Automatics

Having been driving for just over a week, I can confirm I already want an auto. Stop start traffic all the way from Farnham to Farnborough this evening :(
 
I've driven manuals for over 30 years and tried an auto recently. I just didn't feel in control when parking or getting out of a tight space. But I would probably get auto next if it's a good one. There is too much traffic nowadays and stop/start is annoying in a manual.
 
Psycho Sonny said:
so i don't see what point elitist manual drivers think they are making by refusing to convert.
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I don't know if you are specifically referring to me with that (I hope not because I already said I'm not being elitist), but I'm not opting for manuals purely to make a point.
I was just pointing out that I genuinely prefer owning a manual in a car I wish to drive for pleasure, even if it still spends most of it's time in traffic - it's a sacrifice I'm happy to make for the rarer occasions when I drive for fun.*

As for paddles, I completely agree that they are going to be technically better - faster, more efficient, easier, etc. And I am sure that they can be just as fun. I would probably even opt for them in something properly fast and powerful. But at the moment, I prefer a traditional manual, as for me, driving isn't always about going faster.

As it happens, our second car is now an automatic, and I completely get it...it's completely effortless and smooth, and I'd choose it for that car because it's a workhorse that we just want to use to get from A-B practically. And I do notice how much easier it is to drive the auto than the manual. But for pleasure, I wouldn't currently go without a manual clutch if I could avoid it. I make no judgement on those that do.

Psycho Sonny said:
auto's do everything a manual does but better. i didn't realise this but holding a gearstick is bad for your gears in a manual. i did this so i was always ready to switch gear when hooning it around. plus what's the chances you can change gear 100% the most efficient way 100% of the time? people make mistakes. terrible drivers just do them more often but even the best driver will occasionally make a mistake. whereas an auto will never make a mistake unless it's faulty.
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Missed this, think you edited your post before I replied. See above, for me, driving isn't about being 100% efficient, it's about enjoyment. Autos are "technically" better yes, but as I enjoy operating a clutch, selecting gears and matching revs manually when I drive for pleasure, then they aren't really a viable alternative.


*Should probably add that this isn't even the case anymore, I no longer commute by by car, so my car is just a toy. But of the 5 years I've owned it, for 4.5 years, it spent the majority of it's time commuting in traffic.
 
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For a car i drive daily to and from work, i wouldn't want anything other than an automatic.

I went from DSG back to manual for two years and whilst i did enjoy it (most of the time) it sucked in stop start traffic, current cars have 9 speed ZFs and they are fantastic.
 
Prefer autos to manuals here, although it does depend on the specific box as to how good it is.
The DSG style are much better as least you can control gears with the paddles if you want.
My Smart has this type so I can either let it get on with it, or flip into ‘manual’ and use the paddles.
It will only change up automatically then if it red lines.
 
I'd take a manual over a bad automatic, I've driven some that were really bad, otherwise auto all day long. Sadly I'm currently slumming it in a manual and I do a lot of miles :(
 
Tee Hee Johnson said:
Is it just me or is there something saddening about a nice car going past and hearing... mmmMmmmmmMmmmmmm of a auto rather than a nice manual gear change?

Probably just me.
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On the contrary, I've always thought a nice older perhaps prestige-brand car with a >4cyl petrol engine rumbling past and slurring its way through the gears thanks to its slushbox just has an air of quality about it. Much nicer than the clatter of a 4 pot diesel attached to a manual box, or artificial excess-fuel-being-burnt-on-DCT-upshift fart of a Golf R or A45 etc.
 
Yep. Worst I’ve driven was an old Micra (96) with a CVT.
Sounded like it was about to explode and no power!
 
Watched a few reviews recently, same model of car (M2), one auto, one manual and convinced next car will be an auto.Super fast changes, better performance and I believe now better efficiency even at motorway speeds.
I'm also getting older :). ROads are too busy these days so my thinking is to lose the extra bit of fun and just go with an automatic drive.
Might change my mind but will be a major consideration when I next buy a car. Last auto I drove was a new X3 courtesy car (2litre diesel) around 2010 and I wasn't convinced at that time as it felt like it was always changing gear, and it wasn't a quick change either. I think the engine lacked enough power for the weight of the car.
 
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Nick1881 said:
I'd take a manual over a bad automatic, I've driven some that were really bad, otherwise auto all day long. Sadly I'm currently slumming it in a manual and I do a lot of miles :(
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Problem is most of them are bad (and unreliable when they get old). You need something high end to get a really good one.

It's a shame paddle shift manuals never made it in to mainstream.
 
I've had an auto since 2008 and was ironically crushed by the OcUK elite of the day about OMGAUTO. The irony of some of those people now claiming auto is the future. Oh well.

Anyway, I now find myself driving a daily hack manual. It grates slightly in traffic, but generally, I'm in 5th not really having to change that much.
 
Driving an Auto is not proper driving. Might as well be driving a bumper car, but then I don't drive in traffic much. :p

More seriously though, they just don't do anything for me whether it be an old school torque converter or a more modern dual clutch. I usually end up manually shifting them where the option is available.
 
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