Automatic or Manual?

[TW]Fox · 28 Mar 2008 at 11:53

Jez said:
Driven an auto for long enough now that i hate it when i am in a manual, i am sure i could adjust back quick enough though. The type of cars i like are best suited to an auto gearbox anyway, my car would be ridiculous if it were available as a manual.

If you could get a manual S55 AMG it would be my next car.

Sone · 28 Mar 2008 at 11:54

[TW]Fox;11385805 said:
If you could get a manual S55 AMG it would be my next car.

Mercedes manuals are crap normally, not that smooth changes and without a hand brake a pita to hill start. (this is from driving a 55 plate C-Class coupe C160)

izzy eckerslike · 28 Mar 2008 at 12:01

Clarkey said:
No, Formula one cars do not have 'semi-automatic' gearboxes, and they have no similarity whatsoever with the one fitted in a Panda :/

don't understand your comment, the internet is full of info re their use of semiauto boxes & steering wheel paddles to flick up & down the gears.
Ferrari also use the same system

[TW]Fox · 28 Mar 2008 at 12:03

Your Panda has a paddles. An F1 car has paddles. The similarity ends here.

izzy eckerslike · 28 Mar 2008 at 12:06

[TW]Fox;11385901 said:
Your Panda has a paddles. An F1 car has paddles. The similarity ends here.

Yes but its still a semi auto box

http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/understanding_the_sport/5280.html

The gearboxes of modern Formula One cars are now highly automated with drivers selecting gears via paddles fitted behind the steering wheel. The 'sequential' gearboxes used are very similar in principle to those of motorbikes, allowing gear changes to be made far faster than with the traditional ‘H’ gate selector, with the gearbox selectors operated electrically. Despite such high levels of technology, fully automatic transmission systems, and gearbox-related wizardry such as launch control, are illegal - a measure designed to keep costs down and place more emphasis on driver skill. Transmissions - most teams run seven-speed units - bolt directly to the back of the engine.

Wicksta · 28 Mar 2008 at 12:07

Come on, even I wouldn't even try and argue my Z4 steptronic was anything close to an F1 gearbox - they are completely different technologies.

izzy eckerslike · 28 Mar 2008 at 12:10

Wicksta said:
Come on, even I wouldn't even try and argue my Z4 steptronic was anything close to an F1 gearbox - they are completely different technologies.

lol,
just pointing out that the gears & clutch are operated by computer controlled servo's

Clarkey · 28 Mar 2008 at 12:25

well, afaik a 'steptronic' is a normal slushbox with manual override, I can't imagine a Panda has an SMG style box in. Even if it did, an F1 trans is lightyears ahead of even the best paddle shift road car trans (DSG?).

izzy eckerslike · 28 Mar 2008 at 12:35

steptronic cannot be compared to panda, dualogic has electrohydraulics & it has a sequential gearbox.
Yes, the similarity ends there with Formula one, never said they were the same , just pointed out that they have semiauto boxes as indeed they do

mjt · 28 Mar 2008 at 13:55

[TW]Fox;11385805 said:
If you could get a manual S55 AMG it would be my next car.

apart from merc manual 'boxes being rubbish, isn't the main reason its auto-only due to manuals not being able to cope with the torque?

Maz · 28 Mar 2008 at 15:31

mjt said:
apart from merc manual 'boxes being rubbish, isn't the main reason its auto-only due to manuals not being able to cope with the torque?

There's not really a market for them either, someone looking to spend £100k on a Mercedes Uber Saloon doesn't want to mess on changing gears.

robbiemc · 28 Mar 2008 at 16:07

I thought it's easier for autos to handle engines with lots of torque, hence so many of them have auto boxes.

romperstomper · 28 Mar 2008 at 16:24

my last 5 cars have been autos they reckon once you have had one you don't tend to go back !
I don't believe you need a big engine ether ;

850 c mini auto ....was great fun to drive and really fast

orion 1.6 smooth but thirsty

14 rt clio smooth

16 rxe clio nighmare gearbox kept breaking down cost almost 2k for repair and slow :mad:

mazda MX6 V6 2.5

Gilly · 28 Mar 2008 at 16:29

romperstomper said:
850 c mini auto ....was great fun to drive and really fast

I don't believe you.

Cosimo · 28 Mar 2008 at 16:39

Into my 4th auto now, would never look back, bit of a laugh when you jump into that hire car abroad and can’t find first gear but you get used to it.

romperstomper · 28 Mar 2008 at 16:42

Gilly said:
I don't believe you.

well it felt really fast and almost reached 60 mph one time

Have to admit it broke down a lot so I sold it to my gf after a couple of months then she sold it to a guy at work when the AA started charging for call outs

Jez · 28 Mar 2008 at 17:52

[TW]Fox;11385805 said:
If you could get a manual S55 AMG it would be my next car.

I cant think of a single reason why you'd possibly want a car that big in a manual, they are not sporty even in the slightest, they bounce down the road like a citroen xantia! A manual in an S55 would be so silly

jamoor · 28 Mar 2008 at 17:55

Autos are good, but very expensive to fix, mine cost £1800 for a rebuild.

I would only get it in a large engine size though "3.0l+"

melbourne720 · 28 Mar 2008 at 18:20

Had no idea so many people had autos. When I got my 330i sport, I thought long and hard about getting auto or manual. Went for an auto and love it, but the 200+ bhp helps. Plus the steptronic is fun.