2009 BMW M3 Dual-Clutch Transmission

2009 BMW M3 Dual-Clutch TransmissionI’ve just spent a week in a BMW M3 with the much-anticipated M-DCT dual clutch automated manual transmission, and although it’s impressive for what it is, I can’t help but feel that for all the hype about this technology, it’s ultimately not as satisfying as a traditional manual or even a good automatic.The M-DCT, and dual-clutch transmission in general, is just the type of thing to dazzle automotive writers. There’s the excitement of a new technology and impressive stats to throw around. (For instance, the M-DCT cuts 0.2 second off the M3’s 0-to-60 time!) Carmakers often show them off at a racetrackâ€"yes!â€"where writers can indulge their race driver fantasies, particularly since their laps aren’t timed. And it’s true, on a track, or even cranking along some empty, winding road, the paddle-shifted manuals are fun, with their instantaneous response, uninterrupted power flow, and rev-matched downshifts. But in real-world use, they’re less endearing. They’re slow to engage when shifting into reverse or first, and they’re not smooth when moving off from a stop. So they’re not as polished as an automatic. And when you’re not attacking some canyon road or diving into the corkscrew at Laguna Seca, it kind of feels dopey paddle-shifting your way around the access road at the mall. It’s like wearing a Nomex suit to go to the grocery store. Particularly when you just need to pop the lever over into Drive, and the gearbox will shift for you. With a real manual, you never get that ridiculous feelingâ€"because you have to shiftâ€"and the act of shifting itself is also more involving, so you get the subtle, almost subconscious, satisfaction of doing something well. Sure, I’m happy to drive a dual-clutch gearbox on my next foray onto a track. But give me a real manual or a traditional automatic for those times when I’m leaving the Nomex at home. Read More | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us