Who drives an automatic car?

moonage

Don't you find it a more relaxing and civilized driving experience?

In this day and age having to change gears manually seems so unnecessary when a machine can do it as effectively.

Black Swan

It's no fun without a stick!

bdr529

I wasn't too keen on the auto gearbox at first, but when I went to change my car I would not consider going manual again

RMD

I can't match my boyracer attitude to an automatic, still can't get my "vroom vroom" noises in check with the unpredictable gear changes :pac:

NothingMan

Friend had a BMW 5.20 Automatic, but when you floored it it went to turbo mode and took off, and if you really wanted control you can push the stick to the left and it becomes a tiptronic manual so you tip forward for up a gear and back for down.

That would be nice but I don't think I'd like a standard automatic. Seems so disconnected from the car.

syklops

Ah, the old Automatic or Manual argument.

Arguments put forward by the pro-automatic side:
Driving is easier
Driving in the city is less tiring
Driving is easier

Arguments put forward by the pro-manual side:
Driving is more fun
Its more economical
I have better control over the car(read: I feel more in control)
Driving is more fun.

Considering the carnage that is happening on our roads, anything that makes driving less fun and appealing to young people, and makes it easier to drive is a good thing in my opinion.

opinion guy

who drives automatic ?

Girls.

galwayrush

Got an E320 turbo Merc. anything less than automatic would be wrong.
Edit, it's triptronic as well.

Manic Moran

I have better control over the car(read: I feel more in control)

You actually are in more control. Especially when you have non-'tiptronic' gearboxes where your gear is purely at the whim of the control system, even more so when in 'cruise' at just the right speed that the gearbox keeps changing every ten seconds. The ability to use 'unusual' gears for unusual circumstances such as snow/ice is also handy. Yes, some autos come with a 'snow' mode, but it's still not as versatile. With the manual you can control the revs and wheel torque separately. You generally can't do that with an auto.

Don't you find it a more relaxing and civilized driving experience?

No. It's a cop-out which detracts from the driving experience. In a standard car you are mechanically linked to the car. Your foot controls the bite of the clutch. Your hand is meshing the gears. With an automatic, there is a middle-man which separates you from the mechanicals.

I live in the US where automatics are normal. Americans generally can't drive.

It comes down to what you make of your car. If you just view it as a tool to get from A to B, then please enjoy your extremely sensible Toyota Camry with an automatic. If you actually -enjoy- driving, unless you've got a high-end flappy-paddle thing and drive so hard that fraction-of-a-second gear changes are relevant, go with the fun option. My money's where my mouth is, both my S4 and Camaro are manuals by my choice.

NTM

whippet

i've a GTI with the DSG gear box .. best of both worlds,

relaxed driving in the city
more economical
faster better response from gearbox
seamless gearbox
better control (especially through flappy paddles)

Xavi6

Automatics are horrible to drive IMO and nowhere near as fun.

My V6 manual will do very nicely thanks very much

DirkVoodoo

Only decent automatic I've driven is a GTI with DSG, superb shifting. Any others get it totally wrong, relaxing sure but when you want to introduce a bit more precision they are woeful.

If I was driving for commuting in a city it would be automatic all the way.

Dravokivich

Motors section ---> http://boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=47

and i er... don't drive at all.

biko

After Hours -> Transmission discussion forum

OT - I drive both and automatics are not as fun but great for comfort.

who the fug

opinion guy wrote: »

who drives automatic ?

Girls.

and my butler, he was whinging about RSI

opinion guy

I actually find automatics dangerous sometimes. Like for exampl if you are on a motorway - say in America and I can remember cars acting like this, you move out to pass someone, put the foot down, then pull back in when your manouver is completely and take the foot off - I've often found the auto upshifts too soon before the engine has fully de-revved it self and is still putting out some torque, and you end up getting any extra burst of speed after you took your foot off that you didn't want potentially propelling into the back of someone.

Maybe I drove **** cars, maybe its US thing, but I found several different US cars do this

Absurdum

I drive both regularly, autos ftw.

p.s. I have a penis too.

Anan1

opinion guy wrote: »

I actually find automatics dangerous sometimes. Like for exampl if you are on a motorway - say in America and I can remember cars acting like this, you move out to pass someone, put the foot down, then pull back in when your manouver is completely and take the foot off - I've often found the auto upshifts too soon before the engine has fully de-revved it self and is still putting out some torque, and you end up getting any extra burst of speed after you took your foot off that you didn't want potentially propelling into the back of someone.

Maybe I drove **** cars, maybe its US thing, but I found several different US cars do this

My guess is that you're just not used to driving automatic. You do change gear in an automatic too, but you use the accelerator to do it. This results in much larger movements of the accelerator than with a manual. No car, auto or manual, will accelerate on no throttle unless there's something wrong with it.

mike65

Manuals are for the little people (I only decided this after I made the switch!). They are far less wearing in suburban traffic even if they use up more fuel in that exactly that environment. Nipping through roundabouts is particularly good in autos.

McCrack

328i Auto, I find auto a bit dull to be honest but I wouldnt trade it simply because it makes driving a piece of piss.

Mr Benevolent

Another point in favour of autos is that they accelerate better than a manual version of the same car (especially if it's a DSG).

Mr Benevolent

opinion guy wrote: »

I actually find automatics dangerous sometimes. Like for exampl if you are on a motorway - say in America and I can remember cars acting like this, you move out to pass someone, put the foot down, then pull back in when your manouver is completely and take the foot off - I've often found the auto upshifts too soon before the engine has fully de-revved it self and is still putting out some torque, and you end up getting any extra burst of speed after you took your foot off that you didn't want potentially propelling into the back of someone.

Maybe I drove **** cars, maybe its US thing, but I found several different US cars do this

That's called 'kickdown' and it's a feature, not a fault. Put your foot to the floor and it'll downshift, that's what it's supposed to do.

Eric Cartman

ive always been in the auto camp as i drive around dublin city traffic most of the time, I knew they werent as fun until I got my new isuzu , it has a "power drive" button next to the gear stick , its actually the best thing ever, it holds the gear change to 300 odd rpm before red line, so you know when its changing , but the acceleration inbetween (especially for a 3 tonne pickup) makes it feel fun again

vectra

I do for the moment
Octavia L&K 140BHP with DSG
Starting to like the dsg on a run..Not a lover of it round town. Deffo heavy on the diesel around town, Shove the lever left and change gears manually makes it a bit more economical.

Liking it though.

Glowing

opinion guy wrote: »

who drives automatic ?

Girls.

I take exception to that!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wouldn't dream of driving an automatic :mad::mad::mad::mad:

The Bishop Basher

I originally changed from manual to auto out of neccessity due to a shoulder injury which made changing gear extremley painful. like many of you I thought "real" drivers would only drive stick.

There's a lot of ingnorance about automatics out there. I can shift gear, both up and down, just as effectively with the accelerator as on any manual and it's just as much fun. You just need to know what you're doing. I have found no difference whatsoever in economy between the two.

But I suppose it's also just a matter of personal taste. I enjoy comfort and putting a stick in an E240 would, for me anyway, completley detract from the overall driving experience.

Stevie Dakota

A well sorted auto in the right car (e.g. BMW) is great if you are more into wafting than racing. Makes for a very relaxed driving experience. Manuals are great in smaller cars which are more fun in the first place, either way there are convincing arguments for both.

I have a auto at the moment (2.5 V6 ZT), also had an auto once before (Prelude 2.2). I've had loads of manuals (520, Celica, W124, Mondeo diesel, loads of Rovers). Aside from the extra fuel used I don't see much of a disadvantage to auto. Most of us are not great at driving quickly anyway. On a challenging twisty road with some straight bits any normal Joe will lose loads of time in manual as they are simply not good enough to get the best of the the car. Auto needs a decent engine though, 1.4 Astra auto and the like are just awful.

Anan1

RoverJames wrote: »

Auto needs a decent engine though, 1.4 Astra auto and the like are just awful.

That's about the size of it, i'd wager that 90% of the auto-haters are driving sub-2 litre cars.

Eric Cartman

also Auto :

Advantage : doesnt eat clutches and flywheels on large 4x4s and pickups used for towing

The Bishop Basher

Anan1 wrote: »

That's about the size of it, i'd wager that 90% of the auto-haters are driving sub-2 litre cars.

In a nutshell

robd

Had an auto while on a year in Oz. 4.2l station wagon. Had driven many autos for short periods of time when working abroad too. Some great, some complete rubbish.

Stuck with auto when I bought new car on arrival home. 2.0l VTEC with Tiptronic also. Actually bought it to stop me being such a boy racer. Didn't really work as the car takes off on flooring accelerator anyway. Also can flip it to tiptronic for a bit of fun. When will I grow up !!! The modern 5/6 speed auto/tiptronic are amazing. Nothing like the cheap autos put into previous generation cars and US cars.

Also wife point blankly refuses to drive a manual.

I'd imagine their proliferation will increase. You need one for any hybrid drive cars anyway. More and more of the efficiency is being gained by electronics and taking decisions such as shifting away from the driver. The VW/Audi DSG gearbox looks pretty spectacular. 2 manual gear boxes sandwiched together with upshift speeds comparative to a Lamborgini.

I've heard all the stick shift arguments. They really don't stack up these days in the face of modern electronics.

Anan1

I wonder did people complain when ignition advance was automated?

Voodoomelon

Manic Moran wrote: »

You actually are in more control. Especially when you have non-'tiptronic' gearboxes where your gear is purely at the whim of the control system, even more so when in 'cruise' at just the right speed that the gearbox keeps changing every ten seconds. The ability to use 'unusual' gears for unusual circumstances such as snow/ice is also handy. Yes, some autos come with a 'snow' mode, but it's still not as versatile. With the manual you can control the revs and wheel torque separately. You generally can't do that with an auto.



No. It's a cop-out which detracts from the driving experience. In a standard car you are mechanically linked to the car. Your foot controls the bite of the clutch. Your hand is meshing the gears. With an automatic, there is a middle-man which separates you from the mechanicals.

I live in the US where automatics are normal. Americans generally can't drive.

It comes down to what you make of your car. If you just view it as a tool to get from A to B, then please enjoy your extremely sensible Toyota Camry with an automatic. If you actually -enjoy- driving, unless you've got a high-end flappy-paddle thing and drive so hard that fraction-of-a-second gear changes are relevant, go with the fun option. My money's where my mouth is, both my S4 and Camaro are manuals by my choice.

NTM

LOL!

StompToWork

My current car is the first auto gearbox I purchased, and I have to say, for city driving, it's brilliant. I do miss the manual, but my left foot certainly appreciates the rest.

That siad, my auto does have the "Manual" function (Renault Laguna). It's a bit gimmick-y, but it is handy for changing up if I am pulling off quickly, and I don't want the revs rising too high.

I'm due to change in the next couple of months, and I honestly don't know if I will stick with Auto or go back to Manual.

Tea 1000

Depends on the auto box in question and it depends on the type of car, and it also depends on the area it's mostly used.
Auto for driving in towns and cities are just a no brainer. A manual is just an inconvenience in traffic. Also if you're runs involve motorway driving all the time then there's no advantage to a manual.
Large, comfortable exec saloons are better with auto.
A well sorted, responsive light car with a decent engine on a great twisty road can't be beaten with a manual box though!

opinion guy

Anan1 wrote: »

My guess is that you're just not used to driving automatic. You do change gear in an automatic too, but you use the accelerator to do it. This results in much larger movements of the accelerator than with a manual. No car, auto or manual, will accelerate on no throttle unless there's something wrong with it.

I have not noticed this behaviour on Euro automatics

Confab wrote: »

That's called 'kickdown' and it's a feature, not a fault. Put your foot to the floor and it'll downshift, that's what it's supposed to do.

You can call it a feature if you like, I call it dangerous. The car should stop accelerating when I take my foot off the throttle. End of. This "feature" is why you have less control in an automatic.

Glowing wrote: »

I take exception to that!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wouldn't dream of driving an automatic :mad::mad::mad::mad:

I meant that figuratively not literally! You are a grown woman yes, not a girl ? So do you drive like a girl or a woman then ?

WacoKid

There are differerent combinations of Auto to consider (Engine Size, transmittion build quality):

a 1.3 micra automatic NO
a V6 Merc YES

challengemaster

Why would anyone ruin a v6 like that?

I'd never drive one, I'd be bored out of my mind.

WacoKid

challengemaster wrote: »

Why would anyone ruin a v6 like that?

I'd never drive one, I'd be bored out of my mind.

I run mine like that for refinement and comfort. Different folk have different driving requirements. I did all the sports cars previously (kinda!) but now at the ripe old age of 33 I love the simplicity of a V6 auto (steptronic)!

dahamsta

syklops wrote: »

Considering the carnage that is happening on our roads

There's no "carnage" on our roads, if anything our safety stats are better than most. Put the redtop down and educate yourself.

Glowing

opinion guy wrote: »

I meant that figuratively not literally! You are a grown woman yes, not a girl ? So do you drive like a girl or a woman then ?

I actually don't know the correct answer to that one

Edit: Why does there have to be a distinction anyway, between driver and 'woman driver'? Grrr.

opinion guy

Glowing wrote: »

I actually don't know the correct answer to that one

Edit: Why does there have to be a distinction anyway, between driver and 'woman driver'? Grrr.

Who said there was ? You're just determined to have an issue here aren't you ?

opinion guy

opinion guy wrote: »

who drives automatic ?

Girls.

opinion guy wrote: »

Who said there was ? You're just determined to have an issue here aren't you ?

Who indeed

opinion guy

RoverJames wrote: »

Who indeed

Way to selectively quote and ignore the context and the dialogue in between.

You should work for the daily mail

SilverBell

opinion guy wrote: »

I actually find automatics dangerous sometimes. Like for exampl if you are on a motorway - say in America and I can remember cars acting like this, you move out to pass someone, put the foot down, then pull back in when your manouver is completely and take the foot off - I've often found the auto upshifts too soon before the engine has fully de-revved it self and is still putting out some torque, and you end up getting any extra burst of speed after you took your foot off that you didn't want potentially propelling into the back of someone.

Maybe I drove **** cars, maybe its US thing, but I found several different US cars do this

Sounds like the box was out of adjustment or worn. Even though it jerks on the upshift though, I find it hard to believe that it could propel you into the back of someone.

As for personal preferences, I like both auto and manual gearboxes, It depends on the vehicle. Big Mercs suit an auto box.
I prefer little cars with a manual box. Its faster and nippier.
My favourite job a few years back was to drive a truck with a range-change manual. 6WD Magirus-Deutz, big slow, powerful, with a gear change that took forever to synchro in!
brilliant!

opinion guy

opinion guy wrote: »

Way to selectively quote and ignore the context and the dialogue in between.

You should work for the daily mail

The first post was quoted entirely, nothing selective about it. So too the 2nd one. There was no dialogue in between in relation to either.

Are the daily mail recruiting for factual reporters at the moment that don't talk out their arse ? I may throw my CV in, I'm not overly fond of my current role

keithclancy

A Bad Automatic is horrible, (Thinking the 4 speed Autobox Ford Focus)

A good Automatic is a dream to drive (E Class Merc/VAG DSG)

Depends how much mileage you do, under 20k a year a Manual is fine, over that and an Auto makes a big difference.

I'd have an Auto in a heartbeat if there wasnt the additional cost.

Alanstrainor

keithclancy wrote: »

A Bad Automatic is horrible, (Thinking the 4 speed Autobox Ford Focus)

I drive a 4 speed auto Polo. It's hell:(

Tom Slick

keithclancy wrote: »

A Bad Automatic is horrible, (Thinking the 4 speed Autobox Ford Focus)

You think this too? Thought my parents' one was just crap.

keithclancy

Tom Slick wrote: »

You think this too? Thought my parents' one was just crap.

A drunk person would do a better gear change than that thing