[Leica] Car Prices

[joseph at yao.com (Joseph Yao)]

I concur.  

Current BMW automatics are excellent - very smooth, rapid shifting and has
insignificant effect on performance and economy.  The Sport and Steptronic
modes are handy when maximum control and acceleration are called for.

I also prefer manual transmission in general and together with Honda, BMW
offer one of the best manual transmissions.

I present I have BMWs, and would like to have Mercedes again once they have
the quality issues sorted.  My last Mercedes was a lemon.  I also find
Mercedes better suited for automatics, as if their cars were engineered from
scratch with auto in mind.

Joseph

Current BMWs:
2003 E66 730Li (Steptronic 6-speed automatic)
2002 E46 M3 (SMG II 6-speed)
2003 R53 Mini Cooper S (Getrag 6-speed manual)

Past BMW:
1997 E39 528i (Steptronic 5-speed automatic)
1993 E36 325iS (5-speed manual)
1991 E36 318i (5-speed manual)
1988 E30 318i (5-speed manual)

on 5/6/05 10:55 am, Rob McClure at rmcclure2@woh.rr.com wrote:

> Frank,
> 
> I disagree with your comments about BMW automatics.  They are smooth,
> quick shifting and give up only a few 1/10ths of a second in 0-60 and a
> few MPG in economy.  They also have a very nice sport mode and
> tap-shifting mechanism for manual selection.    In comparison, many
> Merc automatics default to a second gear starting mode unless really
> thrashed and have a notchy shift gate.  That said, I  do prefer manual
> transmissions in general and find BMW's manuals to be the best shifting
> of any car i've driven.  I agree with your comments about Mercedes
> being ill suited for automatics due to the foot parking brake; an easy
> enough fix if they decide to target the manual-shift buyer segment (and
> challenge BMW as "the ultimate driving machine").
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Rob McClure
> Upper Sandusky, OH
> 
> Current BMW:
> 2004 325i (5 speed)
> Past BMWs:
> 2001 BMW Z3 3.0 Coupe (5 speed)
> 1996 BMW 318ti (automatic)