Driving an Automatic - AWFUL!

Hades said:
When I had a DSG in a courtesy car I hated it at first. But after a couple of days I grew to like it. But I'm not at the stage yet of preferring them over a manual.
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I drove this one for a week and still wanted to drive it off a cliff ( Not with me in it )
 
I couldn't go back to a manual now unless I had a really decent sports car/track toy, but a daily driver no way could I go back to a manual. Absolutely hate it.

Automatics are just so much nicer to drive
 
Different cars and uses suit different transmissions. A manual is nice in a sports car when you want to muck around, an auto for everything else.
 
If I'm driving because I want to drive: Manual
If I'm driving because I have to be somewhere: Auto

Saying that, we don't have an auto in the family at the moment because of the mrs flat refusal to drive one. The CR-V is a manual and I find it utterly frustrating having to change gear in a generic family SUV. The S2000 is a different matter though.
 
I think if I was commuting, certainly in London, I wouldn't turn down an auto or at least a modern auto (full dual clutch and manual change possibility).

For everything else a manual is much more engaging.

I think though it's because I used to ride bikes all the time, and you have to use the gear box to enjoy the ride, and get it "right". It creates a more visceral connection - but of course it's going to be different for each person.

There is no right or wrong in this.

Things like launch control, and gear changes will always be quicker on new autos.

I personally feel that autos are better suited to cars with powerful big displacement engines as they have the torque for it.

I guess modern autos also are able to slip the clutch for you if you need it to?

Eitherway, each have their merits. I still love a manual box. Are they less complicated and cheaper too? There's something satisfying about nailing the gear change and feeling that you're having an influence on the car's behaviour too.
 
[TW]Fox;28852514 said:
A proper auto doesn't have a clutch so it won't slip it, no :p
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You knew what I meant. Simulate slip via traction control systems or what not. The advantage of a clutch means you can control the power to the wheels, making driving in treacherous conditions a little easier - older autos, often are "all or nothing", and I found them hard to drive in snowy conditions (not in this country, but in and around the Alps). Modern autos I have no experience in snow hence my question.
 
Since having an auto and using it day-to-day I don't think I'd want to go back to a manual for all the commuting and traffic that I encounter. But I wouldn't want a crap auto either. Mine is smooth and good at exploiting the decent amounts of torque available across much of the rev range without constantly hunting for gears, but it will willingly kick down if you give it a prod. The (full) manual mode is also quite fun when the mood takes me.

If I didn't have to drive to work when I'd probably have something with a manual box because I do love the finer points of driving, but most of my driving at the moment doesn't support this sadly.
 
Steedie said:
I couldn't go back to a manual now unless I had a really decent sports car/track toy, but a daily driver no way could I go back to a manual. Absolutely hate it.

Automatics are just so much nicer to drive
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Thats the way I feel now. Sports car has to be a manual or at least a decent semi-auto.

Day to day driving and commuting is automatic all the way for me. Most modern auto's have 4+ gears and far better reliability of the 80's-90's automatics which were awful.
 
Having had an i3 for a whole weekend not too long ago, EVs are the new king for everyday stop start driving. There simply sis no better gearing than one single gear with a constant surge of maximum torque from 0rpm, and in absolute silence to boot.
 
Neil79 said:
I was given a loan car until I can sort something out. But this one is an Automatic, and I really really really hate it.
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I think I've found the problem...! :D
Multi-user, poorly maintained, generally used and abused...

My Mrs's auto does exactly what you were compaining about, but only because she STILL hasn't serviced the thing and it needs the transmission fluid changing!

Raggs said:
Never driven a auto what are like off the mark ? i would hate a sluggish start are they comparible to the manual of the same make 0-60 ect..
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I've driven three autos:

Vauxhall Corsa 1.4LS - Nice, nippy little thing, definite girl-racer car. Can feel the gear changes, but still smooth.

Mercedes 250 Elegance - The Mrs's car above. Big boat, nice and relaxing but still fun to drive, horrible if not maintained.

BMW SomethingOrOther - 520, I think it was. Has similar acceleration to my bike (1.2L Sports Tourer, does 0-60 in 2.8 secs)!!!
Seriously high power compared to the other two. Unfortunately, everything was all electronic, so it also felt quite detatched from the road.
 
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