First drive of an Automatic today, not really impressed

Ned Senior

My Active tourer 218i manual se is in for service
Loan car is another active tourer 220 D auto xdrive Msport
The interior us nice cream leather, extra power quite fun....... the auto box though I have to say I prefer manual ( this may change by the end of the day perhaps)
I would have liked to try the xdrive in a manual on some familiar roads to properly ‘get’ the feeling of it
Only done 2 ten minute runs so far will report back later

Desmo

Personally I wouldn't go back to a manual now. Modern auto boxes are great...I think you'll start to like it once you've driven it more and got used to how they drive. Each type can have it's own little foibles that, once you learn them and how they drive, they feel much nicer.

un1eash

Is it the sports manual with the paddles?

Only time I think I wish I had an auto is when stuck in traffic crawling along which isn't often. I was bored of a loan Z4 sDrive18i after a couple days and couldn't wait to get my 320d manual coupe back. Have tried a few other autos including a 440i but still prefer my manual cars.

PSM1

Just bought my first automatic ever (car only came as a automatic so no choice) and it is very quickly growing on me. I always thought I was a die hard manual fan but having driven my wife's Leaf a fair bit and now this automatic I am starting to rethink that assumption. I have paddles so can go manual if I want but not feeling the need. Makes driving easy and effortless and great if any traffic around. Linked to the adaptive cruise control it is truly brilliant on long runs with no need to touch the pedals for long periods of time.

craig1912

I wouldn’t go back to a manual after a 430d and now a 330e. So much more relaxing and if you want some fun stick it in sports/ manual mode

Ned Senior

Yes its got the paddles and it is ok but I prefer manual
Bloody road noise is terrible too inside compared to my SE model 218i
Probably the low profile runflats and msuspension
I do however love the seats but cream leather nooooooooo grubby as heck after only 5400 miles

Ned Senior

So give me 2 litre, and m sport leather seats black or red and I would be a happy bunny

DPinBucks

My wife has a 218i Sport (Petrol) Active Tourer.  It has the 6-speed auto, and it is not a very good box.  It's very jerky.  All the other AT autos have the 8-speeder, which is much better.

If you still have the car, to get the sporty best from the auto you'll need to put the gearbox into sport mode (push the lever to the left), and the suspension into Sport (assuming that model has it: it's a silver rocker switch which is also used for Eco mode).  The car will be absolutely transformed, believe me, even in auto mode.  The paddles are icing on the cake.

IMO, a good auto box, as on my previous XF (diesel) and my current 5 (petrol), in full auto mode and coupled with paddles, is at least as good as a manual.  Upshifts are particularly good on twisty roads, where you get a seamless transfer of power out of a bend whilst keeping your foot down on the throttle.

Give it a go.

daydotz

The 218 share's the torque converter auto with the mini I'd imagine it will soon get the DCT box the mini is receiving

IronGiant

I feel I'm always playing catch up Last auto I had was an old fashioned 3 speed, so imagine my surprise when I found my latest acquisition had 5 So we're up to 8 now are we?