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Not long into our Four Seasons test of a Luxury Line 328i, I realized that the correct powertrain setup for this car would include the eight-speed automatic, not the six-speed manual. Never mind dispensing with the the vague, spongy action of the manual transmission's clutch pedal and the long-throw shift linkage. Instead consider that the eight-speed automatic is well matched to the N20 four-cylinder engine. You never find yourself down on power and the shifts are always smooth. The automatic is a better fit for a sport sedan that errs on the side of luxury.