Driving an Automatic - AWFUL!

The more miles I do, the more an auto makes sense.

I've had a few boxes. Evo X with dual clutch SST, 3 Series with 6 speed auto and 5 series with 8 speed auto.

Evo X was great. 3 series was pretty good but the 5 series is super smooth in comfort mode or very responsive in sport mode.
 
I have Auto's when I can and at moment it's a very good Ford Powershift 6 speed Focus.

Another good one was my old slush box Mazda Xedos 9 Miller.

I also had an original variomatic in a Daff 44 estate with two belts which gave you limited slip diff. Surprisingly it was a good little car at the time..
 
An auto box needs a big engine and bags of torque and ideally in a wafter. In that situation it's perfect, in something small, with a small engine it's hideous.
 
I find the 8 speed auto in my 4 series a joy, the way it dynamically changes in character from eco-pro to comfort through to sport settings is quite interesting.

In comfort when you put your foot down it just flies (as much as a 420d can fly), in sport I find the 'box a bit too sensitive perhaps slightly jerky at times but provdes higher shifting revs and fractionally quicker shifts, and in eco-pro it just feels smooth and wafty but still responsive when you put your foot down.

I will probably never spec a manual car again to be honest when autos nowadays are just so effortless and precise.
 
Housey said:
An auto box needs a big engine and bags of torque and ideally in a wafter. In that situation it's perfect, in something small, with a small engine it's hideous.
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^^ yup

I had the miss fortune of driving a Hyundai i30 1.6 auto and it was terrible. The car felt like a toy.
 
My only experience of an Auto is in a Jeep Grand Cherokee and it is a hateful experience, I believe it's a Mercedes engine & box fitted to it.

Edit - I forgot the Volvo V70 2.4 of my dad's, that is **** also.
 
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I love my CVT auto. Seemless changing and just the way it operates is great (I'm a electronics engineer so the nerdyness of it also gets me) .

It has a bit of a elastic band effect but you soon get used to it. In manual mode its fantastic.

The VW DSG system is phenomenal as well.
 
I recently changed to an auto and I wouldn't go back.

Yes unless you use manual mode you can't accelerate hard in gear (ie you can't floor it from low revs in 3rd and expect it not to change to 2nd) but you have to change your driving style.

Forget gears and use the accelerator to change speed not what many people do in a manual which is full power and then change up early to reduce acceleration.
 
( |-| |2 ][ $;28846012 said:
I recently changed to an auto and I wouldn't go back.

Yes unless you use manual mode you can't accelerate hard in gear (ie you can't floor it from low revs in 3rd and expect it not to change to 2nd) but you have to change your driving style.

Forget gears and use the accelerator to change speed not what many people do in a manual which is full power and then change up early to reduce acceleration.
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I'm.not sure many people do what you describe at all when driving hard - I certainly wouldn't. The rev range is there for a reason, if I need power it gets dropped into the best band of the best gear - exactly what an automatic does, once it realises what you're wanting to do
 
Had this conversation with a friend the other day about autos and manuals. Is it just me that actually kind of enjoys the manual part of driving? It's so mundane and boring as it is now you literally have nothing to do expect sit there and push a pedal. Odds are you have cruise control too. Obviously on a motorway it doesn't make the slightest of difference. Just don't think I'd ever want an auto.
 
I love modern auto boxes. The current ZF 8 speed unit which is fitted to a great range of cars these days is fantastic. Cant see why you would want a manual as an alternative. (I do own a manual!)
 
I'm with you OP, can't stand cheap cars with an automatic gearbox. It's a million times worse if you have a heavy foot.

A powerful car with an auto is fine but jeez try a hybrid with an auto and tell me it's fun.
 
i drive merc auto van for work which is not to bad. but its restricted and gps monitored for everything. speed, harsh braking, harsh cornering,idling,and more

used to have iveco vans and there so so crap and to slow changing gear

if u went up i hill it would go from 2nd to 3rd..but by the time it got to 3rd the van was too slow and it would then drop back into 2nd but again to slow to change van would slow down and it would end up in 1st

if i ever get one again ill film it coz its funny as.. but s get me started on them there more than that thats totally crap about them

but also have a manual car (to goto work)

took a bit of gettin used to swapping between both each day

nowt worse than comin home gettin to a junction and just pressing the break and forgetting about the clutch and stalling

felt like a complete learner driver

dont bother me now
 
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I've driven some crap autos, Renault scenic but also drove a DSG golf model which was fantastic, gear changes were smooth and predictable and when you wanted you kick it down it just did it.

The semi Auto in our Picaso is alright, i use full auto for motor way driving and manual for around town and more spirited driving.
 
I previously had a Type-R but moved to a Range Rover two months ago with an automatic box and it shifts like crazy. In 'normal' driving mode it can be slightly annoying with some lag (especially setting off - it hesitates for a second) but 'sports' mode fixes that and is a little more fun. The paddle shifts are there if you want a little more control but I've yet to use them.
 
Yeah I find full autos take the fun out of enjoying bends. Say I'm enjoying a bend in 3rd, soon as I want to power out of a bend it's in ****ing 7th gear lol.
 
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