Although I way prefer manuals to drive (you're more in control, more involved, etc.), in the X5 I would get the automatic. My 330 is a manual, and it's fun.. My X5 was an auto, it was great too. But they're different types of cars. The 330 is small, sporty, etc., so it's more suited to a manual. I think it's just more practical to get an automatic in the X5. That being said, I've never driven a 3.0i, let alone one with a stick shift, so I don't really know the X5 driving experience with a manual. Other than my opinion, the best advice I can give is to drive both, and see which suits you better. If I lived in a city, it'd definitely be an auto for me,though.

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