NotFatBoy

I have driven both SMG and DSG. Without getting into a long write up about the difference between the two let me just say this:

DSG >>>>> SMG

JamRWS6

First of all, there is a misconception here. DSG and SMG are both sequential manual gearboxes. The IS uses an automatic transmission with a tiptronic shift mode.

I was referring to the quickness of shifts on the BMW tiptronic automatics.

I personally could care less about a sequential manual gearbox....i've ridden in an SMG M3 and found it to be much like a bad manual driver. I'd rather row the gears myself. To each his own.

rinthiran

Totally agree. the DSG on the A3 2.0T I test drove outshifted the SMG on a 2004 M3. That's one unbelievable sequential transmission. While the SMG is somewhat hard-shifting, the DSG is immediate and precise with perfect upshifts and rev-matching in any throttle input. I couldn't believe how good it was. The definition of "perfect".