Not really
yes... really!
sillybilly
Chat Forum
[closed]
Do you drive a manual or auto car?
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Posted 1 year ago #
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We used to run all Dodge Rm pickups with manuals boxes and tow 10,000lbs combines headers with them, we changed to autos 3 years ago and would not go back to a manual now, just got our first Ford 350 pickup with adblue so on the next challenge now with this emmision crap
Posted 1 year ago # -
[qupte]yes... really!
sillybilly [/quote]
Now you've lost me, what's your point again?
We used to run all Dodge Rm pickups with manuals boxes and tow 10,000lbs combines headers with them, we changed to autos 3 years ago and would not go back to a manual now, just got our first Ford 350 pickup with adblue so on the next challenge now with this emmision crap
Rams have sufficiently large engines to be notably unfazed by the loses in an auto box. Still, it's personal taste I presume, wouldn't catch me towing with an auto anymore - tried it a few times and really dislike it (3.5 litre straight 6 auto).
Posted 1 year ago # -
I've briefly driven a couple of vehicles with some oomph - an old Range Rover and an Audi 3.0l that were auto and it was a pleasurable enough experience.
I've also driven a couple of underpowered cars (Micra and something else insignificant I can't remember) and they were horrible experiences - really revvy without going anywhere.
I drive a manual diesel pick-up (170bhp) which I'd have in auto, if it didn't cost 4-5mpg. Saying that though I drive 40k a year and changing gear never really bothers me. There isn't really any aspect of driving that bothers me.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I had an automatic Ford focus estate for a while, only because the guy i bought it off had only one arm.
I thought it was great, i could drive, hold a cigarette and my phone all at the same time, without having to try and change gear
apart from that, automatics are superb in traffic jams.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Its amazing that in the 21st century most drivers are still having to change gear using two bits of bent metal shoved through the floor of the car. In what other consumer product would we have accepted such lack of progress?
Auto if at all possible for me coupled to a nice torquey diesel. Main disadvantage of torque converter boxes for me is the time taken to shift ratios. Fortunately my current car has a 500Nm of torque so it doesn't need to change gear very often
Yes autos have higher fuel consumption but by adapting my driving to take advantage of the auto's ability to coast I find I can get very close to manual fuel consumption figures.I recently had a new BMW 530d for a weekend which had the new 8 speed ZF box which is a torque converter but changes as quickly as a DSG. It also had the uncanny ability to predict when I wanted to change down a gear to accelerate rendering the paddle changers redundant. It accelerates as quickly as the manual car and the fuel consumption is very close too. If this is the future of automatics the manual is on its way out at last.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I've also driven a couple of underpowered cars (Micra and something else insignificant I can't remember) and they were horrible experiences - really revvy without going anywhere
They used to put CVTs in small cars like that (which are squarely aimed at the disabled I suspect) to make the most of what power's available and minimise losses. We had an old Fiesta auto for a little while and it was much the same. It feels slow to have the engine rev away without accelerating fast, but bear in mind tiny engined small cars wouldn't accelerate fast with a manual either. Thing is, without the extra weight of the box it would probably have been slightly quicker due to keeping the revs in the maximum power band all the time.
The one we had was an absolute complete and utter pig to drive, possibly the worst car I've ever driven (but only possibly). However once you figured it out it could be quite fun. Basically you rolled it along, giving it a bit of a push every now and then from the throttle.. rev, trundle.. rev, trundle...
Posted 1 year ago # -
Bazzer
I'm surprised by the Merc, as I've a 535i and quite frankly I prod the accelerator and it just goes - and if I prod it harder, it goes quicker. And just grips.
Its also got a sport and manual mode, but I never really use either - unless I want to overtake in a very short space...
Posted 1 year ago # -
Its amazing that in the 21st century most drivers are still having to change gear using two bits of bent metal shoved through the floor of the car. In what other consumer product would we have accepted such lack of progress?
Bikes.
Motorbikes.
Taps
BinsPretty much hundreds of consumer products where the owner wants control over the item rather than the item deciding itself. I'm 100% sure that 95% of bike owners would hate to ride a CVT or auto type shifting bike.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Yes autos have higher fuel consumption but by adapting my driving to take advantage of the auto's ability to coast
Yeah, does't work with a DSG sadly.
Thing is, a good auto is a lot more expensive, still thirstier, worse to drive in enough situations, more complex and more failure prone than a manual. Those are compelling reasons I reckon for the existence of manual.
Posted 1 year ago # -
davidtaylforth - Member
...People who drive manual cars are keeping the tru spirit of motoring alive.Nah, they are just using a complicated procedure for controlling a tin box with an engine.
Probably use MSDOS2.1 on their computers too.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Had a DSG Golf for a while. Lovely car, well executed box (I'll call i a clutch-less manual)...
But if I had another it would be a manual
Posted 1 year ago # -
Manual.
Auto's are for women, & blokes who can't manage. (one way or another)
Fact.Posted 1 year ago # -
Always had a manual up to last car. Now have a large diesel auto estate car.
Kind of torn. 95% of the time stop/go is fantastic and if stuck in traffic jams it is soooo much better. However when driving spiritedly esp cross country even in BMW sport mode it just doesn't feel right.
That niggle may be enough to see me back in a manual next time though!
Posted 1 year ago # -
All you hairy chested real men best make the most of your manuals then. In 20 years we'll all be driving auto hybrids or electric cars with one gear.
Posted 1 year ago # -
coffeeking - Member
Its amazing that in the 21st century most drivers are still having to change gear using two bits of bent metal shoved through the floor of the car. In what other consumer product would we have accepted such lack of progress?
Bikes.
Motorbikes.
Taps
BinsPretty much hundreds of consumer products where the owner wants control over the item rather than the item deciding itself. I'm 100% sure that 95% of bike owners would hate to ride a CVT or auto type shifting bike.
OK change manually if you must but we've been able to change gears on our bikes with our fingertips for the last 20 year so why not our cars- except of course for a few DSGs with paddle shifters.?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Hate autos! They disconnect you from the driving experience and waste fuel.
The only time they have worked for me is when I was driving in and out and around central London in massive jams day in day out.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Always driven manual and never even considered an auto, but here in oz the majority of cars seem to be auto and I actually quite like it. Also much prefer driving with my wife when we have an auto car as there's no clutch riding, high revs or dodgy gear changes. No roll-backs on hills and no stalling. Considering getting an auto car for her when we come back to the UK actually.
Don't see how people say auto's are not proper driving. Surely rally cars or F1 cars are auto?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Manual.
Much better control of the car, through corners or on any kind of hilly road, and much more interesting to drive. More options - lazy cruising early shifts up through the gearbox or hold the revs (as long as I[i] like) for making better progress. The engine feels properly connected to the drive wheels.
A manual car with a modern ECU will trickle along quite nicely in traffic in 1st without any throttle so they're not that much more of a chore unless you're in full stop/start traffic.I've on occasion driven a torque converter auto and owned a BMW SMG for about a year.
Didn't like:
(TC) springy "broken elastic" disconnected feel between the accelerator and anyting actually happening
Poor / non existent engine braking
The fact that a tiny prod of the accelerator makes the revs go mental, long delay while TC catches up and eventually the car goes a little faster / maintains speed up a hill.
Having to sit with my foot on the brake at traffic lights.
(SMG) Jerky starting off. Jerky when going from forward to reverse modes. Occasional random large THUMP when shifting gear. Having to finesse the accelerator to get a gear change that was worse than what I could do with a conventional manual. Bewildering array of almost but-not-quite identical shifting modes/speeds.Posted 1 year ago # -
so they're not that much more of a chore unless you're in full stop/start traffic
And of course, that never happens..
Posted 1 year ago # -
I had forgotten about the elastic band connection between the wheels and the engine. That wiffly waffly noise it makes while it is deciding if its going to go faster or not
Posted 1 year ago # -
The non-existent engine braking varies in different torque converter autos. Some completely de-clutch, some leave you in top, some in a lower gear. It feels really weird at first but you can get used to it and it saves fuel I think because you can roll for ages.
Posted 1 year ago # -
6 speed auto in my diesel BMW.
It's the older type with a torque converter, but a lock-up in each gear makes it near enough to a semi-manual box you can't tell, but without any of the disadvantages that comes with that.
If you do buy one of the fancier autos, make sure you test drive it for low speed manoeuvring, as the ones I've driven don't have any creep, and with no clutch your only choice is to give it a bit of welly and then jump straight on the brake. Bloody awful.
Having said that, the BMW one is not without its problems. Primarily, it's because none of the fancy lock-ups work when the gearbox oil temp is below 30C, so it's like a nasty, sluggish, 1980's gearbox for the first mile when the engine's cold. Not really noticable when the outside temp gets above 10C, but it takes quite a while to warm up when it's say, -10. And the fuel economy stinks when it's cold.
But that might be a BMW thing, because the fuel economy stinks anyway.
Posted 1 year ago # -
as the ones I've driven don't have any creep
My DSG does, but only a little bit at first, then the computer decides to tickle the clutch but doesn't do it very smoothly, so it'll start to surge forward or backwards. Manoevring in a car park is a question of learning how to get on the brakes quickly enough to control it - can be done, but it's an art.
No harder than learning how to use the clutch yourself mind. But also no easier.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I'd be interested to hear why, since its the combo I have!
Ok, Im at a t-junction trying to turn right. Its busy i've been sitting there a while. A gap appears thats small but safe provide I react promptly and then this happens:
1. press gas pedal in an attempt to move out, car creeps forward barely moving.
2. Give it more gas, car still barely moving other cars are approaching!
3. Give it lots of gas, car drops gear revs increase turbo kicks in and now we have wheelspin! The car ends up making a drama out of what should be a simnple manouver.The 2.0tdi engine is ok, the DSG gearbox is ok but they combine horribley.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Yeah Horatio - that is the one downside of my DSG. Like I say there are supposedly ways round it but I've not been able to make them work.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Changing from a manual to an auto there will be a moment where you go for the clutch. If it turns out ok it is amusing to see the looks of 'Why the emergency stop?'!
My Volvo is an auto. It kind of suits it as it's got a shed load of power. Would I swap it for a manual? Hell yeah!
Not sure I agree it's that much better in traffic, tend to use my left foot to brake in an auto and I find it gets more tired than normal sitting on the brake instead of the clutch.
Posted 1 year ago # -
horatio - Member
I'd be interested to hear why, since its the combo I have!
Ok, Im at a t-junction trying to turn right. Its busy i've been sitting there a while. A gap appears thats small but safe provide I react promptly and then this happens:1. press gas pedal in an attempt to move out, car creeps forward barely moving.
2. Give it more gas, car still barely moving other cars are approaching!
3. Give it lots of gas, car drops gear revs increase turbo kicks in and now we have wheelspin! The car ends up making a drama out of what should be a simnple manouver.The 2.0tdi engine is ok, the DSG gearbox is ok but they combine horribley.
I had a A3 TDi S-line with DSG as a courtesy car a while back and had exactly the same issue. It made pulling out a real chore - it just crawled out ad then lurched forward when the power came in, htne as soon as it had come it was gone...one of the reasons I don't like diesel much, too short a powerband for me. guess you just adapt to it in the end
Posted 1 year ago # -
In traffic - auto, to save the clutch and left leg
everything else - manual
I like changing gear
Posted 1 year ago # -
one of the reasons I don't like diesel much, too short a powerband for me. guess you just adapt to it in the end
That's NOT a diesel thing, it's the way they've set the DSG up on that particular car.
But let's not get stuck into this again eh? Just use higher gears, that's all you need to know.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Having to sit with my foot on the brake at traffic lights.
My merc auto has a neat feature. Just press the brake pedal a bit firmer as the car stops and it applies the parking brake. Leave in D and when the lights change press the accelerator to move off - simples.Most of the time auto is fine but I did nearly bin it on the snow last winter on a slight downhill country road. I realised that if I touched the brake I would be in the hedge so I used the tiptronic to change down from 4 to 2 which still involved a fair bit of fish tailing but I managed to save it. Without tip I would have been in trouble.
Posted 1 year ago # -
tend to use my left foot to brake in an auto
Why would you do that?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Having to sit with my foot on the brake at traffic lights.
VW Auto-hold FTW.
I realised that if I touched the brake I would be in the hedge so I used the tiptronic to change down from 4 to 2
Can't see why that would be better than using the brakes properly. Why brake two wheels instead of four?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Can't see why that would be better than using the brakes properly. Why brake two wheels instead of four?
tbh in snow I disconnect the traction control and use the manual side of the auto gearbox, - the idea is you can still steer with the front, but slowdown with the rear
it works
Posted 1 year ago # -
six speed manual in my car. driven plenty of autos, much prefer manual by miles.
Kev
Posted 1 year ago #
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