I would like to hear from M3 smg owners who have traded in for CS 6 speed or tip and what their experiences are with 6 speed- CS compared to SMG


I am spoilt by SMG and was skeptical about going back hto 6 speed

I don't know about SMG as I've only tried it once on a test drive, but I don't think you will miss it once you get into a 6-speed Cayman S. The drive is just incredible. Test drive one and you'll see what I mean.

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Mike
2006 Midnight Blue Cayman S

My last car was an M3 with SMG. I wasn't a fan of SMG as it seems every shift I made was followed by a big thump in the rear end. I had one of the very early versions and I hear that they made improvements in later models. The Porsche clutch is a thing of beauty. I really enjoy it. Very smooth and the shifting is smooth. I think you'll love the transition.

I drove once with the SMG on a M3. I am not the type of person who like sifting upward and downwards. I have drove a lot of stick shift cars. Now I have the cayman with the short shifter. It is very clean and clear and I feel like I am controlling the car instead the car is controlling me. The manuel 6 speed is one of the most fun thing on a sport car.

The SMG is the weakest aspect of the BMW line up. The new M5 and M6 are greatly hampered by the gearbox, as reported by nearly every auto publication that has reviewed both cars.


Once the M5 and M6 get the 6spd they will be back on top for sure, but until BMW ditch the SMG box they will play second fiddle to the E63/CLS63 and the S6/S8.

Right you are Will!

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Mike
2006 Midnight Blue Cayman S

my last two m3's had smg. i liked it, especially for the track and driving around town. i could concentrate on driving with two hands on the wheel and if i made an errant shift the computer just over ruled my stupid decision. i also liked having my hand free and my left knee not hitting the steering wheel. all that said, i was so blown awayby the cayman s on a test drive (6sp manual) it made me forgot all the positives of smg. i traded my 05 competition package, smg m3 for the 6sp cayman s two weeks later. i only miss smg when i'm trying to drink a bottle of water and drive or trying to talk on the phone.


if you get a cayman s get the sport shifter so your throws will be as short as possible. also, porsche's version of smg is in the works for their entire line.

Edited by - esaam ismail on 09/21/2006 7:52:03 PM