Driving an Automatic - AWFUL!

Neil79

Neil79

Neil79

Caporegime
Joined
8 Sep 2006
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I've always driven a Manual, however since my head gasket went I was given a loan car until I can sort something out. But this one is an Automatic, and I really really really hate it. I hate the feeling of it changing gear when I'm not expecting it to change gear, it's really off putting. This is even worse in low revs such as slowing down to park.

The more I drive it, the more I get annoyed with it, it takes away way too much of MY control and I seriously cannot get used to it. Did anyone else feel the same when driving an Auto?
 
Must be driving a pretty poor car then.

I love the auto in my Accord, It shifts smooth and quick, the kickdown is great on it, god send when stuck in traffic.
 
Uncle_Gravy said:
Must be driving a pretty poor car then.

I love the auto in my Accord, It shifts smooth and quick, the kickdown is great on it, god send when stuck in traffic.
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From a manual 1.2 SXI Corsa to this 1.2 Club Automatic

I used to drive BMW Z3's and MR2 Turbo's, but this is driving me up the bleep
 
Driving an awful automatic is awful. This doesn't mean all automatic cars are awful. There's a reason they are becoming much more popular and widespread.
 
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i drove a 4 speed automatic audi 80 last winter while my mk2 gti 'toy' was off the road and not a problem with it. it changed gears at the right times and it was just ultimately lazy.

id choose a reliable auto box over manual any time now if the car was just for lazy A-B cruising. im in a volvo v70 sofa on wheels at the moment and wish id went for an auto ! suits that type of car down to the ground.
 
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Never driven a auto what are like off the mark ? i would hate a sluggish start are they comparible to the manual of the same make 0-60 ect..
 
"andy" said:
i drove a 4 speed automatic audi 80 last winter and not a problem with it. it changed gears at the right times and it was just ultimately lazy
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Odd mine doesn't, it seems to want to change gears when it feels like it. I'll be cruising at a low speed and then it makes a little jerk as it changes gear. It's even worse if for example I'm going up a slope, cruising to stop to be able to park. It's certainly not a smooth transition, that's for sure
 
A good auto box is sublime.

I was very much in the manual camp until driving a 335 auto and it was superb. Since then I think I'd spec an auto in a new purchase.
 
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Neil79 said:
Does it make a difference that it's an Easytronic automatic?
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I've driven a 14' 335 and a 15' A4 advant and they were fantastic. Not sure what an Easytronic box is but I'll definitely be speccing an automatic on my 4 series.

I loved the "feel" of a manual box on my Skyline and RX7 but after living with new auto's for more than a few days I don't think there's a comparison.
 
So OP drives an automatic Corsa and decides that automatics are rubbish lol
You need to drive a better automatic to know how good they are. I was like you one day until I bought an auto 330ci. I don't think I will even bother with a manual any more...
 
ADT said:
So OP drives an automatic Corsa and decides that automatics are rubbish lol
You need to drive a better automatic to know how good they are. I was like you one day until I bought an auto 330ci. I don't think I will even bother with a manual any more...
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It's a loan car, I would've preferred the SXI if the head gasket hadn't had gone! :mad:

Pah, I miss my Turbo! 256bhp :D


Cheers for the replies anyway guys ;)
 
I have 4 bosses, 3 of which drive (have driven) BMW auto's and after driving the auto they swear not to go back to manual.
I drove an auto a while back but that was a Ford Granada V6 (you can imagine what era that was) but when I got the chance to drive my current BMW 320D auto I had to give it a go.
The drive is really good, also having the sequential gearshift, you can almost use it like a manual, although I don't use this a great deal. Different cars have different versions of auto gears, my wife liked our BMW auto so much that we looked for a similar auto for her run around for the dog etc.. and we found a VW Lupo 1.4s auto. For a small car it's a great drive with smooth gear changes (almost on par with the BMW) and we're really happy with it.

I'm not saying I wouldn't buy a manual drive again but the auto cars these days have really moved on.
 
IIRC The Corsa is not a proper auto but one of these crappy ones where you can feel the lurch as it changes gear... Almost like an auto clutch rather than a full auto box... These types of auto are crap :(
 
Raggs said:
Never driven a auto what are like off the mark ? i would hate a sluggish start are they comparible to the manual of the same make 0-60 ect..
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The way autos get off the line is one of the best things about them. It's possible to have a faster start in a manual but only if you drive without much mechanical sympathy - you have to worry about smoking the clutch and things. In the real world, unless you're holding the revs high and dumping the clutch, pulling away in an auto is faster than the manual.
 
I drove the new E250 last weekend with the 7 speed box and found it an absolute joy. Literally didn't have to worry about anything. Changes were smooth and you couldn't even feel it changing gear! Was awesome. Then again my Micra auto with its CVT box is just as good :D
 
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