Are automatics fun?
- Thread starter ScarySquirrel
- Start date
I would stick with manual unless you spend a lot of time in traffic and/or find that changing gear is a chore. I have driven several autos, and though some are better than others (BMW 7 series), they take getting used to and even then you're not really sure what its doing - when will it change up, when will it change down, fine for crawling about in town but for me, I'd rather a manual.
But the DSG is not a traditional auto box - its insides are different - its a dual clutch manual with an automatic mode. Its performance is also better than that of a manual.
On the motorway an automatic is pretty much identical to a petrol in fuel consumption, but around town you are more likely to use the brakes as there is limited engine braking and the engine is constantly trying to push the car forward as you slow down and while you are stopped. This is reflected in the fact that I am changing the front brake pads once a year on my bosses Focus auto (drives 3 hours a day in traffic) and he drives like a granny, I'm sure they would last significantly longer on a manual.
But the DSG is not a traditional auto box - its insides are different - its a dual clutch manual with an automatic mode. Its performance is also better than that of a manual.
On the motorway an automatic is pretty much identical to a petrol in fuel consumption, but around town you are more likely to use the brakes as there is limited engine braking and the engine is constantly trying to push the car forward as you slow down and while you are stopped. This is reflected in the fact that I am changing the front brake pads once a year on my bosses Focus auto (drives 3 hours a day in traffic) and he drives like a granny, I'm sure they would last significantly longer on a manual.
How on earth can you compare a manual awd car with an auto(dsg) fwd car for fuel comparisons, especially when theres both manual and dsg quattros and manual and dsg fwd cars in the same range.
My recent experience with an auto was awful. If you made any changes to the throttle, it had a mild panic, randomly selected gears until it found one that was useful, and then got round to actually doing what you wanted it to do.
It was a Kia Optima though, so probably a good representative of how bad an automatic can be. I hear good ones are excellent.
It was a Kia Optima though, so probably a good representative of how bad an automatic can be. I hear good ones are excellent.
To the OP, I wouldn't get an auto in an MR2 if I could help it, wrong car for it.
This is due to some stupid testing rules used to calculate mpg.
Whereas in Auto's and DSG boxes the car or driver can chose when to change gear; in manuals the gear changes are performed at predefined speeds which are the same for ALL cars and engine capacity's which the test driver is not allowed to deviate from. This often leads to labouring the engine and producing unfavourable mpg figures in comparison to it's DSG/auto counterpart.
This is due to some stupid testing rules used to calculate mpg.
Whereas in Auto's and DSG boxes the car or driver can chose when to change gear; in manuals the gear changes are performed at predefined speeds which are the same for ALL cars and engine capacity's which the test driver is not allowed to deviate from. This often leads to labouring the engine and producing unfavourable mpg figures in comparison to it's DSG/auto counterpart.
Associate
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Not to a driver. No. I find auto's just lack involvement and no particular friend in terms of economy. If you feel you mmight be bored driving an auto, I guarantee you will be.
I agree & disagree there mate!
the "Steptronic" 'box on my old e38 7 was very good, and after a while, it effectively adapts to your driving style and I found I did get used to it. Are automatics fun? that one certainly is imo. 
It was the best of both worlds, you could simply flick the stick up or down to change yourself if you wanted but the 'box prevented selecting too low a gear and changed up (right on the red line) if you forgot to.
The Box in my e36 328i is not so good, it has no self change function as such and is indeed pretty boring.
That said, in "S" mode, it can be a hoot but its far too keen to change down & hang onto gears for town driving and the "E" mode is the opposite, you find yourself stamping on the throttle to wake the damn thing up.
Automatics in trucks can be almost described as fun (!) some moreso than others.
The box in DAF's is effectively a manual box with an automatic clutch & gearchange if you see what I mean, its extremely slow & cumbersome but nice to drive, changing smoothly.
Scanias "Opticruise" box is a gem of a piece of kit, but it retains the clutch for pulling away (so you have to use it a lot in stop-start traffic but this is offset greatly when manouvering, giving you a lot more control.
It too has a self change, you flick a lever up & down to change and it is quick reacting and happy to "block change" always keeping you in the correct ratio and the turbo singing!
You keep telling me I can't drive....
Associate
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You keep telling me I can't drive....
I've never once said you cannot drive. I do keep saying you drive too close to the cars in front, and often too fast around town. Momentum is what it's all about.
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
Not as fun as a manual gearbox, no, and IMHO an auto, even a DSG, will never be quite as 'fun' as a manual box. Better suited, perhaps. The better choice, maybe, but on the right road in the right car coming out of the right corner, manual > auto every time.
The other problem is that most auto boxes are rubbish. There are some very good ones, though. Sadly they often seem to be fitted to cars where it doesn't matter how good the box is because the car spoils the fun. Golf diesel DSGzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
The other problem is that most auto boxes are rubbish. There are some very good ones, though. Sadly they often seem to be fitted to cars where it doesn't matter how good the box is because the car spoils the fun. Golf diesel DSGzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
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Big diesel cruises or saloons are great as autos, there's so much torque and so easy to drive that having a gear box isn't really necessary.
For a petrol car though I'd want full control over the gear box.
For a petrol car though I'd want full control over the gear box.
Soldato
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I cannot stand autos, really limits what you can do, i hate losing that extra bit of control over the car.
As an autobox? Great - smooth, precise changes etc.
As an alternative to a manual? Not for the keen driver. Tiptronic isn't a manual gearbox.
For me, the choice comes down to what kind of driving you'll mainly be doing. Motorways you should be using cruise control anyway (and assuming it isn't busy you won't be doing a lot of gear changing), commuting for me I prefer an auto (lots of stop start clutch pressing gets tiring), but for something like a cross country jaunt (certainly up here) a manual is far more fun.
EDIT: As for the MR2 - I wouldn't get it in an auto. Had a MK2 Rev 1 Turbo a few years ago and it was a hell of a lot of fun. But a 92 autobox wouldn't fill me with confidence, especially not in a car that handles like a MR2.
EDIT: As for the MR2 - I wouldn't get it in an auto. Had a MK2 Rev 1 Turbo a few years ago and it was a hell of a lot of fun. But a 92 autobox wouldn't fill me with confidence, especially not in a car that handles like a MR2.
Absolutely.
My views of HGV's & auto's have changed considerably not to mention upto 14 gears can be a real pain.....
Bump drafting.