that modern auto and dual clutch gearboxes are excellent and light years better than the sludge boxes of old.
matsmith749
Active member
I must be missing something.
It's a Z4 we are talking about right? A BMW Z4?
Nobody will care in the future (or I suspect, when they go on sale).
A purist hunting down a manual option in the future for that 'ultimate experience' will not be lusting after a Z4.
It might sell a few, as I don't think there are many 2 seater convertibles available anymore with a manual gearbox - so if you want one, this is the one. But I expect future residuals to sink like a stone, it's just not special enough to stand out.
(I like them BTW - but won;t be buying one).
It's a Z4 we are talking about right? A BMW Z4?
Nobody will care in the future (or I suspect, when they go on sale).
A purist hunting down a manual option in the future for that 'ultimate experience' will not be lusting after a Z4.
It might sell a few, as I don't think there are many 2 seater convertibles available anymore with a manual gearbox - so if you want one, this is the one. But I expect future residuals to sink like a stone, it's just not special enough to stand out.
(I like them BTW - but won;t be buying one).
oke: matsmith749
Active member
In disagreeing, it feels like we are agreeing 
Your 17 year old z4 is a great example - small, light, manual box, engine good enough. The tech inside ages well & it drives well.
But the modern ones?
Too big, too complex, tech that will look like a dinosaur in 10 years. Driving dynamics by dint of power & ekectronics, not mechanical goodness.
Just not for me.
Your 17 year old z4 is a great example - small, light, manual box, engine good enough. The tech inside ages well & it drives well.
But the modern ones?
Too big, too complex, tech that will look like a dinosaur in 10 years. Driving dynamics by dint of power & ekectronics, not mechanical goodness.
Just not for me.
In time the manual M40i will be worth more than the auto but that does not necessarily make it a better option (although in this case BMW have made other tweaks as well) I do get why people say they find a manual more engaging but a flappy paddle can be just as much fun and for me it really boils down to the car in question. Some cars are much better as a manual and others as an auto. I have never found any BMW manuals to be great, somehow they are always better suited to an auto box.
And most of them seem to be sitting in dealer showrooms if AT is anything to go by. HVing the manual only in frozen green (in the the U.K. where it is gloomy and wet) was a terrible mistake in my view. A vibrant colour was necessary for this model not one where it needs significant protective wrapping to make it usable/pretty.
This is about as boring as the Porsche forums with MT owners bashing PDK owners.
Maybe the reason the 993 sold more MT is because it was available with a 5 or 6 speed MT vs a 4 speed AT.
Quoting the 964 or 993 numbers is prior to the PDK, so IMO not a reasonable comparison. What % of 992's are MT?
It's your opinion that MT is better. It's not my opinion. I personally do not like changing gears and I am unlikely to start liking it.
Maybe the reason the 993 sold more MT is because it was available with a 5 or 6 speed MT vs a 4 speed AT.
Quoting the 964 or 993 numbers is prior to the PDK, so IMO not a reasonable comparison. What % of 992's are MT?
It's your opinion that MT is better. It's not my opinion. I personally do not like changing gears and I am unlikely to start liking it.
I would agree that in the past all enthusiasts would have had a manual on the basis that a 3 speed auto versus a 4 or 5 speed manual was a no contest. Even in the 90s, when autos did improve, most still preferred the still better manuals over tiptronics et al. But now, autos are really rather good and for most BMWs most of the time an auto suits it way better. I have the ZF 8 speed in my B58 M240i and it does everything and if I want to play “boxes” I can use the flappy paddles. Most of the time though I just plant my foot and it does it for me. Lovely. Autos do need to be paired with a suitably grunty motor though. Otherwise, it can make the car lazy and those overtaking opportunities are just never taken. Of course, I still would have a manual in the Z4MC.
I've only ever had 4 Autos in cars that hardly existed as manuals, a 3 speed in a 1978 Granada and 4 speeds in a 1980 Mercedes, 1985 Scorpio and 1994 Mercedes and they really sapped the performance as well as being thirsty. But modern 6 or more speed Autos seem to come without those issues.
Maybe the character of the G29 suits an Auto better anyway. Although I wouldn't want one in my Z4MC either!
Maybe the character of the G29 suits an Auto better anyway. Although I wouldn't want one in my Z4MC either!
Autos have come a long way in the past 20 years. I had a 2007 Audi with a CVT FFS. It was terrible. I mean really terrible, bordering on dangerous.Mr Tidy said:
I don't mind a modern auto (despite many posts to the contrary) but not in a 'performance' or 'drivers' car. I have had a B58 with the 800 speed auto. It was good. But I would have loved it with a manual gearbox.
Autos for everyday; manual for 'driving'. Maybe it's an age thing?
And NO...a semi-auto with flappy paddles is NOT the best of both worlds. Grow up.
Love driving on twisty mountain roads! I really miss driving with a manual. I've had several sports cars in the last 50 years all of which had them, and I always enjoyed driving on curvy roads, especially in the mountains as you have. The BMW auto is probably the best out automatic transmission available, and I often use its paddle shifters, but Lord do I miss the clutch and gear shifter! Some days I'd rather drive my old/sold under powered 1972 Spitfire than my M40i!
I think I read somewhere the additional cost of a manual in the Z4 is very high. That's why I doubt BMW will sell very many. When I was looking for my Z4 back in 2020, I seriously considered the Boxster simply because of its transmission. But the thought of repair/service bills even higher than on a BMW kept me away! I also briefly considered the Toyota Supra, but crossed it off the list because no convertible was available.
Doug
I think I read somewhere the additional cost of a manual in the Z4 is very high. That's why I doubt BMW will sell very many. When I was looking for my Z4 back in 2020, I seriously considered the Boxster simply because of its transmission. But the thought of repair/service bills even higher than on a BMW kept me away! I also briefly considered the Toyota Supra, but crossed it off the list because no convertible was available.
Doug