6-Speed Dinosaur: 2008 BMW 550i
The first modern manual transmission was demonstrated by two Frenchmen (Louis-Rena Panhard et Emile Levassor) way back in 1894. Many significant improvements to Panhard and Levassor’s sliding mesh “crash-box” have been engineered over the last century, but none as significant as electronics which have made the manual gearbox obsolete and replaced them in souless dual-clutch things that have rubber bands, sensors, and brains that tell the pile of parts when and how to shift. Manual gearboxes might be all but gone from new car dealer lots today, but take a walk on the wild side over to the used lots and you can still double clutch and row your own. Find this 2008 BMW 550i offered for $5,500 in Sacramento, CA via craigslist.
From the seller:
2008 bmw 550i
condition: like new
cylinders: 6 cylinders
drive: rwd
fuel: gas
paint color: grey
size: full-size
title status: clean
transmission: manual
type: sedan
This is a rare find. BMW 550i with standard 6-speed transmission. Fun car to drive with a stick!! I love this car, but have to sell it as I am getting new one.
Car is in good running shape. Includes:
– Sports package,
– Privacy Tinted Windows
– Satellite Radio
– Navigation
– Heated seats
– Voice control
– Smogged
177K Miles, mostly highway
See a better way to drive a 6-speed? tips@dailyturismo.com
Even rarer than a 550i with a 6-speed manual is one with a “6 cylinder” engine, as the seller claims this has. What happened to the other 2 cylinders?
I remember looking at one of these with the sport package and the aero kit years ago… It was sold before I could get to see it and I always wondered what might have been.