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I have an '09 E91 Manual 325i Touring with Towbar fitted. 81k miles. FSH. Absolutely love it and was planning to get the Mosselman 272Bhp upgrade in the spring. However for the right price everything's for sale!
Make me an offer!
While I'm an auto-only person and have been for years I did run a couple of manuals in the past, mainly an Mi16 and before that a 309GTI - both, in their day, quick well handling cars.
But I guess as someone who rode motorcycles for 30 years cars have always been slow, at least anything this side of a supercar is slow compared to a sports bike so consequentially I've usually seen cars as a mode of transport rather than something to 'make progress'.
Looking at these types of threads I think some people yearn for 205 GTI, E36 M3 and similar cars which were light and fast and really felt light and fast.
No modern car will feel like that ever again, some weigh 1000kg more and are almost twice as big. Or least they feel like it.
^I think you're probably right mmannerr. I suppose it's the same problem with modern, capable modern MTBs requiring that you go much, much faster to get the same thrill you did on your fully rigid bike all those years ago.
Unfortunately, I don't think the car you're describing exists.. and you're going to have to compromise on something..
I've only skimmed the full thread so apologies if I've missed this, but if you want something biggish, powerful but still dynamic the only thing I can think of is the new M3 (saloon) in a manual. Obviously you are compromising on the extra space of an estate (BMW really should make one of these to compete with the Audis!) and I'm almost certain there is no option for a towbar with the quad pipes, so bikes would be on the roof.
BMW seem to be hanging onto manual boxes on powerful engines longer than other manufacturers so maybe a good place to start? I specced the ZF 8HP on my M135 and TBH I really like it.. I'm sure the DCT's on the M3 (or equivalent Audi offerings) will be superb. One thing I like about mine is being able to skip gears in manual mode - hit the kick down, pull the left paddle and it will drop you straight into the lowest available gear!
think some people yearn for 205 GTi
309GTi for me
wife's recent Abarth 500 was very reminiscent actually - just about the same weight and power, quick go-cart steering and great great fun at legal speeds... Only fell short of the 205 / 309 "smiles per mile" on steering feel
Vauxhall Insignia VXR estate in 6 speed manual. Not sure if you can fit a tow bar though. Not that I would spend that much on a Vauxhall.
Only fell short of the 205 / 309 "smiles per mile" on steering feel
We're not going to get that back unless electric steering ****s off 🙁