Caporegime
Unless it's something like a clio sport or another warm/hot hatch - auto.
Somewhat I agree. Wouldn't want an auto in my Clio Sport. But then on the other hand, if I were ever to get another Edition 30, or S3 / GTI type, I think I'd want the DSG. I don't think that's true for every hot hatch. Some I would prefer manual. But mostly I think if the auto is decent, I'd rather have that most of the time. Certainly when I bought my Transporter, DSG was a requirement. I didn't want a manual at all.
If you look at things objectively [good] autos are better than manuals, because manually changing gears is a bit of an anachronism - something that isn't necessary for 99.9% of use cases. Gear changing is just a construct required to make cars go faster rather than an actual design feature implemented for some other reason. If cars had always been automatic I don't think people would introduce manual gear shifting or at least not in the traditional clutch and gearstick way. The only downsides I can see are:
-Potentially higher cost
-Potentially bigger repair bills (however on the flipside the clutch is less likely to get misused)
-Sometimes means lower fuel economy
-Historical stigma around manual vs auto in the UK and people tuned to the 'involved driving experience' of a manual
-Potentially higher cost
-Potentially bigger repair bills (however on the flipside the clutch is less likely to get misused)
-Sometimes means lower fuel economy
-Historical stigma around manual vs auto in the UK and people tuned to the 'involved driving experience' of a manual
Soldato
- Joined
- 27 Mar 2013
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I'll add another one as this used to be quite big for Porsches, it's far more difficult (but not impossible) to over rev the engine with an auto. There were quite a few stories of issues due to somebody selecting the wrong gear (say 1st instead of 3rd) and revving the car past its redline.
Caporegime
Are you referring to your old e39? - assuming you still have it - I remember the debate when you bought it as a manual.
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A quick unscientific test - just looked on AutoTrader and it's roughly 42% autos, 58% manual. The gap is closing and fast; I think even just a few years ago that split would have been closer to 30/70.
That said, I've just found out the latest incremental Ford Focus update to the Vignale model gets rid of any manual control of the 8-speed auto in it, replacing the manual button with a "Low" function like the gearboxes of old, to switch to lower ratios to aid in engine braking. Very disappointing as I'd already planned to pick up a Vignale to replace my current Focus in a few years.
That said, I've just found out the latest incremental Ford Focus update to the Vignale model gets rid of any manual control of the 8-speed auto in it, replacing the manual button with a "Low" function like the gearboxes of old, to switch to lower ratios to aid in engine braking. Very disappointing as I'd already planned to pick up a Vignale to replace my current Focus in a few years.
Soldato
They might bring back the paddles when they switch back over to the 7 sped DCT.
I never ever use the paddles in my 8 speed auto. There is just barely ever any need.
Caporegime
I tested them on the 440i, but I also can't see me using them. Sport+ is more than capable of handling the shifting for me on a spirited drive. I think I probably drove on the paddles in the S3 less than 10 times in 3.5 years.
I do tend to use the paddles in the TT more often than fully automatic mode though, and this is likely due to the dim-witted nature of first-generation DSG gearboxes.
Is the Focus expected to switch to a DCT? I know the new Focus ST 7-speed is actually a torque convertor auto (it's the 8 speed but with 3rd gear dropped), and the new 7-speed in the Fiesta is a DCT. I'd be expecting the Focus to stay with the slush boxes.
Caporegime
What happened to the real drivers on ocuk?
Driving a camaro zl1 minimum needs paddles not full auto. So boring. Might as well just keel over now and book straight into an uber or self driving car..
Driving a camaro zl1 minimum needs paddles not full auto. So boring. Might as well just keel over now and book straight into an uber or self driving car..
Soldato
I don't have any knowledge, but I assume they'd want to switch back from the torque converters ASAP as they can then sell them with lower CO2 emissions/better fuel economy. I appreciate they are different cars with different weights etc. but the 125 7 DCT in the fiesta is rated at 129 lowest 134 highest CO2 emission and the focus 8 speed torque converter is 134 lowest 144 highest.
But I guess it might be the Fiesta/Ecosport/Puma use the 7 speed DCT, the Focus the 8 speed and the Kuga uses the Hybrid CVT on petrol or the 8 speed for the diesel.
I really, really hope they don't switch back from the torque converters. DCTs are for sports cars, not an everyday estate haha. The inherent creep alone is worth a little extra in CO2 and fuel consumption.
Caporegime
Driving a paddle shift makes you not a "real" driver. I do wonder what Lewis Hamilton puts down as his profession, fake F1 driver? 
Yeah as a further unscientific test, if you just filter on max year 2015, the ratio is about 2:1 Manual:Auto
Personally I prefer a manual transmission. But I only do circa 9k miles a year and my commute is 15 minutes each way, so the need to slog through a commute is not really a top priority.
The only auto I owned was my SLK55, which was a relatively dim witted auto which hindered the driving experience for me. But that was the old 7G Transmission from the early 2000's. Without a doubt modern autos expecially DCT's will be a vast improvement.
The only auto I owned was my SLK55, which was a relatively dim witted auto which hindered the driving experience for me. But that was the old 7G Transmission from the early 2000's. Without a doubt modern autos expecially DCT's will be a vast improvement.