"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
05/23/2016 at 13:55 • Filed to: None
4
7|
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
05/23/2016 at 13:55 • Filed to: None | 4
| 7 |
My new-to-me 335i xDrive is a stick shift. It’s been almost 3 years since I had a stick shift car. Back then, I was kinda tired of driving stick and leased a 135is with the dual-clutch automatic. But I’ve been driving stick for a again for a week now, and I’m really enjoying it.
The reason I got a 135is DCT is because it replaced this car: my old MazdaSpeed 6 that I had grown extremely frustrated with thanks to horrible rust-proofing and a magical ability to produce new and different interior rattles just when I thought there couldn’t possibly be any other part of the interior that could make more noise. It looks good in this picture but I bet it’s a pile of brown dust now!
I also felt tired of shifting all the time. Because I was only willing to accept the quickest-shifting of automatics, and ended up with this 135is DCT.
I thought I’d drive the 135is as my only car, but then I saw some post on Oppo about a winter beater SUV and bought an old Jeep Grand Cherokee instead of snow tires. I replaced that Jeep with a less-old Jeep, got sick of juggling 2 cars, and resolved to sell the Jeep and get one fun awd car to drive year round.
I wasn’t completely hung up on a manual, but once I decided on an E92 335xi, I knew it had to be a stick, because the old BMW 6-speed automatic that comes in the automatic version is not a transmission I’d be willing to have.
So here I am, back in a stick shift car, and I’m liking it. In spite of not having a stick shift car for 3 years, I hopped right in and drove it fine. I do my silly heel-toeing and rev matching that I always used to do just because I can and it makes driving around town much smoother. I even still manage to eat my usual banana and protein bar on the way to the gym. That’s what stop lights are for!
Maybe I’ll get tired of it at some point, but for now at least, I’m really happy to be more involved in the driving process again. Welcome back into my life, Manuél!
Behringer_Johnny
> Textured Soy Protein
05/23/2016 at 14:00 |
|
When i go on a trip of 1 week on the family Minivan. I start missing my shifter. So i cant imagine 3 years.
Steve in Manhattan
> Textured Soy Protein
05/23/2016 at 14:03 |
|
Buddy of mine has a fleet of cars for his business. Recently, he lent me a Honda Civic Hybrid 5M when I went down to DC. I realized I hadn’t driven a stick in 15 years. Within 5 minutes it was like I never stopped - hill starts and all.
TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
> Textured Soy Protein
05/23/2016 at 14:05 |
|
i alway miss driving stick. whenever i have to drive my auto trans f350 i cri inside.
John Dyste
> Textured Soy Protein
05/23/2016 at 16:03 |
|
You did well sir. Our 528 is coming out of lease in a few months. 335 manuel is on the short list.
Montalvo
> Textured Soy Protein
05/23/2016 at 17:38 |
|
Yeah you got a real gem, I still love my E92 though it’s an auto because a manual would kill me with some of the traffic I face. I still think it is just about the most perfect blend of fun and prpracticality. I am planning to keep mine mostly stock possibly getting a Dinan stage 3 tune since my dealer is an approved installer.
Vicente Esteve
> Textured Soy Protein
05/23/2016 at 19:19 |
|
There really is no substitute for a good manual.
|
Textured Soy Protein
> Montalvo
05/23/2016 at 21:30 |
|
Thanks, I’m happy with the car and it makes the most sense for something to drive year round in Wisconsin.
To me, the best E92 automatic is a 335is DCT, assuming you live somewhere with a milder winter than me. I don’t quite get why BMW when they switched over to the N55 they made the DCT the standard automatic for the 135i but kept the old 6-speed Steptronic on the 335i.
TBH the stock suspension on the xDrive is really quite soft, which is why I’m ditching it ASAP, as in, the parts are on their way as we speak. I’m also not a huge fan of the slower steering gear ratio BMW saddled it with for no apparent reason, but the suspension tweaks I’m doing should at least improve turn-in response if not actually lower the amount of turning of the wheel I have to do.
Since I’m out of warranty I would probably go with Cobb or JB4 rather than a Dinan tune. My first priority was to get the handling as sorted as possible, but the car is definitely down on power and noise compared to my 135is. So I may go for at least a downpipe, charge pipe and tune to start with.