switching from manual to automatic

chaparral said:
Thanks Lustral

Maybe a stupid question :o but is there an easy way to tell if a jazz has the 7 speed auto without driving it ?

Is it only the CVT Jazz that has a 7 speed ?
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If it has paddles / manual override then it has the CVT-7 , or if you do a reg check , it should come up as CVT in the model name.

There are a few cars that have CVT , but I cant think of any other cars circa 2006 that had one.

The changes are so smooth you wont feel it as technically it hasn't got gears , just some pulleys syncing for max power or eco when needed , the 7 speed/steps are there for people who like to override or get used to it from a manual. But the think that gets most people coming for is how the engine sounds when giving the engine some work, it holds onto the revs more than the other autos. However the power delivery is very linear and predictable.
 
[TW]Fox said:
It's an 8 speed torque converter auto. It must be broken as torque converters are inherently smoother than DSG boxes and the ZF8HP is arguably the finest torque converter auto out there..

I suspect it's the 2 litre diesel engine thats not refined, not the box.
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don't the bmw torque converter boxes do some fancy stuff with locking splines to bypass the torque converter for effeciency? might be that being the issue?
 
[TW]Fox said:
It's an 8 speed torque converter auto. It must be broken as torque converters are inherently smoother than DSG boxes and the ZF8HP is arguably the finest torque converter auto out there..

I suspect it's the 2 litre diesel engine thats not refined, not the box.
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Yeah could be the engine. Every time the gear change, rev drop and could feel the whole car surge forward a bit.

The gear changes in fabia vrs were very silky and unnoticed most of time
 
Evolution of technology will in time automate things that originally needed manual application or adjustment.

Early motorists had to manually maintain engine oil pressure via a hand plunger, they also had control
of the advance and retard of the ignition. We are happy to let technology undertake these tedious tasks now.

It's a matter of mystery why the boring task of continual gear changing is still something that people want to do.
 
wesley said:
Yeah could be the engine. Every time the gear change, rev drop and could feel the whole car surge forward a bit.

The gear changes in fabia vrs were very silky and unnoticed most of time
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If the car is still under warranty I would take it back to the garage, I had a 320d auto a few weeks ago and the autobox was smooth the same as a 530d/335d it shouldn't be surging when changing gear.
 
I went from a BNW 320d company car, to a Lexus IS300h Hybrid with a CVT auto box.

The Lexus drives great, it took some getting used too that the CVT doesnt have gears as such, its just one big adjustable cone gear. The car drives ace though.

However for enjoyment driving, a manual is better.
CVT auto is great for long lazy comfort driving.

I had a hire car in Cyprus last week, a manual Kia Cee'd. Totally crap car, but entry level and did the job for a 1 week holiday - but having a manual (even a crap one) made me decide actually I want a manual again next.
 
Roland Butter said:
Evolution of technology will in time automate things that originally needed manual application or adjustment.

Early motorists had to manually maintain engine oil pressure via a hand plunger, they also had control
of the advance and retard of the ignition. We are happy to let technology undertake these tedious tasks now.

It's a matter of mystery why the boring task of continual gear changing is still something that people want to do.
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did nobody inform you? it's the sign of a better driver. manual gives you more control in the respect you can then rag the engine, etc.

i think the sport button on my auto does the same thing though ;-)
 
Roland Butter said:
It's a matter of mystery why the boring task of continual gear changing is still something that people want to do.
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Because until all autos perform as well as the expensive ones (which even then seems to be stretching it), manuals are just better.

For me, I like the interaction and having the skill. The more modern a car gets, the more detatched from the road it feels and the more boring the drive becomes. It feels more like a chore and the car like a mere tool, rather than a fun experience of any kind.
 
Psycho Sonny said:
did nobody inform you? it's the sign of a better driver. manual gives you more control in the respect you can then rag the engine, etc.

i think the sport button on my auto does the same thing though ;-)
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well, if i wanted to know what "better driving" means, i'd look at motorsport- because they're better drivers than you or i.

all manual....
 
Roland Butter said:
That's just driving round a track as fast as you can , with everyone going in the same direction, where's the connection with everyday driving ?
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Taken from Formual1.com

Formula One cars use highly sophisticated semi-automatic, seamless shift gearboxes. Aside from when pulling away, the driver is not required to manually operate the clutch, nor is he required to lift off the accelerator when changing up through the gears. Instead, when another gear is selected the shift is completed ‘seamlessly’ (via a clever a system which uses two shift barrels), meaning the driver suffers from no loss of drive. As such, gear changes are not only significantly faster than they were with the traditional gear lever and clutch pedal approach (taking a matter of milliseconds), but the driver can also keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times.

But 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.

BTCC use sequential gearboxes.

Beyond the ease of use from a driver's standpoint, an additional benefit of sequential manual gearboxes is that use of the clutch via foot pedal or hand control can be minimized or completely obviated, with the clutch used only for starting from a complete stop.

So where does manual in its typical car form enter the fray??

I currently have an bmw auto and wouldn't swap it for the word, i had a vw vento auto about 11 years ago and it changed my views on auto/manual.

BTW the bmw, as i am sure you are aware, can be used as a semi automatic or full auto so does that make me a better driver?
 
[TW]Fox said:
Really? You sure about that?
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counting sequential gearboxes as manual yes, although if you have examples to prove otherwise then please fire away.

the whole point of a manual is to allow the selection of the gear before it's needed, something no machine under a users control will be able to predict.

and yes i know sequential boxes aren't used on the road aside from motorbikes, but it's still manual control
 
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