THE MANUAL GEARBOX IS NOW SUCH AN endangered species that you can almost imagine David Attenborough narrating its knife-edge existence in whispered tones. So BMW’s decision to put a stick and three pedals in the latest iteration of its entry-level M car is an act of conservation to be applauded, right?
Well yes, of course it is. And with this likely to be the last time a manual shift is offered in an M car, there’s all the more reason to tick that £1200 option box on the configurator. But if you’re even