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I really don't get the appeal, I feel like I'm very much in the minority these days, but it feels so gimmicky.
When I compare my Mazda to my dad's 996 Tip I much prefer changing gear in the Mazda. I feel paddle/button shift is wholly pointless in 85% of driving. Even during the 15% of driving when paddle/button shift becomes useful, I'd rather be changing gear manually. If it was a fucking huge sequential shifter with a giant gear indicator in my field of vision, I might choose that over a standard manual gearbox.
Maybe I need to try more cars but so far I've lived with a 156 Selespeed and a 996 Tip, and tried a host of others, and I just feel so disconnected from the driving experience.
NurseHolliday-
Really? Dead steering with no feedback is not an issue?
Have you tried living with gearshift seqential box? As in using every day. Have you driven a MK1 MR2? The car IMO that has the closest to a video game gearshift.
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The reason i bought the auto is that 95% of driving is either inner city of motorway. In both instances, automatic is quick, easy & convenient. Having options (sequential stick + paddles) for the 5% of driving that isn't the above gives me the best of both worlds.
I was on the verge of buying the DCT box version of my current motorbike recently but decided against it. I think, when i update it in a couple of years, the decision will go the other way.
The steering and feel of the 2 series isn't diminished, in my experience, at all for having an auto box. I've had a 1 series manual for the last two years and the 2 series is much more fun to drive.
lynx
Soul
Occasionally i'll shift down before overtaking.
To be honest, they were mostly there to boost the resale value. They were £150 extra (a tiny amount for the BMW extras list!!) but will make it easier to sell on once we swap it in 3 years.