Regular 6 speed M5?

[Guest]

Can't recall if anybody has posted this before, but today I read in Automobile magazine that for 2007 the M5 will be available with a regular 6 speed manual transmission! That's friggin sweet. When the new M5 came out, I was kinda miffed when I heard that it was strictly going to be SMG, but due to popular demand BMW is producing a regular stick shift version (albiet reluctantly because it will make the car slower).

Anyways, your thoughts?

[nando]

$10 says it's slower than the SMG version. ;)

[e30sd]

it's been on the option list for a few months at least.

eh, fuck if i buy a car like that i want all cool doodads.

[MikeE30325i]

cool doodads make the car nice. and it costs much more when somebody slams into you when you are stopped at a light.

[CarsSuck]

It is slower.

With the 6sp you can't turn off DSC the way you can with SMG.

Reportedly, BMW says its for reliability reasons. As in, we won't allow you retards to do burn outs and clutch drops and then whine about the "weak driveline" when shit breaks.

[Ray Smoodiver]

BMW M5 IN MANUAL MIX-UP

Following disappointment that the new and much longed for BMW M5 with a manual gearbox is to be sold only in the United States, BMW insiders have revealed the shock reason behind this move - they actually couldn't be arsed. "For some time car journalists have been going on and on about how they wish the M5 would have a manual gearbox," admitted one Munich-based engineer. "But frankly we couldn't be bothered to make one, so we simply said that we were going to do it and then put it on sale in America where no one will ever order a stick shift anyway. Bingo, everyone gets off our case and we never actually have to build a manual M5 at all," our mole revealed. "Mwaa-haa-haaa, schweinhund" he added, strangely.

However, it seems BMW's cunning supply-to-no-demand scheme is not the first time the car industry has pulled off such a stunt. "I think they nicked that idea from us," moaned an insider from Renault. "I mean, we got loads of publicity from doing the Vel Satis, knowing full well that you'd have to be a mental to buy one. It was brilliant. We saved a fortune on having to install a production line and it didn't matter that the two cars we handbuilt for the press were shite," he revealed. "Mwaa-haa-haaa oheeoheeoh".

Meanwhile, over at Ford, one anonymous insider was also keen to take credit for the idea; "Come off it, we thought of that one years ago. Mondeo V6? Do me a favour. It just looks nice in the brochure. If you actually try to order one the salesman is under strict instructions to kick you in the face until you go away," he revealed. "Mwaa-haa-haaa. Knees up Mother Brown, gertcha".

However, one seasoned industry manager was quick to offer a warning about the perils of promising something that's never going to happen; "We were always talking about making a new medium car to take on the Focus and the Golf," admitted Joan "Austin" Towers, formerly of MG Rover. "I mean really, where were we going to get the money to do that job properly. But we thought if we kept talking about it everything would be okay. Turns out we went bust, everyone lost their jobs and I had to go and live in a big house with lots of money," he revealed. "Mwaa-haa-haaa. Ooops, sorry".

[WillisE30]

BMW M5 IN MANUAL MIX-UP

Following disappointment that the new and much longed for BMW M5 with a manual gearbox is to be sold only in the United States, BMW insiders have revealed the shock reason behind this move - they actually couldn't be arsed. "For some time car journalists have been going on and on about how they wish the M5 would have a manual gearbox," admitted one Munich-based engineer. "But frankly we couldn't be bothered to make one, so we simply said that we were going to do it and then put it on sale in America where no one will ever order a stick shift anyway. Bingo, everyone gets off our case and we never actually have to build a manual M5 at all," our mole revealed. "Mwaa-haa-haaa, schweinhund" he added, strangely.

However, it seems BMW's cunning supply-to-no-demand scheme is not the first time the car industry has pulled off such a stunt. "I think they nicked that idea from us," moaned an insider from Renault. "I mean, we got loads of publicity from doing the Vel Satis, knowing full well that you'd have to be a mental to buy one. It was brilliant. We saved a fortune on having to install a production line and it didn't matter that the two cars we handbuilt for the press were shite," he revealed. "Mwaa-haa-haaa oheeoheeoh".

Meanwhile, over at Ford, one anonymous insider was also keen to take credit for the idea; "Come off it, we thought of that one years ago. Mondeo V6? Do me a favour. It just looks nice in the brochure. If you actually try to order one the salesman is under strict instructions to kick you in the face until you go away," he revealed. "Mwaa-haa-haaa. Knees up Mother Brown, gertcha".

However, one seasoned industry manager was quick to offer a warning about the perils of promising something that's never going to happen; "We were always talking about making a new medium car to take on the Focus and the Golf," admitted Joan "Austin" Towers, formerly of MG Rover. "I mean really, where were we going to get the money to do that job properly. But we thought if we kept talking about it everything would be okay. Turns out we went bust, everyone lost their jobs and I had to go and live in a big house with lots of money," he revealed. "Mwaa-haa-haaa. Ooops, sorry".

Best post I've read on any forum in years!

[E30 Wagen]

huh, i guess i'm way behind in automotive news. Even if it is slower, I would much rather have the 6 speed instead of the SMG.

[e34john]

yea it will be slower i won 10 bucks on that before.

i think if acutally do buy a new m5 or m6 i would probably get the smg. its pretty cool and works really well. if i wanted something to shift, autocross and carve up the mountains i wouldn't get a car that expensive or heavy anyways. but a 6 speed 135i that would be on my shopping list.

[nando]

huh, i guess i'm way behind in automotive news. Even if it is slower, I would much rather have the 6 speed instead of the SMG.

why? we are talking about a sports family-sedan here, not a pure bred race car.

[NC325iC]

id rather have a stick over an smg any day

[euroshark]

we are talking about a sports family-sedan here, not a pure bred race car.

Not a pure bred race car, but also not just a sports family sedan either. It goes and handles like a Ferrari F430 (according to whats his name on top gear), thats pretty impressive! I'm not saying I disagree with you, Im just pointing out that this M5 is like nothing the other generations ever were... It's a supercar in every sense, unless supercars all have to have slanted noses and mid mounted engines...

I think I'd honestly take the 6 speed as well, thats a great option to have if you dont want electronics controling the drive as much. I'm sure someone will figure out how to disengage the traction control system...

[nando]

doesn't the ferrari have some form of SMG too?

[Jean]

Not a pure bred race car, but also not just a sports family sedan either. It goes and handles like a Ferrari F430 (according to whats his name on top gear), thats pretty impressive! I'm not saying I disagree with you, Im just pointing out that this M5 is like nothing the other generations ever were... It's a supercar in every sense, unless supercars all have to have slanted noses and mid mounted engines...

I think I'd honestly take the 6 speed as well, thats a great option to have if you dont want electronics controling the drive as much. I'm sure someone will figure out how to disengage the traction control system...

Lol, F430 leaves the m5 behind ...and that was from the same show you quoted . Completely different cars though.

[euroshark]

Im not saying its as fast, im just describing it as Mr Clarkson did!