BMW is quite busy these days, what with the coupe version of the 3-Series (likely to be named 4-Series), the M6 Gran Coupe, the all-new turbocharged M3 sedan and M4 Coupe, the 1.5-liter three-cylinder engines and so on. Thus, the fact that it offers the M5 with a manual gearbox, too, may not sound like a big deal.
If it were for an everyday car, no one would probably care, but here we’re talking about the 2013 M5, the super saloon that ticks most boxes in a car enthusiast’s list.
It’s got supercar-matching performance thanks to the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8's 560HP, it’s rear-wheel drive, the electronic nannies can be fully disengaged if you so wish, and as an added bonus, it’s as practical as any mid-size saloon, so you can use it as an everyday car and even give it to the Miss's, too.
Many BMW enthusiasts, though, had taken issue with BMW offering just the DCT dual-clutch semi-automatic transmission on the new M5. They claimed that, since this is a driver’s car, not having a stick shift with a clutch pedal robs them of the total control they want to exert over the M5.
Now, the world is moving on, and that’s really a great thing or else we’d still be living in cages instead of being depressed that the M5 doesn’t have a manual gearbox.
Even Ferrari, which for a long time made the chrome gearbox gate one of its supercars’ attractions, is going the dual-clutch-only way. Apparently so is Porsche: despite making fuss about the world’s first seven-speed manual in the 991, the hardcore GT3 version will apparently be offered only with a PDK transmission.
BMW decided to fit a six-speed manual transmission to the M5 exclusively for the U.S. market cars and offer it along the dual-clutch version. That’s a bit weird: isn’t America supposed to be the country where a large percentage of drivers don't want to know how to drive a stick shift?
Well, it's also a hugely important market for BMW so what its clients want, that's what they (mostly) get. Motor Trend’s associate road test editor Carlos Lago took a manual-box M5 to find out whether it really is the hardcore driver’s choice or if the strides in technology have made it obsolete.
Is the slower, one gear short manual M5 more engaging and attractive to the purist than the twin-clutch, seven speed DCT?
You can watch the video after the jump to find out.
By Andrew Tsaousis
17 Comments:
Good job. Unlike many asmerican journalists, this man really understands the subjective arguments behind car guy reasoning. Unlike many other journalists that just give you numbers, as if they mean s***, he gives good thoughtful feedback. I see another Chris Harris on the horizon...
Why a purist would want a twin-turbocharged heavy German luxury sedan? what a stupid question... going to change a bit something JK said:
There’s an M engine at the front, a manual gearbox in the middle, and drive goes to the back. That’s page one, chapter one, from the Petrosexual handbook
I am wondering how much americans know to drive car with manual gearbox? Really curious bout that ??
I think if I bought this car with a high output diesel I'd go with the manual. But not with this engine, it just isn't practical, especially under any kind of adverse weather conditions. Say you're trying to pull out of the parallel parking space and the road is covered with ice, BMWs crappie traction control system gets overwhelmed, and the next thing you know you're rims are bouncing off the concrete curb while your tires spin uselessly. Same goes if you're going uphill or downhill at slow speeds. A car with this much horsepower and huge torque can get you into all kinds of trouble when you only have drive to two wheels. The fact is the car is far safer with the dual clutch system and the launch control.
Maybe some people like risking their lives and the lives of their family foolishly in order to make a macho statement about their driving skills, but adults who have responsibility should think twice about putting their own personal driving satisfaction, on perfect weather days, ahead of more important concerns.
I prefer manual myself, and with a rear wheel drive car that has under 400 hp, I think I could handle it most of the time, but this car has supercar power, and this is the 21st-century, so if you're under 60 you should be able to move forward into the future where certain compromises are best for everyone.
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Typical Eurodouche response. petrosexual; what a douche
No please no more Chirs Harris'. The world has enough bitchy Britishish car journalists which is quite rich seeing as though the UK owns no car companies anymore yet they think they are the authorities of the best cars.
Have you truly ever driven the roads in America? You'd understand why then automatics make a lot of sense for most drivers especially when you work and live between two to three states.
I have a manual but it's in a small sporty car that optimizes my maneuverability in city and suburban traffic. I'd probably get a manual again, but in a car as big as the 5-series? Why would I even think of the 5-series and a manual at all?
I get this article. Truthfully, if you loved the art of using manuals transmissions in general, then you sure as sh*t wouldn't buy this bloated sedan to take advantage of it. 3-series? For sure. But if you like to drive, and you are serious about driving, this car is not something you should even think of period.
"the UK owns no car companies anymore" --> Mclaren anyone?
Well i am from Europe,and i newer driven car in America,thats why I ask bout it,was really curious. Well I always had and always will have manual gearbox in any car,cause i drove lot of auto gearboxes(VW DSG,BMW twin-clutch,auto gearbox,Alfa Romeo TCT etc...) and I don't like the feeling when car change gears by itself. Love when I can ride car like I wanna,and change gears when i wanna do it not computer. Well i had car it's same class like 5 series (Alfa Romeo 166) and i had manual gearbox,and i do lot of kilometars on the highway,and in the town...
So u didn't answer my question,how many americans know to drive manual gearbox,except you :) ?
I think the 7 speed double clutch gearbox with the launch control system works and fits better with this car. But I gotta hand it to bmw they have big balls and taking a big risk to still offer it in the american market with a manual tranny. Because more buyers are going to opt for the automatic. Only the true enthusiast will take the stick. Because the e63, s6 or xfr isn't avaliablle with a stick so kudos to bmw. But I still think the best m5 yet is the E39 from 1998-2003. That was also the first bmw to have the halo rings/angel eyes.
You got issues.
Seriously? I've never owned an automatic until recently (PriusC). What a horrendous mistake. I remember when driving was fun. I'll be selling the PriusC as soon as the 2013 cars come out. Yes, a 6 speed manual.
And you don't?
lol
im not the one going around calling people douche for no reason
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