2013 BMW M5 Manual: The Purists M5? - Ignition Episode 41 - video Dailymotion

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This week on Ignition

Transcript

00:00 [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:01 What we know about the M5 is that it's big, it's pretty

00:04 heavy, and it's very, very fast.

00:06 What we don't know is how well it

00:08 works with a manual transmission.

00:10 That's what we have here, and that's

00:12 what we're going to find out this week on Ignition.

00:14 [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:17 Now let's get acceleration testing out of the way first.

00:26 We can estimate that this car is going

00:27 to be a little bit slower because we

00:29 don't have the fast shifting twin clutch,

00:31 and we don't have launch control.

00:32 But I'm actually happy that we don't have launch control

00:35 because the M5 with that system is cumbersome to use.

00:38 So we have to do this the old fashioned way,

00:40 and that's difficult because this engine is such a power

00:43 house.

00:43 First gear is basically useless with regard to traction.

00:47 You basically want to dump the clutch at about 2,000 RPM,

00:50 go flat on the throttle, and just stick into it.

00:52 When you grab second gear, if you get some wheel spin,

00:54 that's a good sign because it keeps the engine right

00:56 in the meat of its power band.

00:58 Let's see if we can give it a try right now.

01:00 [ENGINE REVVING]

01:03 And there's a little spin at grab second.

01:04 And if you do it right, you'll get 60 in 4.2 seconds

01:09 and a quarter mile in 12 and 1/2 seconds at 116.6 miles an hour.

01:14 [ENGINE REVVING]

01:17 When you buy a manual transmission these days,

01:23 you aren't doing it because it's faster.

01:25 Twin clutch transmissions, the modern ones,

01:27 can't be beat when it comes to shift speed and accuracy.

01:31 Now, you buy a manual these days because you claim

01:33 you're all about the experience.

01:34 You're all about the gratification,

01:36 the near religious experience, let's say,

01:39 of mashing a clutch pedal and moving a lever.

01:41 But here's the thing.

01:45 A car designed to have a twin clutch transmission

01:49 is going to be better with a twin clutch transmission.

01:52 Now, that takes us quite conveniently to the M5.

01:56 [MUSIC PLAYING]

01:59 From behind the wheel, you can almost

02:06 feel the hesitation from the Germans

02:07 to give this car a manual.

02:09 It was always designed to have a twin clutch transmission

02:12 until, rumor goes, the US went uproar about saving

02:15 the manuals or some nonsense.

02:18 So now we have a six-speed manual with a real clutch.

02:22 And how is it?

02:23 Well, it's not bad.

02:24 It feels like any BMW manual you've ever driven.

02:27 That means the throws are somewhat lengthy.

02:30 You have this unique rubbery sensation.

02:32 And I'm actually in the camp that likes BMW manuals

02:35 because once you get used to them,

02:37 you fall into rhythm with the rest of the car.

02:39 Now, the thing about the whole manual, automated manual

02:45 debate is that it's actually a repeat from the last M5,

02:49 the difference being that car didn't

02:51 have a good automated manual.

02:53 This one does.

02:54 So with the previous car, the case for the manual

02:58 was that much stronger.

03:00 But on that debate, I don't think

03:02 there's a sweeping correct answer for all cars

03:06 for which transmission you should have.

03:08 It's very contextual from car to car.

03:11 A Miata, a BRZ, an FR-S wouldn't be better

03:14 with twin clutch transmissions.

03:16 But a manual wouldn't be better in a 458.

03:21 So you might link it to the speed of the car.

03:24 And that makes sense because supercars these days

03:27 are so incredibly fast that they need a twin clutch

03:30 transmission.

03:31 It matches the nature of the powertrain better.

03:34 Using a manual in a modern supercar

03:37 is like controlling a rocket with an abacus.

03:39 It's just clumsy and strange.

03:43 There are exceptions, of course.

03:44 And they are the Corvette and probably the new Viper.

03:47 So perhaps it's not just the speed,

03:49 but it's all the nature, the character of the car.

03:53 Those cars are manly.

03:54 Those cars are rough.

03:56 And you want to muscle them around with a lever.

04:00 Now, how about the M5?

04:01 What does this car call out for?

04:05 Well, it's strange because this car isn't

04:08 any better with the manual.

04:10 I can say that right now.

04:11 But it isn't demonstrably worse.

04:13 Of course, it is slower in a straight line.

04:17 The thing is the manual introduces

04:19 this bit of clumsiness into the powertrain,

04:21 this little bit of sloppiness.

04:23 You have to be really mindful of the clutch pedal.

04:25 You have to be really mindful of where the engine's

04:27 at in the rev range.

04:28 Because this thing, when it gets on power,

04:32 you better make sure the clutch is engaged.

04:34 So what you have is almost this lateral shift in character.

04:40 At the end of the day, which one would you rather have?

04:43 I'm conflicted.

04:44 I'm leaning towards the twin-clutch transmission,

04:46 though, simply because I like the sense of control

04:50 that that transmission gives me.

04:52 This manual gearbox is fun.

04:54 But it's fun in a dumb kind of way, in the sense

04:58 that you're controlling 560 horsepower with a lever.

05:02 And so while I might lean towards a twin-clutch,

05:05 I could see why a purist might want to choose

05:07 the manual transmission.

05:08 But what I don't get is why a purist

05:10 would want a twin-turbocharged, heavy, German luxury sedan.

05:14 [MUSIC PLAYING]

05:17 [ENGINE REVVING]

05:21 [MUSIC PLAYING]

05:24 [MUSIC PLAYING]

05:27 [MUSIC PLAYING]

05:31 [MUSIC PLAYING]

05:35 [MUSIC PLAYING]

05:38 [MUSIC PLAYING]

05:42 (upbeat music)

2013 BMW M5 Manual: The Purists M5? - Ignition Episode 41

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