(The following is an open letter to BMW’s M engineering team)

Dear Sirs:

As fellow auto enthusiasts, you know the joy of being able to put a car through its paces and the firm grin that results from a truly exhilarating driving experience. There are few better feelings than tossing a well-engineered car through the twists and turns of a favorite road, while still having the flexibility to enjoy the morning commute.

Unfortunately, you seem to have forgotten about these fundamentals when engineering the 2007 M6 Coupe. This car’s stats are enough to leave anyone with a case of excessive salivation: a naturally-aspirated 5-liter V10 with 500 horsepower, 0-60 time of just 4.6 seconds and sport-tuned suspension. There’s only one major problem: the optional 7-speed Sequential Manual Gearbox. It is the most cumbersome and aggravating gearbox any automaker has developed – ever! Who saw the need to offer 11 different shift patterns, none of which is attuned to everyday driving? Who decided that shift smoothness wasn’t important in a $110,000 sports car? This supposedly “state of the art” gearbox feel like it was taken from the Ferrari parts bin of twenty years ago when this level of technology was so new you could overlook its faults. However, the world has moved on, and automated manuals like this are only suitable for delivery vans, not high-performance vehicles.

Even worse, the need to offer 279 different dynamic settings for the transmission, Electronic Damping System and Dynamic Stability Control system is enough to leave buyers confused and wondering if they are getting the most performance out of their M6. It’s doubtful an owner would need this degree of adjustability short of running qualifying laps for the German Grand Prix.

Thankfully, you began offering a six-speed manual earlier this year as standard equipment because everything else about the M6 Coupe is phenomenal. The engine is a joy and kudos to all for taking valvetrain technologies and the crankcase construction ideas from the Formula 1 team. Also, the exhaust note is tuned perfectly for this performance machine, while details like the glossy carbon fiber roof set the M6 apart.

Even with its 109.5-in. wheelbase, the M6 flows through the corners with aplomb. The M sport suspension with double-pivot lower arms, coil springs, twin-tube gas pressure shocks in front and a 4-link coil spring setup in the rear keeps it firmly planted in every situation, although pothole-laden highways do highlight what can be a very jarring ride. Then again, the M6 was designed for the smooth expanses of the Autobahn.

In closing, let me reiterate that the engine, suspension and other accoutrements are worthy of praise, while the SMG gearbox is enough to make most anyone doubt the value of spending six-figures for something that’s, well, a pain in the butt to drive everyday. Dump the SMG now!