BMW has announced that it's dropping manual transmissions for all 2008 models except the M3 and M5
 

as it will be offered as a cost option. The SMG transmission will be standard on these M models.

lame, poor decision. I cant believe car companies are doing this.....
 

on the 2007 Gallardo SL it costs the same for an e-gear or a manual. I cant believe the automotive world is coming to this:(

no kidding...the reason why I would take the C-GT over and Enzo anyday.

yeah im hoping the a C-gt will be in my future (around 2008;) ) Amazing car...
 

keep a close eye on my signature.....

I passed on SMG when I ordered my 650i conv a year ago and am quite happy eith the Steptronic. The
 

SMG is the reason that I did not wait for the M6 conv. Audi's R Tronic in the R8 is reported to be a well matched transmission for the car and better than the manual. FWIW, the RS8 may be worth waiting for vs getting the 997TT. I gather that the 997TT Tiptronic can only be effective with power braking, is potentially quite harmful to the driveline. Perhaps Porsche's PDK transmission will be better. ONe TT Tip owner could only record low 4 second 0-60 times without the launch tricks involving power braking because something in the car's kickdown switches prevents full torque delivery in full automatic mode. Problem is that in daily driving I do not want to have to be in race mode with hard shifts, so will wait for the R Tronic or PDK.

Will a 6-speed manual transmission still be available on the M6?
 

I sure hope so as it would be in higher demand on the M6 (because the M6 is a two-door) than it would be on the M5 (because the M5 is a four-door).

FWIW, Audi announced a while back that eventually they will only offer a 6-speed manual transmission on the following S, QS (high performance Audi Sport/Utility Vehicles) and RS models (as standard equipment unlike the future M models from BMW): S3, TTS, S4, S5, QS5, RS 3 (if there is an RS 3), TTRS, RS 4 and RS 5.

Of course, these S and QS models will have a ZF 6-speed stick while these RS models will have a Getrag 6-speed stick.

Audi also announced that eventually, the rest of the lineup outside of these models (including S, QS and RS versions of models from the A6/AllRoad and up) will have CVT (FWD) or S Tronic (FWD and AWD) only.

Of course, S Tronic will completely replace Tiptronic and possibly R Tronic throughout the Audi lineup worldwide once the longitudinal S Tronic is ready for production in the early 2010s. By that time, the B7 A4/S4/RS 4, C6 A6/AllRoad/S6/RS 6, D3 A8/A8L/S8 and current Q7/QS7 and possibly the current R8/RS R or RS 8 will be the previous generation.

Did they say they will put it on the 335i ?

Gotta read what he said.. It WILL be available as a COST option on all BMWs.. thats fine with me

Kinda feels like a belated April fool's day joke
 

<ul><li><a href="http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54597">Clicky</a></li></ul>

april fool's joke y'all