Automatic vs Manual

Janesy B said:
Plodding around backwards and forwards to work I wouldn't mind an auto but if I want to give it some I do going through the gears. The constant whir & drone of an auto would make me go nuts.
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This is why the DSG and SMG boxes are great, manual boxes that have been autonimified (trademark).

I was semi looking at Golf GTis (mk5) a while ago and was discounting anything with DSG outright, with no real reasoning apart from eww it's an auto.

Then my step dad was after an R32 and one we looked at was a DSG.

Wow. It was awesome, compared to driving the manuals that day it felt loads better and also made the car feel more 'special'. It's a pity he couldn't find a DSG model he liked so went for a manual, but even he (who hates autos) said he's still tempted to swap it for a DSG model in future.

So now if I go down the Golf or M3 route I'll definitely be considering any of the autos.
 
jamoor said:
Yeah, tbh I have only found them useful when mountain driving, day to day driving, I just use sport mode if an overtake is nearing.
I could never see myself using it in normal driving as the gearbox is actually quite clever.
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By the looks of your post normal driving is day to day driving... so i'm confused by what you are saying.


Nothing wrong with auto's. Dont see how people deem them dangerous at all!

Having driven many autos (corsa c 1.2, BMW 323 & 330d, 2 focus 1.6, astras, vectras and many other rental vehicles just to name a few) i cant say i have driven one that is dangerous or a serious liability. If you drive them for what they are (dont expect to go racing in a 1.2 for example) then they are fine.

There is no difference in a 1.6 focus auto to a manual unless you want to rant it. In normal driving both are as good as each other.
 
My last auto other than US rentals was a Carlton Diplomat I had back in 2002. Although that had a fancy sport button, coupled to its wheezy 115hp 2.0L engine, it wasn't really anything more than adequate and not that refined. In contrast the autobox in my W124 E280 is really good, the whole car is incredibly refined for a £600 car. It shifts into 4th at about 30mph and even around town most of the time you are in top gear.

My 911 has a Sportomatic which has a torque converter and no clutch but you change gears manually. This is a very good system, when you are hooning you can row the box while it is really easy to drive in town. I drive it using left-foot breaking too which when you get used to it is great in fast corners.

I do miss the precise control you have with a manual sometimes but really that is me just messing about with heel/toe and double declutching which serves no purpose for 99% of drivers.

I think the days of manual transmissions are numbered with DSG-style gearboxes offering better efficiency and the increased popularity of hybrids.
 
PMKeates said:
It's all about torque-weight to be honest. I was driving a 4.7 V8 auto the other week, and it wasn't as relaxing as the 3.5 V6 auto I drove the week after, that was in a much ligher vehicle. If you've enough torque to mean that the transmission barely changes gear, then it's nice to drive :)
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In an HGV - where torque is available in abundance - its more the box's ability to change at the right time every time.

Scania boxes seem to do this, AS Tronic gearboxes found in DAF's seem not to....

Ultimately its one thing less to have to think about - changing gear - which in something like an HGV where 6 cogs may be needed to get to 30MPH, automatics are the way to go.

I do prefer Scanias "Opticruise" box, it has a clutch thats used for pulling away (once rolling, the clutch is not required) I find having a clutch for reversing etc gives a far better degree of control over the "bite", which other HGV auto's lack.

I could not imagine my old e38 BMW with a manual box, and think I'd soon tire of a manual e36 over my current automatic one.

When I was younger, I never understood why my Dad who did a lot of driving always opted for auto's, now its all too clear to me.

Age and that I find my knees hurt when I'm driving a manual these days..... :o
 
Rode in a roll on roll off wagon (road planing truck) the other week, it had a manual gearbox that changed automatically, was weird to see the gears changing! Volvo iirc.

Just a stubby gear selector and that was it.
 
EvilDreams said:
In a manual, you are messing about with feeling for the clutch bite (or whatever it's called) which means you cannot move off anywhere near as fast and you're thinking about two things instead of one.
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:confused: I seem to remember managing the clutch and gears was done in the first couple of driving lessons. Either I'm the worlds most amazing driver or driving a manual is really easy?

Although the idea of kick down does sound appealing, but hardly applicable when pulling onto a roundabout :p
 
allllec said:
:confused: I seem to remember managing the clutch and gears was done in the first couple of driving lessons. Either I'm the worlds most amazing driver or driving a manual is really easy?
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I'm sure it's the easiest thing in the world for you, but is it as easy/quick as pressing one pedal in an auto? I doubt it.

The point is, all the gear fiddling is unnecessary.
 
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allllec said:
Although the idea of kick down does sound appealing, but hardly applicable when pulling onto a roundabout :p
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Kickdown is great.

That said, enthusiastic use of the throttle with BMW Auto's especially in "Sport mode" on a damp roundabout can only be described as good fun, if your ready for it! :D

Tbh, unless your really "hooning it" imo your far less likely to get the back end out with an auto than an equivalent car with a manual.

Fox'll probably hate me for saying it but, his little "off" a few years back (Christ was it that long ago?) imo probably would not have happended had his 530i been an auto rather than a manual.
 
My Auto is lovely thank you very much. And actually more economical than the manual variant according to BMWs literature which all keeps it down in the tax bandings.

This wasn't the case though even 4, 5 years ago where Autos, even those from BMW, sucked hard.
 
Lucero said:
My Auto is lovely thank you very much. And actually more economical than the manual variant according to BMWs literature which all keeps it down in the tax bandings.

This wasn't the case though even 4, 5 years ago where Autos, even those from BMW, sucked hard.
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agreed.
the bmw auto 'boxes are fantastic, especially when mated to 6cyl diesels
 
with all this technology in the world why is Briton still use manual transmission. I think now with madden automatic transmissions are very reliable and are so much easy than a manual you just put the car in drive and a way you go. I think the debate between manual and automatic transmission is the same as the Mac and pc argument they both have their advantages and disadvantages. me personally I would choose an automatic because i just wont to get some ware. driving on the road automatic, racing round a track manual

I drive a toyota hilux 07 plate 3.0l engine 5 speed automatic, it's just the perfect blend
 
R420LA6X2/4MNA said:
Fox'll probably hate me for saying it but, his little "off" a few years back (Christ was it that long ago?) imo probably would not have happended had his 530i been an auto rather than a manual.
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It probably would, driving beyond your ability ends in fail irrespective of transmission type.

And it was 2006 and you are the only person who constantly brings it up ;)
 
EvilDreams said:
I'm sure it's the easiest thing in the world for you, but is it as easy/quick as pressing one pedal in an auto? I doubt it.

The point is, all the gear fiddling is unnecessary.
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I'd have to say that in most cases you can drop it in to a lower gear manually quicker than the automatic transmission can, if it's a relaxed torque converter affair.
 
That's why I said "Auto option" as there will be some exceptions. But mainly the option of auto on a 5 Series/E Class/A6 because I see them as cars to cruise in.
 
EvilDreams said:
There is no way depressing the clutch, putting the car in gear, lifting the clutch and putting the gas on is as fast as pressing ONE pedal, once.
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Find me one person that isnt on or near the biting point when waiting at a roundabout - a driver clutch balancing as he pulls away is going to be just as fast as a tourque converter spinning up and starting to pull. DSG and such i cant comment on.

Personally, i learnt to drive in both a manual and an automatic (parents car) - and still drive both types quite regularly, and i can honestly say without a doubt that the manual is my cup of tea - i like to have absolute control over my driving when out on a blast, and find a little planning can eliminate a large amount of fussing in traffic.

I'm not disputing the auto is easier, and probably more relaxing - just not for me.
 
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