...with a dual clutch?

Answer this from the perspective if you would buy a "newish" car, whether brand new or CPO'd.

I know many people love to hate on these "automatics", but they are the wave of the future and there are many stick shift drivers who believe that improving the speed and efficiency of shifts are a step forward in technology, not backward. Just looking around the various BMW and Porsche forums, you can see a huge split into 2 crowds over this issue. I'm sure many of you fall in the "i'll keep buying MT's until there's no other choice" camp, but how about right now, where for some brands you still have a choice?

For example, Porsche charges a $7,000 premium for the PDK. I'm sure many of us would never pay that difference, but is there a price threshold that you would consider the dual-clutch over the manual?

[Edited on October 2, 2014 at 5:21 PM. Reason : ]

10/2/2014 5:20:13 PM

Dsg has a positive engagement and shifts when you tell it to which is way better than a slush box shifting when it wants too I would definitely purchase one for a track day car... For my dd I really prefer and really need a real manual to keep my add in check.

The only thing that frightens me on a dsg is the dry clutch ones will have to have clutches replaced just like a normal manual how much does that cost?

10/2/2014 5:45:24 PM

I actually really liked a 2012 335is I drove with a DCT. It had smooth takeoff like an automatic.

10/2/2014 6:29:31 PM

^^ What he said.

I like the 'something to do' and physical involvement of the manual in my M Coupe, and it's much more 'fun'. With that being said, you can't deny that dual clutch cars are faster to shift, take less expertise to downshift swiftly, allow your hands more time on the wheel, etc.

I see it as a spectrum where some form of auto takes the extremes, and manual takes the meat:

Appliance, A-to-B Car (Slushbox Auto)
Daily Driver (Manual)
Fun Car (Manual)
Racer Car (Dual Clutch Auto)


[Edited on October 2, 2014 at 7:39 PM. Reason : my inability to type]

10/2/2014 7:38:07 PM

Absolutely I would. I’ve been fantasizing about a proper sequential gearbox on track for a long time. I originally wanted an SMG II e46 M3 to put on track, but Porsche’s PDK is really not bad either.

Remember all VW/AUDI and most of the newer BMW dual clutch transmissions DO have a torque converter/fluid coupler. That’s OK though, once in gear, they’re in gear and there’s no slip.

Also, I can’t stand auto transmissions (slush boxes as we refer to them), there are some decent examples of those out there as well. AMG boxes in everything form the E55 onwards actually feel pretty decent.

10/2/2014 9:30:38 PM

I wouldn't be against a DD automatic as long as I had something sporty and manual to drive for fun...but the only dual clutch I've ever drove was an Evo X and I hated it. Granted I only drove it for a couple miles, but the performance didn't really match all the race-car shifts.

[Edited on October 2, 2014 at 11:30 PM. Reason : Also I don't track.]

10/2/2014 11:29:53 PM

That's because it's a Mitsubishi

Everything they make has a tragic flaw.

Also I'm not seeing a tour converter

http://youtu.be/WVWP7TYhP0c

[Edited on October 3, 2014 at 5:31 AM. Reason : .]

10/3/2014 5:26:21 AM

I would say no...but that was before I had a 981 S w/PDK as a loaner for a day earlier this year.

PDK is pretty slick and I had a hoot driving that car. Sometimes the stick shift in my 987 can be a bit notchy and aggravating...so yes I would at least consider it.

10/3/2014 9:35:05 AM

Man I’m slippin’... (get it).

VW’s DSG technically does not have a torque converter, but it does have wet clutches (early 6 speed and latest high output 7 speeds), which they slip heavily, esp. for 1st gear.

10/3/2014 10:45:23 AM

^^ that's exactly the kind of experience i had when i test drove the new Cayman S with PDK. there wasn't a delay from when you "request" the gear change and when the car decided to "grant" it, it was instant, i felt in control, and there was no loss in acceleration. i would

i also like the push/pull button shifters that Porsche has on the wheel, far superior than doing the paddles-behind-the-wheel, where you can get lost "hunting" for the shifter while the wheel is turned

10/3/2014 4:23:29 PM

Quote :

"I originally wanted an SMG II e46 M3 to put on track"

I had a roommate once who had one of those. I drove it a time or two and fucking hated it. It might be OK on track, but I'd rather have a traditional manual on the street...and I reserve judgment on it being OK on the track until/unless I ever actually try it.

a dual clutch box would be a totally different thing.

*actually, technically speaking, i don't think SMG2 is a sequential box of any kind. i'm pretty sure it's an automated H-pattern conventional manual.

5/7/2015 8:00:50 PM

I would love a real dogbox on the track, but I'm sure the noise would be terrible

5/9/2015 5:37:48 AM

I had a e46 M3 with the SMG and didn't see why everyone complains about it. sure, it's not up to par with current offerings. but as someone who used it as a daily driver in atlanta, and didn't want a clutch for all the rush hour traffic on the downtown connector, i found it to be just fine. but i'm also not a track guy, so what do i know

[Edited on May 11, 2015 at 11:26 AM. Reason : .]

5/11/2015 11:25:47 AM

I'm the other way around. I can see how [i]maybe[i/i] it would be OK on the track, but I would hate daily driving that jerky thing.

5/11/2015 11:55:00 PM

Don’t think of it as an automatic. It’s merely a computer controlled actuation of the clutch pedal and the gear shifter... faster than you can do it. If you drive it with that in mind -basically treat the gas like you would any manual transmission car- it’s just fine. I drove one again today, highly track prepped... And I might buy it. What a fantastic chassis, and with the right modifications, it’s a buttery every day driver, reminds me of a 997 911S or something. Problem is, compared to my GT3, it’s totally numb, so now I don’t know what to do!

5/12/2015 12:53:48 AM

I'm curious to drive the new vettes with the flappy paddle automatics to see how that handles.

I've heard they're getting close to a DSG/SMG in smoothness and obedience but until i drive one i'll not be convinced.

5/12/2015 7:22:36 AM

The problem with those, to me, isn't the trans...it's the torque converter.

5/12/2015 9:13:12 PM