automatic OR manual?

[Way2SSlow]

My Daily driver is a 5 speed manual and my SS has a BUILT auto in it. When I say built, I mean it has a 3000 stall converter and shifts HARD. Granted it is nice not to have to bother with the clutch in traffic, but with the gearing in the SS it tends to like to shift itself a bit more than I would like it to while in traffic. The hard shifts dont bother me, but they can get kind of annoying (in traffic) when it shifts itself into second right before I have to get on the brakes again. As far as straight line acceleration, I enjoy slamming the gears as much as the next guy, but I cant shift as fast as that tranny in my SS does. When my pala shifts itself, you cant even hear the revs drop....IT SHIFTS THAT FAST. So for competitive drag racing (like if you really want to beat the guy in the next lane, I'll take my auto. For road racing/auto crossing I'll take my manual. People who think that all manual cars accelerate faster than an auto need to take a ride in a car with a performance built automatic.



I cany really compare *my* two vehicles, seeing as how my 5 speed is a 143 hp 4 cylinder and my Auto is a 300+ hp modded V8.

 

[JaCkaL829]

I'm so happy my car is manual, and that I got the chance to learn how to drive one. This may sound lame but i've seriously been fascinated with manual cars for the past couple years, and really wanted to learn how to drive one before I died..lol



Considering I don't know my future I might not have the chance to own one again, I know thats what happened to my father. Once he got married to my mother and got situated where we live today, both cars we're auto due to my mother not knowing or wanting to know how drive a manual.



I also feel a little more attentive when I drive my car compared to my parent's cars(autos). The constant shifting keeps you more aware of your surroundings IMO.

 

[Daragh]

A high tech Tiptronic is the pick of the bunch. The best of both world's. Only the Prestige European and Japanese manufactured vehicles seem to know how to engineer them to a level which is compatible with enthusiastic driving. The U.S manufactured (automatic) cars are built for Driving Miss Daisy style cruising and comfort, not performance driving. In Europe we could not understand why the Toyota Camry was so popular stateside with a very poor automatic, when compared with the Honda Accord or Mitsubishi Galant. The VR4 Galant from Japan had one of the best and most rugged autos of its time. An awesome car. The Honda Prelude was also really good. Mercedes probably have the best automatic at the moment, even though they have dumbed down in other areas of engineering & build quality, all in the name of profit. Volkswagen & Audi's DSG is also an interesting proposition.



The one thing about an automatic is that if you buy one, you seldom go back to a manual. They tend to refine people's driving behaviour while instilling a strong preference for quality civilised motoring. May be its laziness, but autos are much more practical on our increasingly crowded roads. Just buy a good one. No slushmatics !

 

[imported_Denzil]

Automatics can't get you out of jams or certain situations in traffic where a manual transmission can. Downshift and you're ok! Oh and did I mention that manual transmission cars are more gas-conservative?

 

[topnotchtouch]

Automatics can't get you out of jams or certain situations in traffic where a manual transmission can. Downshift and you're ok! Oh and did I mention that manual transmission cars are more gas-conservative?

I think you are thinking of an underpowered car with an auto. That I agree would not be fun to drive.



Regardless of traffic conditions I can either drop it out of OD or punch the throttle and the tranny will downshift itself and I have all the power I need.



While I agree that most manufacturer's post higher epa ratings for their manual cars vs auto cars I seriously doubt that happens in the real world unless you drive the manual like Grandma.

 

[Porkanbeans]

Don't worry about the traffic thing. Once you get used to the stick, driving it is like clockwork. Another advantage I see in manuals is that they prevent people from talking on their cell phone (unless they have a headset) or eating, doing makeup, etc while driving. Plus, they're just plain more enjoyable to drive.

 

[pontman43]

Quoting a sig from another thread "Automatics win races...Manuals amuse high school kids." LOL I have an auto in my car, but enjoy driving a manual, maybe because I'm a high school kid. lol

 

[stilez]

"Automatics win races...Manuals amuse high school kids."

That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. What kind of races is this person running? If you wanted to say that something wins races, the most probable thing would be AWD, not an automatic tranny...jeez.

 

[Prometheus]

I think you are thinking of an underpowered car with an auto. That I agree would not be fun to drive.



Regardless of traffic conditions I can either drop it out of OD or punch the throttle and the tranny will downshift itself and I have all the power I need.



While I agree that most manufacturer's post higher epa ratings for their manual cars vs auto cars I seriously doubt that happens in the real world unless you drive the manual like Grandma.

I dont know, my friend and I have identical cars, except hers is an auto and mine is a stick. Drive 200 miles to school, 200 back on weekends we go home. Mine consistently gets better gas mileage (3-4 more) and I definately do NOT drive like a granny. Probably insignificant in the long run as both get over 35 mpg on the highway, but still, I'll take it.

 

[twitch]

I like a manual transmission. I feel more in touch while driving it.

 

[imported_bren wrx]

That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. What kind of races is this person running? If you wanted to say that something wins races, the most probable thing would be AWD, not an automatic tranny...jeez.

a properly setup automatic (high stall, reinforced, geared correctly, lsd) at HIGH power levels will out do a manual in a drag launch because they can leave the line softer and put more traction down but they will trap lower in the 1/4, outside of that a manual will be an advantage



outside of that from rolling acceleration they will lack usually to the way they are geared



and the typical downer when you have a fast car and someone comes up and goes......nevermind its automatic and walks away :think:

 

[pontman43]

[quote name='bren wrx']a properly setup automatic (high stall, reinforced, geared correctly, lsd) at HIGH power levels will out do a manual in a drag launch because they can leave the line softer and put more traction down but they will trap lower in the 1/4, outside of that a manual will be an advantage

That was his point, Sean. Autos are run in damn near every drag car for a reason.

 

[JasonD]

If you really want to get specific, race cars have "clutchless" manuals. I don't think you'll ever see a "race car" with the letter "D" on their shifter, so don't think of it as an automatic by any means. I have an automatic in my race car, and it used to be a manual as a street car (a very long time ago). Once I got past a certain point, the manual just became a handicap. I now have a 3 speed automatic with a reverse manual valve body and 4500 stall. This is as far away from your traditional automatic as you can get, but it still doesn't have a clutch.



I know this isn't at all what the original topic was about, but I just wanted to elaborate a little on that.

 

[DrSauekraut]

I’ve been a long-time manual enthusiast . . . then came Audi DSG :grinno:

 

[drewski59]

A high tech Tiptronic is the pick of the bunch. The best of both world's. Only the Prestige European and Japanese manufactured vehicles seem to know how to engineer them to a level which is compatible with enthusiastic driving. Mercedes probably have the best automatic at the moment, even though they have dumbed down in other areas of engineering & build quality, all in the name of profit. Volkswagen & Audi's DSG is also an interesting proposition.



The one thing about an automatic is that if you buy one, you seldom go back to a manual. They tend to refine people's driving behaviour while instilling a strong preference for quality civilised motoring. May be its laziness, but autos are much more practical on our increasingly crowded roads. Just buy a good one. No slushmatics !

I agree that automatics have come great distances technology-wise as of late, especially the German Tiptronics, namely the Porsche and Audi boxes.



I've heard nothing but great things about DSG, which lets you shift faster than an F1 driver!! :bolt



I haven't driven a manual in awhile, but I remember it being hard to learn in Seattle(with the hills), but I'll contemplate it with my next car, especially if I get a I4 in a Civic Si or VW GTI...



There are benefits to both!

 

[jchetty]

I believe it is machismo more than anything else regardless of whether we chose to admit it or not. I have owned both and while it is definitely fun shifting your own gears it can also get old if you do a lot of commuting like I do. I think a lot of people generalize as well. Some have had an experience with an auto in a certain make and assume all autos in all makes perform the same way which is certainly not true. Even with an auto my Mustang is a blast to drive. Fluid changes are almost as easy as changing the engine oil...

im a fellow mustang lover..and i know from experience, a higher stall converter and shift kit and your just as fast/faster than manuals...but have u ever changed tranny fluid on a car that the filter must come out to...i do all the maintence on my car as many autopians probaly do..thats no fun....add to the that that in auto's, the tranny fluid gets routed thru the bottom of the radiator so a flush is better, which means i would have to take it to shop and lets them get it all non-autopian like :grrr .....my uncles driveways has a lil stain from us dropping his tranny pan :nervous2:

 

[imported_Denzil]

I think you are thinking of an underpowered car with an auto. That I agree would not be fun to drive.



Regardless of traffic conditions I can either drop it out of OD or punch the throttle and the tranny will downshift itself and I have all the power I need.



While I agree that most manufacturer's post higher epa ratings for their manual cars vs auto cars I seriously doubt that happens in the real world unless you drive the manual like Grandma.

Well, the power is definitely something to consider but to me it seems that downshifting in a manual transmission is quicker (varies by driver) than an automatic (keep in mind I'm regarding to stock vehicles since that's what the majority of the public drives). I think it's just that I fear that split-second lag in an automatic transmission compared to a manual transmission where you feel like you truly have "control." :hm

 

[harvey]

stick is better because it keeps you from coffee and the phone. Learned to drive three on the floor in 32 Ford. My dad had one all the way into the 50's

The only way to go.

 

[Quickstrike]

Stick all the way!



Oh, it isn't very difficult to talk on the cell-phone or eat/drink while driving manual. My car doesn't have cupholders so I have learned to shift with the drink in my hand or turn the wheel with it in my hand.



Also, like everyone else said, if you get used to manual tranny it comes so naturally. Hours and hours of bumper to bumper traffic isn't a problem at all (I guess if you had a race clutch it could be like someone mentioned, I am just used to common car and truck clutches that are fairly easy to push in and out).

 

[Accumulator]

As I consider buying yet another car I've been thinking about this question again.



My wife and I both find the stick a) offers much more control, espeically in bad weather, b) is *MUCH* better for track work, c) is a lot more fun, and d) is even good for the ole ego (e.g., smooooth heel & toe double clutching ) . Wouldn't want the RX-7 with an automatic, that's for sure!



But I gotta admit that with a large, heavy car in stop and go traffic, an automatic can be OK. My wife and I both thought we'd miss the manual when we traded from our S4/S6 pair to A8/S8 but most of the time we don't. All my automatic cars *go* when you get on them, probably faster than I can downshift (and I'm not slow at it ).



Automatics offer other advantages for street-driven cars, especially in certain rare, uhm, emergent situations. Learned about this at the Security Driver's Training course- there's a reason why law enforcement/security/executive protection vehicles are automatics. Just as a stick keeps you from doing [nonsense] while you oughta be driving, a stick can *prevent* you from doing certain types of multi-tasking while driving and can be hard to operate if you're injured. And while it's possible to drive an automatic from the passenger's seat, you just can't do that with a stick. Admittedly this sort of thing might not be relevant to most people, but if/when it *does* become relevant, you have to work with what you have.