Dual-clutch gearboxes. Not yet common parlance for the average buyer, but a frequent topic of debate among enthusiasts. The rift: rowing your own cogs versus having a computer do it for you. There's a purity of experience in working the clutch and the shifter yourself that simply doesn't come through in the flapping of a paddle. But does that really make the manual better?
2011 BMW 135i DCT
No, not really. Not if by better you mean "faster." Because dual-clutch gearboxes are brutally fast, far less prone to user-induced error and generally just better for driving a car hard: you can keep your feet over the go/stop pedals, heel-toe is unnecessary, and both hands stay on the wheel at all times.
If by better you mean more fun, however, the manual wins every time. Sure, it's pretty cool clicking through the gears video-game style as you run up to and beyond 100 real-world mph, but the novelty quickly wears off and you're left either driving for maximum pace or finding a 7/10s drive a bit less enjoyable.
So what's this meandering diatribe all about? The 2011 BMW 135i with DCT, of course. While Volkswagen and Audi have had similar DSG systems in their cars for some time now, the entry of the DCT (BMW's moniker for their dual-clutch unit) into the 1-Series lineup, it's accessible in a relatively affordable, rear-wheel-drive luxury sports coupe. And that's pretty cool. Except when it's not.
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