Hello All,

I've been following along here without posting and feel fairly certain I've read every single thread there is here about the C7.

I currently drive an M3 which is approaching the 100k mile mark, and although everything is working fine, I have the feeling I'll be in for ~$2-3k worth of maintenance over the next 18 months. That has me thinking that it might be time to get something new, and although I have thoroughly loved the M3. . . in fact it has been the PERFECT car for me for the past 10 years. . . the new M4 will be at least $72k modestly configured the way I would want it. That's roughly $20k more than what I paid for my current M3 and that has me looking at alternatives. Fortunately, I can take advantage of GMS pricing on a C7, which would make it at least $12k less than a new M4, maybe more. I'm looking at Z51 coupes.

So now the decisions. . .

The easier decision is color. This can drive a person crazy, but I'll figure that out. Regardless, of whether its TR, AW, or LRG, wheels will be black I know. Lovers and haters. While I like TR, the BMW is red as is my other car.

The much harder decision is auto vs manual transmission. I've loved the SMG transmission on my BMW. I've driven the M3 in manual mode 99.9% of the time, and really wanted to love the auto in the C7, but when I test drove one recently, the delay in the actual shift when upshifting with the paddles was really bad. Now I was trying to take in a lot during that drive but was fairly certain I had it in Sport mode. In some thread here someone said the transmission "learns" and might improve. Is that true even when in "manual" mode? I'm no stranger to manual transmission and haven't ruled it out, but my other car is a hard core mid-engine V8 with a manual transmission, and I was looking at the replacement for the M3 to be the more relaxed option on those days where I need/want that. FWIW, I live in Los Angeles where 90% of my driving is city driving. I have no idea how the auto drives in auto mode, and suspect it is just fine, but I hadn't really intended to drive it in that mode much. Ironically, the BMW SMG was TERRIBLE in auto mode but awesome in manual mode.

Thoughts are welcome.

Cheers,

Schills

p.s. There is a healthy inventory of cars at dealers across LA, but mostly greys and blacks. Its likely I'd order from a forum dealer, or the one dealer in Carson that seems to sell enough to have a decent allotment/allocation.

 

My car is a TR, 3LT Jet Black, Z-51 with MSRC, performance exhaust and automatic transmission. Only 2100 miles so far (winter was hard and long in MI) but so far I would say the car is perfect for me. Lots of fun adjusting the modes from Tour to Sport to Track and feeling entire personality of car including suspension change.

I prefer the automatic but have driven 2 manual transmission Corvettes about 100,000 miles total. Nothing wrong with a manual, but in traffic you will much prefer the automatic. In addition, in my opinion, unless you are really good with the manual, when you are driving hard the automatic will find the right gear more often and quicker than you can with a manual.

Whichever you get, you will LOVE this car!

 

I had an E46 manual trans M3 coupe and both a manual and DCT E92 M3 coupe. The E46 M3 was one of my all-time favorite cars, I like the E92s but was never really impressed with the engine.

Anyhow, I'm with you on the M4 cost, I was holding out for one but when I seen final US pricing I said screw it (I dont really NEED a back seat) and picked up a 2LT base auto C7 (57K msrp). I will say the C7 auto is much improved from the C6, still can act a little funky at times but overall the programming is pretty good. As far as the C7 in manual mode it works better the more you are into throttle, when you are on it the paddles respond a lot faster, just cruising easy there is a lot of lag and soft shifts with the paddles for sure. Never drove the older SMG trans, but the DCT isnt that great in auto mode either, unlike the C7 it shifts immediately when you hit the paddle no matter what rpm/throttle/speed.

I use the C7 for a nice weather daily driver and so far I'm pretty happy with it, few minor issues but its a lot of car for the money.

 

I have a 2002 Laguna Seca blue E46 M3 convertible which is SMG & a base C7 that is an automatic. The SMG is much better than the C7 in manual mode, no question about that. That being said, the automatic Mode in the C7 is much better than the automatic mode in the M3, no question about that. The SMG in auto mode was jerky & just not fun to drive. I never drive my M3 in automatic mode. I wish the manual mode in the C7 was as much fun as the M3.

Most of my driving is also in the city, hence I chose the A6 instead of the M7. Try to drive the C7 in automatic mode & see if you like it.

Best of luck

 

It seems to me that shift speed is somewhat load based, meaning at WOT (or heavy throttle) upshifts are quicker and more crisp. During lazy or low load driving shift speeds are slower.
The DCT in the GT-R is the same, and has been the source of complaints from some owners. Driving around town in manual mode, from the time the paddle is actuated to the time the trans shifts is somewhat laggy. But lay into the throttle and that changes quite a bit.
S.