BMW M5...say goodbye to shifting

[ozrocker]

borrowed my gfs 2CV way back, never driven one before. took me 30mins to work out wth was going on with the gear lever. I felt like one of those lab chimps pressing buttons at random watching lights go on and off, but no food being dispensed ...


another 2CV quirk: I discovered that if you reverse at high speed for more than a couple of hundred yards, the gearbox disassembles itself. there a bolt in there somewhere which relies on the box turning in fwd gears to stay tight. its on the end of a shaft and after a while in reverse it winds itself off the shaft, followed by all the cogs lol.

Why would you be going in reverse at high speeds for more than a couple hundred yards?
Was Reverse the only way you got it going?

                                                                                                                                      Oz

[zack1234]

In the UK automatics are primary sold to women.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

In the UK automatics are primary sold to women.

Show me anyone who drives S- or E-class Mercedes with manual shift for example. I guess men don't drive Mercedes Benz in UK?

[katanaso]

Show me anyone who drives S- or E-class Mercedes with manual shift for example. I guess men don't drive Mercedes Benz in UK?

I thought taxis were still manual shift, but that's all I would expect in the E class.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

I thought taxis were still manual shift, but that's all I would expect in the E class.

At least down here they haven't been for a long time. The MB automatic is so good that there's just no reason for manual anymore. Performance is the same and very minimal difference in fuel consumption. Turbine lock effectively makes the auto work like a manual box.

[katanaso]

At least down here they haven't been for a long time. The MB automatic is so good that there's just no reason for manual anymore. Performance is the same and very minimal difference in fuel consumption. Turbine lock effectively makes the auto work like a manual box.

Interesting.  I always thought it was for cost -- keep the car with the bare minimum of options and keep the price down.  Fuel economy was second.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Interesting.  I always thought it was for cost -- keep the car with the bare minimum of options and keep the price down.  Fuel economy was second.

At least in here taxidrivers get tax free cars, they always drive with max 3 years old models and usually premium makes also. Might be a coincidence that a 10 mile taxi trip will cost you around 30 dollars.