[Closed] new car time auto or manual??

Auto every time, especially for day to day driving.

New ones are really very good - we had a 330 with the six speed auto which was pretty good. I had a new 330d with the 8 speed box as a courtesy car and it was brilliant. The paddles worked well and it was good when left to it's own devices.

I've liked the DSG equipped cars I've driven too - I can't help thinking that my (diesel) vRS would be better suited to the DSG. It drops out of the powerband quickly.

Didn't like the DSG as it was constantly in too high a gear, even in Sport mode. Meant it constantly changed down at the slightest increase of acceleration, even at 75 on the motorway

Why was it a problem?

Absolutely hate driving - Sitting in traffic messing about with the clutch and gearstick? No thanks. My Passat is the first auto I've had and I won't be buying another manual.
(What are those stupid novelty paddles on the steering wheel for??!)

Auto. Clutch control is so dull, especially in stop-start traffic. 7-speed auto box just works so nicely on my car.

I've just bought a Merc with a 7 spd auto box and its 95% great (IMO). Sometimes in stop/ start mode it decides to turn the engine off when at places like roundabouts where (being in London) one needs to be able to launch off when possible, so in those cases I switch it to "Sport+" then straight back into Comfort once on a steady road, but that's not the auto box doing this. It is great being able to just accelerate, and keep accelerating without having to do the changing gear thing 🙂
Over an initial 600 miles its averaged 48mpg with a lot of city driving and 2x 120 mile journeys, which isn't bad for a C estate. On one of those trips it was registering 60+mpg for the trip, so I'm quite happy with the economy, so far...

Auto and spec it with the self drive that a lot of modern cars now come with. Makes sitting in traffic so much easier.

I ended up with a DSG accidentally (Polo GT 1.4, 7spd auto with paddles & 150bhp).

I bought a cancelled order car. The price was fantastic, but it was auto. I almost left it but figured I'd give it a try, and I'm glad i did. My commute is a mixture of B roads and then into town for some stop start. The auto just makes the commute effortless and takes some stress away. If you want to have a slow drive, it's very relaxing and efficient, or if you fancy some spirited driving the paddles and sport is snappy. The engines more efficient in auto and returns higher MPG than it's manual variant. Hill starts are now none existent. I'm a complete convert.

Not sure I could have auto without paddles though, as I use the paddles a lot when engine braking on hills, roundabout & junctions. Paddle auto box is the perfect blend for me.

[i]as I use the paddles a lot when engine braking on hills, roundabout & junctions.[/i]

Genuinely baffled by this! You just like playing with them don't you?

Yeah that damm little corolla just braked and stopped/slowed down... guess thats my racing carreer over

I don't have paddles, but I sometimes use manual road on windy roads but most commonly when towing. But even then not often.

i have been trying to think of why you would choose a manual, and i have come up with two reasons.
1. you cant afford an auto
2. you drive an MX5

autos are so nice these days, and changing gear is just boring. everything else on the car is automated why would you want to stamp up and down on a clutch pedal all day long?

Genuinely baffled by this! You just like playing with them don't you?

You have to sit on the brakes otherwise and you're not using the gearbox to your benefit.

..but yes, I do like playing with the paddles 😆

You have to sit on the brakes otherwise and you're not using the gearbox to your benefit.

That's what brakes are for, whereas engines aren't. The old advice about engine braking is bobbins these days. That dates from the times when brakes were crap.

Just drive the car the way the designers designed it to be driven. They aren't mugs. Just because a car doesn't behave as you expect, doesn't mean it's wrong.

Someone on here was complaining that his DSG drove at revs too low and it would be damaging his big end. Presumably based on 60s advice about not driving at too low revs. Well, 'too low' is subjective to a driver, but not to a gearbox map developer. Let it do its job. Who here has had a big end fail on a modern car that wasn't run low on oil? And wasn't a landrover 🙂

You have to sit on the brakes otherwise and you're not using the gearbox to your benefit.

Also - ABS doesn't work when engine braking, for those icy/oily/muddy moments.

You have to sit on the brakes otherwise and you're not using the gearbox to your benefit.

My Audi will know when I'm going downhill and if required changes gear for engine braking meaning I don't need to ride the brakes as much. I'm with Molgrips on this though, brakes are so much better these days that unless you're going down something like the Stelvio Pass then it's fine.

I have a C Class Estate sport, 7 speed auto. Had it since new (4000 on the clock) and it has done about 106000 now.
It is as smooth as a very smooth thing with smooth bits on. It feels like the first time I ever drove it, it is superb 🙂 I probably wouldnt have a non auto for my main car (my missus has the Merc I drive an Alfa Mito most days) in future, Auto's are just effortless.

I agree with Molgrips, however the wife's BMW (non DSG style auto) will change down when descending steep hills. On really steep hills you do still need to cover the brakes, but on shallow/slightly steep hills it will happily coast down without having to use the brakes.

Modern cars are so overbraked these days and with modern DOT5 fluid brake fade is not really possible on road driving.

[i]trying to think of why you would choose a manual[/i]

Manual's are more economical, I believe..? I get 45-47mpg out of the auto, I've heard folk say they get 60-odd. Maybe they're lying.

Fair dos, I drive the car carefully anyway. The gearbox doesn't play ball if it doesn't like how it's being driven.

I.e.- I dropped down to 3rd to overtake from 5th, but accidentally clicked it too many times therefore trying to put it into 2nd, car refused and left it in 3rd. Same thing when the engines cold. It won't rev past a certain range when using paddles and will change up for you. They are pretty clever these days.

Manual's are more economical, I believe..?

Last 5 years all in auto VAG cars both dual clutch and torque converter. Both have been very largely smooth, fast-shifting and positive to use whether manoeuvring, city driving or motorway. Despite being someone who previously loved manual cars - I've not found the boxes wanting, even when driving lovely winding roads in U.K or Europe.

Manual's are more economical, I believe..?

Some are, some aren't. With a new clutch based one the only extra drag is the little hydraulic pump in the gearbox, and that's more than offset by the larger number of higher gears. Apparently.

The gearbox doesn't play ball if it doesn't like how it's being driven.

Well, it's not that authoritarian.. it just won't let you smash the engine by ramming it into second 🙂 Mine only vetoes shifts when it would go beyond the red line or under about 900rpm. It will let you drive at lower revs than it chooses itself. Not that I recommend it.

My new Octavia has adaptive cruise control - now I've pretty much got used to it, I'd make sure I had auto/dsg on my next car as it would make motorway driving very much simpler without the need to faff about with the gearstick.

would make motorway driving very much simpler without the need to faff about with the gearstick.

Why was it a problem?

Slight delay between the pushing of the accelerator and the car responding.
The engine was labouring for a split second before the gearbox changed ratios.
The constant change in engine noise was annoying.
I got better fuel economy forcing it to stay in one gear.

i have been trying to think of why you would choose a manual,
1. you cant afford an auto

I can easily afford an Auto, but actively avoided it by buying a 6month old car rather than a new one as the specific model I wanted went DSG only.

I have had plenty of experience with a variety of auto boxes, didn't really like any of them, although the torque converter ones are better than DSG.

It's good we are all different isn't it? Except that this rush for auto only versions of various models restricts my choice unfortunately. A bit like 11 speed only bikes

Slight delay between the pushing of the accelerator and the car responding.

And that's important at 75mph on a motorway? 😯

What I said before - driving habits...

I've got an auto a3, it's amazing - I too had only had a taste of one in the ex's mum's vw 4x4 and it was good enough to want one. I'm glad I've got a 3.2 v6 behind it though as it never seems to lack power or be in the wrong gear and is very fast at changing. The manual override is great but only useful if you want to rag it... you wouldn't miss it if you only commute.

I'd say yes but there are associated risks with the more complex auto gearbox so do a google to see if there are any horror stories first.. apparently if the dual mass fly wheel goes on mine is a £3k job! that'd write the car off for me!

I'd also say the car should be 150bhp or more even for a commuter just so the box had enough power in the gears to not feel sluggish.

Hope that helps.. I do love it but I am going back to a van as I need more space and not worried one bit about going back to manual.

I'd also say the car should be 150bhp or more even for a commuter just so the box had enough power in the gears to not feel sluggish.

I've got an auto a3, it's amazing

I'm glad I've got a 3.2 v6 behind it though

....

I'd also say the car should be 150bhp or more even for a commuter just so the box had enough power in the gears to not feel sluggish.

''''''is Surfmatt back in here ??? 🙂

I'd also say the car should be 150bhp or more even for a commuter just so the box had enough power in the gears to not feel sluggish.

Doesn't make a difference. In a DSG/Powershift type box, when it's in gear it's in gear, exactly the same as a manual. They don't rob power and have fewer gears like traditional boxes used to.

Doesn't make a difference. In a DSG/Powershift type box, when it's in gear it's in gear, exactly the same as a manual. They don't rob power and have fewer gears like traditional boxes used to.

I am pretty sure there are greater mechanical ,losses, even if slight, as the whole set of gear trains are constantly in mesh compared to one cluster on input and output shaft on a conventional box. They are certainly more efficient than a torque converter auto although improvements in those are reducing the gap.

Auto boxes are also heavier which reduces real world fuel consumption.

Auto boxes are also heavier which reduces real world fuel consumption.

I am surprised by this and clearly in a minority. I much prefer manual. Driven many different autos - currently have a very effective yet boring one in our new big Lexus company car but have just bought a golf gti and specced manual. I just prefer the additional control/feel - especially in a car like that. Don't find them a burden in traffic. Autos seem to make me a lazy driver.

It's important on A and B roads when going for an overtake! Never knew how fast it would respond. Doesn't matter on the motorway, but the constant 5-6-5-6 changes are annoying. As for driving style? I'm the driving standards inspector at work so I'm tested annually and the odd spot-check thrown in too. Constantly score 95% plus for smoothness, speed and hazard awareness, predictive/defensive driving, mechanical sympathy and fuel economy. I think I'm a below average driver but the chief inspector says otherwise. I put it down to me bribing him with Maltesers 😀

I just bought a new (old) car and it's auto - apart from a brief drive of my uncle's classic Buick in Florida, I've always had manual. And I'm hooked - there's a lot less faffing about, it just works.

And, after three days with it, my left foot has just about stopped twitching 😉

Video here which shows how DSG works, and a brief discussion at the end explaining why thay can respond counter intuitively

Also what you shouldn't do with DSG gearboxes and why

how do folk who regularly jump from auto to manual car and back find it ? This will be my situation when new car arrives next year and wife still has a manual...

It's important on A and B roads when going for an overtake! Never knew how fast it would respond.

Right but that's exactly what the paddles are for - says so in the manual. There's a programmed-in procedure for overtaking in a hurry. Your post made it look like you were talking about motorway driving.

I am pretty sure there are greater mechanical ,losses, even if slight, as the whole set of gear trains are constantly in mesh compared to one cluster on input and output shaft on a conventional box

The losses are in the hydraulic pump. As for meshed gears - there's two input shafts ant two clutches, so from thinking about the pictures it's the spare shaft that's being turned when not in use - so I guess that's one extra gear meshed and one extra shaft spinning.

And the weight difference is 11kg according to the internet.

Work has a fleet of vans mixed up between auto and manual, never had a problem jumping from one to the other. You'll get used to it in no time.

Right but that's exactly what the paddles are for - says so in the manual.

Neither car had paddles, just the left/right gearstick option. Wasn't very responsive using that either!

This is a bit like a wheelsize debate isn't it? Choose one, diss the other 😉

On a big car an auto suits it well

In some ways a manual also suits a little run around that'll sit in traffic all day

But in a fun car I want an auto. Changing gear is fun, heel-toeing is fun, it makes the drive fun without needing to do mental speeds

I'm pretty surprised at the level of auto love, considering the bias towards nice cars here

how do folk who regularly jump from auto to manual car and back find it ? This will be my situation when new car arrives next year and wife still has a manual...

Didn't really bother me jumping between our auto 330 and my manual vRS.

[quote=iainc ]how do folk who regularly jump from auto to manual car and back find it ? This will be my situation when new car arrives next year and wife still has a manual...

Fine if you do it regularly, but if you only drive auto for a couple of months then switch back expect to stall/headbutt the windscreen a few times.

Fine if you do it regularly, but if you only drive auto for a couple of months then switch back expect to stall/headbutt the windscreen a few times.

I always did the "forget to change out of first" and end up redlining it the first junction I pulled out of.

Once you do that, and hear the shrill of a 1.4 Honda Jazz at 7000rpm in 1st gear you don't forget to change next time 😆