Need to drive an automatic

AshD93 said:
Purely software. Uncle's 3.0 Jag has a dual clutch set up and with one of the racier modes on, it will not auto up shift meaning you can hit the limiter and stay there. Trust me, we've tried.
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Your uncles 3.0 Jag has a torque convertor auto and not a dual clutch setup.


Personally, I don't like Torque Converter boxes. The shift is just too jerky, in all cars.
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You told us above your Uncles 3.0 jag is great?

A good torque convertor automatic is not at all jerky, the shifts are seamless and smooth. This is why they are so well suited to luxury cars - big luxury cars have torque converters and not DSG style gearboxes for a reason!
 
I've been in a Mercedes C Class 1.8K auto and that was pretty smooth even on sport mode and ragging it. I've also been in a Renault 1.4 family van thing and that was dire.
 
[TW]Fox;22315079 said:
Your uncles 3.0 Jag has a torque convertor auto and not a dual clutch setup.




You told us above your Uncles 3.0 jag is great?

A good torque convertor automatic is not at all jerky, the shifts are seamless and smooth. This is why they are so well suited to luxury cars - big luxury cars have torque converters and not DSG style gearboxes for a reason!
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I agree the ZF 6 speed in my 1st 2 Jags was an fantastic box even when dealing with the 504 BHP from the XFR. In Dynamic + Sport mode when it was downshifting for engine braking the shifts were smooth. The new 8 Speed ZF box is even smoother, half the time I have no idea what gear its in other than I have a rough idea from the revs.
 
ElliorR said:
The few times I've driven an auto my left foot didn't know what to do with itself.
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Thats just not being used to it. Switch properly to a decent box and you likely wouldnt switch back again. The 7 speed box in my SL is sublime, really quick when you want it to be, yet (in comfort mode at least) very smooth when you are driving normally.
 
Jez said:
Torque converter auto's are way smoother than semi auto setups such as DSG/SMG etc :confused:
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I concur - you can only tell when the box has shifted on my Scorp Cosworth by looking at the rev counter. The Lexus LS400 is slighlty "snappier" but not so it'd pull your neck about or anything.
 
Love the box in my A4...just hope it doesn't break like all the horror stories I read with others and multitronic!

Interesting question...do people just leave in park without handbrake or do you use handbrake also?
 
GinG said:
Interesting question...do people just leave in park without handbrake or do you use handbrake also?
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I never used the handbrake unless on a very steep hill on my 335i but have no choice now in my new car as it automatically comes on when the ignition is off.
 
GinG said:
Love the box in my A4...just hope it doesn't break like all the horror stories I read with others and multitronic!

Interesting question...do people just leave in park without handbrake or do you use handbrake also?
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If it hasn't been done in the last 60k or so then in all seriousness either get a warranty or start putting funds aside
 
rodenal said:
If it hasn't been done in the last 60k or so then in all seriousness either get a warranty or start putting funds aside
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66k at moment :eek:

No tail tail signs just yet, taking to my mates VAG specialist garage this week for a check over.

Got 1 year dealer warranty...
 
My CLK has a 5 speed auto rather than the newer 7G tronic box, the gearchanges are silky smooth once the box is up to temperature. It has a fly by wire throttle which the ecu backs off when changing gear to smooth it all out nicely.

I had no smoothness issues with my DSG golf or my Honda Accord 2.4 Auto (SMG and TC autos), the only difference I found was on pulling away where the DSG gave a much more positive manual style pull away compared with the TC auto.

The secret to a quick pull away in a TC auto is to hold with left foot on the brake and release the brake as the torque converter hits it's stall point, then they are almost as fast as a manual.
 
WTF is the **** I'm reading in this thread.

Torque converter has something to do with shifts quality? Well thats the valve body out then..

The main issue is, practically no one, and I really do mean no one knows that the valve body is a serviceable part. It's gets worn down, all of it does.

The valve body controls everything about the box that you feel when driving, everything from the shift going into drive, to the speed of the change when doing a kick down.
 
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Smoothest auto box I've driven is the current Jazz CVT. It has a torque converter for starting off the line and then the rest is CVT.

Unfortunately its soooo slow...
 
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Modern Auto gearboxes are pretty sweet tbh. I've got a 2010 Nissan Altima over here in the US and love it - so much more relaxing to drive and I barely ever notice any shifting issues. It's also probably a lot smarter than me at shifting at the exact right moment.
 
AshD93 said:
Funny, that's what the brochure and sales man said. It's a new one I should add.

And what does the 11 Plate 320d Auto have in it? Doesn't drive like a Dual Clutch nor a CVT and the shifts are jerky.
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No the brochure doesn't say it dual clutch the box is a 8 speed torque converter auto made by ZF. In Sport + Dynamic mode if you use the paddles it acts like a manual box apart from auto down shifts at low rpm.

The 2011 320d has a 6 speed auto box.
 
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