semi auto cars?

sean1141

ok so i might be changing the car later in the year and was thinking of an auto but i would like some control over what gear the car is in.. what cars have this option?
would be looking at a mid to large saloon type car beteen 02-08
cheers

vectra

Anything from the VAG group with DSG.. Use in it full auto or use it manually

Guy:Incognito

Pnce you get to know your cars auto box you can control what gear its in. I had a 97 Safrane with an old 4 speed Auto and was able to control it just fine after the first few miles. It was my first time driving an auto too.

Squall19

vectra wrote: »

Anything from the VAG group with DSG.. Use in it full auto or use it manually

I don't think DSG has any real advantage over tiptronic, neither can read your mind or the road ahead.I was expecting dsg to be alot more advanced, but its all hype and marketing, i saw no improvement over tiptronic.

OP go for an older tiptropnic car, you would pick up a 5 series bmw diesel/petrol cheap enough.

Voodoomelon

Pretty much every large saloon has a semi-automatic box available to it. But don't think you'll ever use it because you won't.

Yes it's nice to have, but its utterly pointless when the box can change automatically. The very rare time I stick mine in manual, 3 minutes later I say to myself "why am I even bothering?" and stick it back in automatic.

ION08

Squall19 wrote: »

I don't think DSG has any real advantage over tiptronic

Except for the fact that it utilises two clutches and performs lightning fast upshifts, faster than you or I ever could? :pac:

Have never actually driven a DSG, always wanted to try one though.
I keep hearing good things about them but also wonder is it just overhyped marketing

Sorry to go Off topic.

OP, Most Auto cars 02-08 would feature a tiptronic option. Id say go for something german, and larger engined. Mercedes or BMW

Squall19

ION08 wrote: »

Except for the fact that it utilises two clutches and performs lightning fast upshifts, faster than you or I ever could? :pac:

Have never actually driven a DSG, always wanted to try one though.
I keep hearing good things about them but also wonder is it just overhyped marketing

Sorry to go Off topic.

OP, Most Auto cars 02-08 would feature a tiptronic option. Id say go for something german, and larger engined. Mercedes or BMW

lol you big it up and tell me all its tech, yet you have never even driven one.Drive one, it is marketing imo, though i am far from an expert.I think a good tiptronic is plenty fast anyway

bigbadbear

almost all autos have the option of dropping gears. Why do ya want an auto anyway? I dont want to have a big debate but I'm just curious whether you have driven autos. I really dont like them myself. I enjoyed driving my mothers kia rio so much more than my own auto

J77

The auto box in the mercedes M-class is woefully slow to change down in manual mode. And that's the latest model M-Class.

Anyway there's plenty more criteria than just having a manumatic box! You may aswell just stick to the usual suspects A6/5series. They won't leave you disappointed.

R.O.R

Like Voodomelon, any time I've put an Auto in to manual mode it's only stayed there for a couple of minutes before it just goes back in to D.

Older, tiptronic type boxes tend to take ages to actually change - DSG is instant. What will happen though is that the box changes it's self even in manual. You can't totally override the electronics of the car. This applies to all the Auto/DSG cars I've driven.

Satanta

Ive driven 2 tiptronic cars...

1996 Mitsubishi FTO 2.0 Petrol
Peugeot 407 2.0 HDI Diesel

I was expecting the Paugeot to be real easy on juice compaired to the FTO, but unfortunately I do alot of urban driving. The fact is that the 2.0 Turbo Diesel engine has quite alot of torque and when driving around town you are never up to speed enough to lock out the torque converter and so efficiency is lost. If this were a manual the MPG's would increase greatly. Out on the open road however is a different story. Would run forever on a tank.

I actually always use the car in manual mode (tiptronic) and I find the driving experience great. No continuous clutching that you would have in a manual but also able to select which gear you are in. I would highly recomment one, but be aware if you go for a high power high torque diesel you will sacrifice some of the fuel economy.

Satanta

R.O.R wrote: »

What will happen though is that the box changes it's self even in manual. You can't totally override the electronics of the car. This applies to all the Auto/DSG cars I've driven.

I have never experienced this. what I will say though is that the tip box will not let you change down into a gear if you will be over the rev band (i.e. going into second at 60 - 70 mph). In the FTO I couldnt change into forst below 30, which was a little annoying because the car could do over 50mph in first. I dont drive the Peugeot agressive enough for this to be a problem and so I havent noticed if this is the case there too. However... neither cars ever changed on their own when in manual mode.

BlackWizard

I think he just means what you said. It's will protect the car even when in manual mode. My own e39 changes gear if you rev it too much according to the user manual. But I haven't the stomach to test this.

I can't see any reason to put it into manual mode unless you for some technical reason need to keep the revs high. Sport mode a little bit more responsive but even still, I don't bother. Maybe I just need to find a decent road with no gatso vans

sean1141

thank for the comments guys. if i change i would be looking for a nice comfy cruiser but would need a manual/tiptronic for the back roads i drive on.. well i might not need it but i would feel more comfortable with it in manual mode.. think dsg will be out of my price range

J77

sean1141 wrote: »

thank for the comments guys. if i change i would be looking for a nice comfy cruiser but would need a manual/tiptronic for the back roads i drive on.. well i might not need it but i would feel more comfortable with it in manual mode.. think dsg will be out of my price range

What is your price range?

sean1141

not 100% sure yet. about 8 grand id say

Anan1

Satanta wrote: »

I have never experienced this. what I will say though is that the tip box will not let you change down into a gear if you will be over the rev band (i.e. going into second at 60 - 70 mph). In the FTO I couldnt change into forst below 30, which was a little annoying because the car could do over 50mph in first. I dont drive the Peugeot agressive enough for this to be a problem and so I havent noticed if this is the case there too. However... neither cars ever changed on their own when in manual mode.

How about if you put the car in top and slowed to a halt?

Satanta

Anan1 wrote: »

How about if you put the car in top and slowed to a halt?

Yesh... the car would then obviously change into first automatically. However if you did this in a manual the car would stall. My point still stands that the tip box doesnt change gear automatically during normal driving.

Anan1

Satanta wrote: »

Yesh... the car would then obviously change into first automatically. However if you did this in a manual the car would stall. My point still stands that the tip box doesnt change gear automatically during normal driving.

Surely you mean 'My point has changed to...';)

GavRedKing

I had a loan of my housemates Golf GTi DSG for about a week and I thought it was fantastic, if I was getting a VAG in the morning I would have the DSG anyway, although its all down to personal preference I suppose.

nightster1

I've been driving various tiptronic auto diesels for the last 9 years, I rarely change into sport mode or manual, even on the back roads. The auto mode seems to work fine. I do however change to tiptronic for engine breaking on long downhill runs to steady the speed. It saves the brakes.

Satanta

Anan1 wrote: »

Surely you mean 'My point has changed to...';)

Pedantic –adjective
overly concerned with minute details or formalisms

Pedant –noun
a person who overemphasizes rules or minor details.

a person who adheres rigidly to book knowledge without regard to common sense.

:rolleyes::D

sean1141

Satanta wrote: »

Pedantic –adjective
overly concerned with minute details or formalisms

Pedant –noun
a person who overemphasizes rules or minor details.

a person who adheres rigidly to book knowledge without regard to common sense.

:rolleyes::D

WTF has this to do with semi auto cars:P:P:rolleyes: