[cdumitru78]

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Bought a new M240xi late last year, and while I love many things about it, I miss driving a manual car! Coming from a line of manual analog cars, and always having had more than one car, I am trying hard to buy that one car that blends the practical side with the fun side of things. Looking to make the switch to a manual M3/4, anyone else made the switch and if so how do they compare?

[wtwo3]

I'm in the process of making the switch. Have been driving an m340xi for the past 3 years and have a manual m3 on order which I'm super excited about. In my case I don't have a daily commute since I work remotely - so anytime I drive it's an event (dropping my daughter off at school is a super short 5 min away so not counting that). But because of that, I feel a manual will just offer me that much more engagement and sense of occasion whenever I do go out for a drive.

[cdumitru78]

That is exciting, hopefully it will not take much longer! I have my name down on a manual arctic white m3, manual with exec package! I am in the same boat, my work is about 6 miles from home and I sometimes drop my kid off, 3 miles away.

Originally Posted by wtwo3

I'm in the process of making the switch. Have been driving an m340xi for the past 3 years and have a manual m3 on order which I'm super excited about. In my case I don't have a daily commute since I work remotely - so anytime I drive it's an event (dropping my daughter off at school is a super short 5 min away so not counting that). But because of that, I feel a manual will just offer me that much more engagement and sense of occasion whenever I do go out for a drive.

[Aalfred]

Originally Posted by cdumitru78

Bought a new M240xi late last year, and while I love many things about it, I miss driving a manual car! Coming from a line of manual analog cars, and always having had more than one car, I am trying hard to buy that one car that blends the practical side with the fun side of things. Looking to make the switch to a manual M3/4, anyone else made the switch and if so how do they compare?

What about the new G87 manual? Its gonna be releasing soon and might be close to the M240 that you are used to and hopefully easier to preorder without huge markups

[cdumitru78]

Originally Posted by Aalfred

What about the new G87 manual? Its gonna be releasing soon and might be close to the M240 that you are used to and hopefully easier to preorder without huge markups

Thought about it long and hard, and it might still be in play. I am fortunate enough where my local dealer will not charge any mark up on the incoming M3, so at least I am not dealing with any mark ups. Plus the M3 is on a ship towards the USA, whereas the M2 might be months and months away.

[Lakeside]

Originally Posted by Aalfred

What about the new G87 manual? Its gonna be releasing soon and might be close to the M240 that you are used to and hopefully easier to preorder without huge markups

Hope is a fabulous thing, but are we realistically thinking the G87 will be an "easy" get?

[cdumitru78]

Local dealer does not think so, but he admitted no one truly knows! Comp versions of any M car seem to be selling over MSRP here in the PNW, but regular M models seem to go around retail.

Originally Posted by Lakeside

Hope is a fabulous thing, but are we realistically thinking the G87 will be an "easy" get?

[PatientM]

Deposit is in for a manual m3, do it! its been a long 15 yrs since my g35 coupe 6 speed with full bolt ons... still miss her... she was a fantastic beast....

[cdumitru78]

Originally Posted by PatientM

Deposit is in for a manual m3, do it! its been a long 15 yrs since my g35 coupe 6 speed with full bolt ons... still miss her... she was a fantastic beast....

Hehe, funny how most car enthusiasts take similar routes! We had a G35S Sedan in manual, that was a fun car, but then again, partial to Nissan/Infiniti as I had several Z's over the years, all in manual.

[Aalfred]

Originally Posted by cdumitru78

Thought about it long and hard, and it might still be in play. I am fortunate enough where my local dealer will not charge any mark up on the incoming M3, so at least I am not dealing with any mark ups. Plus the M3 is on a ship towards the USA, whereas the M2 might be months and months away.

If you have an incoming M3 at MSRP then def would take that !!! I was thinking you were in the initial ordering process and deciding between the two. In the end, the M3 will still be the big brother of the G87

[Aalfred]

Originally Posted by Lakeside

Hope is a fabulous thing, but are we realistically thinking the G87 will be an "easy" get?

You never know. A G80 manual with ridiculous mark up vs a G87 with somewhat of a markup and faster production.....the G87 might come out on top financially and time wise too. BMW seems to produce more of the newer models sooner than the existing ones

[Lakeside]

Originally Posted by cdumitru78

Hehe, funny how most car enthusiasts take similar routes! We had a G35S Sedan in manual, that was a fun car, but then again, partial to Nissan/Infiniti as I had several Z's over the years, all in manual.

I made an offer on a G35 but they held firm on MSRP. As I left, the salesman yelled “You’ll be back!”.

Narrarator: He did not go back.

[cdumitru78]

Originally Posted by Lakeside

I made an offer on a G35 but they held firm on MSRP. As I left, the salesman yelled “You’ll be back!”.

Narrarator: He did not go back.

Haha, I'd do the exact same! I get the state of the world these days, but not willing to pay over retail. I will/I have walked away.

[NightWriter]

Originally Posted by cdumitru78

Bought a new M240xi late last year, and while I love many things about it, I miss driving a manual car! Coming from a line of manual analog cars, and always having had more than one car, I am trying hard to buy that one car that blends the practical side with the fun side of things. Looking to make the switch to a manual M3/4, anyone else made the switch and if so how do they compare?

I had a prev-generation (F23) M240i convertible 6MT, which I loved but sold back to a dealer last year because:
1) The resale value on it meant that I basically drove it for free for two+ years
2) I realized that, as much as I enjoyed a cool evening drive with the top down, in general I wasn't really a convertible guy and it drew too much attention

... but I definitely missed owning a BMW, and driving a stick. Hence the G80 6MT in my garage now.

How do they compare? Well the M3 is about the same weight, with 150+ extra horses, so obviously it's faster. But it just feels like a purpose-built sports car in everything it does, whereas the M240 -- especially in convertible form -- was more relaxed. The steering and clutch/stick are pretty similar -- probably not surprisingly -- but the M3 definitely sticks to the pavement harder, and the braking feel and performance is superior. It also feels a lot more substantial/rigid, though that's an unfair comparison between a sedan and a 'vert.

I suggest you find one for sale nearby and give it a test drive. I imagine you'll be impressed.