Automatics cars- info please

RLJ

What are automatic cars like. Friend is considering a mazda 323 1.5 automatic. What is good and bad about automatics?

robtri

nothing per se wrong with them, but IMO compared to a manual they loose out...
here would be my reasoning IMO on that...
generally not as economical as a manual to drive..
I personally don't think you have anywhere near as much control over the car when driving as a manual
gear changing on automatics can be a bit slow, especially when you want to overtake, you put the foot down, there is a delay till the auto boax drops gear and engages...
Auto boxes are generally more expensive to repair if anything goes wrong with them, compared to repair costs on the manual.

good points they are much easier to drive in heavy traffic...

just my take on it....

mike65

You can change an auto like manual between drive gears it should pointed out ie 4th to 3rd if "kickdown" is a bit slow.

If you commute your left leg will thank you, and your left arm too!

Stevie Dakota

Most small automatics like the 323 I have driven been rather grim affairs, crude and not that refined. I would only really consider an automatic in a prestige car where it you can expect it to be well suited and refined. Manual suits small cars as they can be fun to drive, an auto 323 would be slow and deathly dull to drive.

Just my 2c.

L-M

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

Most small automatics like the 323 I have driven been rather grim affairs, crude and not that refined. I would only really consider an automatic in a prestige car where it you can expect it to be well suited and refined. Manual suits small cars as they can be fun to drive, an auto 323 would be slow and deathly dull to drive.

Just my 2c.

+1

I wouldn't be too concerned if it was in a higher engine, where the auto box was suited to the car. I haven't driven an Auto 323, but I can imagine a manual would be much better and it would also have a better resale.

Advice: Drive both. There are loads around.

kuro_man

Pros and cons:

- uses more fuel, especially at lower/changing speeds. Efficient at crusing though
- there can be a delay between gear changes, although you get used to this. there is usually a selector you can use to force a change-down.
- works better with high torque engines (large and/or diesels) rather than free-revving/small engines
- can wears brakes/disks more quickly (cars 'creeps' without any acceration so you must keep your foot on the brake when stopped)

+ easier and more relaxing drive, especially in stop-start traffic
+ no stalls
+ no hill starts (torque-converter holds car in place)
+ easier to park
+ no more clutches to replace
+ protects the engine from excessing revving

Twin-go

In my experience on auto-box in a small car is not great. It was a 1.4 Fiesta.

I found it dangerous at junctions especialy roundabouts. You put the foot down to get into a gap but the delay to when the gear engages can seem like and eternity. Leaves you with little confidence and waiting for bigger gaps.

Also anoying was when gears where changing, very jerky.

For a 323 either buy a manual or one with a bigger engine.

Matt Simis

kuro_man wrote: »

Pros and cons:

- uses more fuel, especially at lower/changing speeds. Efficient at crusing though
- there can be a delay between gear changes, although you get used to this. there is usually a selector you can use to force a change-down.
- works better with high torque engines (large and/or diesels) rather than free-revving/small engines
- can wears brakes/disks more quickly (cars 'creeps' without any acceration so you must keep your foot on the brake when stopped)

+ easier and more relaxing drive, especially in stop-start traffic
+ no stalls
+ no hill starts (torque-converter holds car in place)
+ easier to park
+ no more clutches to replace
+ protects the engine from excessing revving

Yeah, Diesels and Auto are great, but I do miss manual (in the Petrol) control.
Its worth pointing out the that latest gen cars using Autos are getting higher mileage than their manual equivalents. In some cases the Autos have more and higher top gears.

Stevie Dakota

Matt Simis wrote: »

Its worth pointing out the that latest gen cars using Autos are getting higher mileage than their manual equivalents. In some cases the Autos have more and higher top gears.

DSG being a case in point, but OP is looking at a 323!

RLJ

Thanks guys quite enlightening , pal decided to give auto a miss

Guy:Incognito

I personanly wont be buyign another manual car again if I can avoid it.

S.I.R

i cant drive auto box'd cars, either paddle box or manual, but either way an automatic doesnt feel natural... the bite of the clutch, using the range yourself to gauge velocity...


all the fun is lost when you coast around in a cdi merc...


or a 323... in which case is a ford/mazda design....


give her a miss unless its a 2.0 mazdaspeed version, which is great fun to drive.

Guy:Incognito

S.I.R wrote: »

i cant drive auto box'd cars, either paddle box or manual, but either way an automatic doesnt feel natural... the bite of the clutch, using the range yourself to gauge velocity...
.

If you eat dirt for years proper food will taste strange........


Also, theres very little fun invovled in a daily commute or going to the shops.

Steve

Another small downside is if they break down they can't be towed, the drive wheels need to be off the ground.

Apart from that, if you're just interested in getting from a to b, especially commuting in stop-go traffic, they're well worth it.

Be careful if you go and test drive one, tuck your left leg back near the seat or you could end up going through the windscreen when you try and change gear!

Carawaystick

Steve wrote: »

Another small downside is if they break down they can't be towed, the drive wheels need to be off the ground.

N?

Matt Simis

Carawaystick wrote: »

N?

Yeah, at like 10kph for 10min stints!
Manuals are far easier to work with for engine tuning too, the stupid TCU gets confused in most cars if you feed it more torque than it expects at a given rev or speed.

RLJ

Stekelly wrote: »

I personanly wont be buyign another manual car again if I can avoid it.

care to tell us why?

RLJ

Steve wrote: »

Be careful if you go and test drive one, tuck your left leg back near the seat or you could end up going through the windscreen when you try and change gear!

i can imagine

Guy:Incognito

RLJ wrote: »

care to tell us why?

I'm not a rally driver and I dont need "excitement" in corners and the like very often on public roads . There is zero advantage to a manual for A to B driving.

Either way, once your used to your autobox you can make it go up and down gears the way you want.

Steve

Carawaystick wrote: »

N?

Volvoboy

I have a auto in my car, i can defo see the benifits in having it, i'm driving 50K miles a year so it's nice not to gear. But if i had the choice of buying a car for personal use (currently for work) i'd have a manual.

Matt Simis

Stekelly wrote: »

Either way, once your used to your autobox you can make it go up and down gears the way you want.

Kinda... doesnt hold gears or drop gears either instantly or when under spirited sessions (ie when you say). I was demonstrating Tiptronic mode to a manual owning Family member and they were a bit disappointed, they had heard you can control it like manual if you want to. Its just not really true.

SMG is meant to be a horrible feeling trans to use, the jerkyness of a manual and the slowness of an Auto, but Ive never had one, so I cant speak from experience. Could just be test drivers and reviewers unused to the system.

ottostreet

I had two automatics in the last year. both slow as hell. Mitsubishi Mirage 1.3. Boring, slow, bad on petrol. used to take my punto sporting out specifically just to drive a manual again. never buying automatic again.

Voodoomelon

Stekelly wrote: »

If you eat dirt for years proper food will taste strange........

Line of the week! :pac:
Like the others are saying, autos in a small car are a load of dog doo, ineffecient, bad performance and usually badly enginereed.

I drove my mothers manual Fiesta today, without having driven a manual in about 6 months and it was tremendous fun. For about 2 miles. Seriously, if you're stopping and starting all the time, you really don't know what you're missing if you've never driven an automatic.
I've let my whole family drive my auto and they all loved it. It also makes you a better driver in my eyes as it makes you much more aware having one less thing to worry about.
Sure, gear changing is instinctive, but when all you have to do it turn the wheel, driving becomes so much easier and more pleasurable.

mike65

N for neutral! yay! :pac:

Steve

mike65 wrote: »

N for neutral! yay! :pac:

Ah... thanks.

You still can't tow them in 'N' (according to any manual I've read)

L-M

Steve wrote: »

Ah... thanks.

You still can't tow them in 'N' (according to any manual I've read)

Aye, AFAIK the driving wheels have to be off the ground.

Now if we are talking a dsg with flappy paddle, then, and only then, will I buy an auto:D

galwaytt

Steve wrote: »

Ah... thanks.

You still can't tow them in 'N' (according to any manual I've read)

True - but why buy a car if you're just going to tow it ? Why not a buy a car you can drive ?

I used to drive a manual, but I'm alright now

See my sig: bought a manual 968. Lovely, fabulous. Then I discovered traffic, speed limits. So I bought a 968 Tiptronic. Lovely, fabulous, speed limits, even in traffic

Signs by, the manual has been in storage and hasn't moved since.....Nov ? The Tip is infinately nicer.........goes slow just as well as it goes fast.

About 2mpg less. And, no clutch to replace. Ever.

What's not to like ?