Why are executuive cars frequently automatic?
Discussion
I have a 335i touring with an auto box. It's absolutely brilliant for everyday driving. I used to hate 'slush' boxes but the ZF box is great. It changes gear quickly pretty much exactly when you want to. The main difference with the old boxes is the absence of the revs rising every time you press the accelerator. The torque converter seems pretty much locked above 1,500 rpm. If I feel like being 'sporty' it has paddle shifters and there is not a great deal of difference to tell between it and a DCT box. It even blips the throttle on paddle-invoked down changes.
If I fancy a proper manual box I jump in the S2000!
If I fancy a proper manual box I jump in the S2000!
mej023 said:
I'm test driving a C-Class on Saturday (which I almost certainly cannot afford).
I've discovered many are automatic, which I thought was only more likely on E class and above,
but it got me thinking abouth the whole executive-automatic thing anyway...
Why are executive cars frequently automatic?
Does having a lot of money make you not want to change gear? Do executives not "enjoy" driving to
change gear when they want to instead of the car? Is not having the hard tiring physical effort of
moving a small lever a few cm a status symbol? I can't think of a good reason.
Michael.
Dont be so new labour. Its not about money. Its about the type of car and what it is used for.I've discovered many are automatic, which I thought was only more likely on E class and above,
but it got me thinking abouth the whole executive-automatic thing anyway...
Why are executive cars frequently automatic?
Does having a lot of money make you not want to change gear? Do executives not "enjoy" driving to
change gear when they want to instead of the car? Is not having the hard tiring physical effort of
moving a small lever a few cm a status symbol? I can't think of a good reason.
Michael.
Edited by mej023 on Thursday 8th December 16:07
Stress free, comfortable driving.
A big auto barge is a lot less stressful to drive than a manual.
I have an E39 manual, my dad has an E39 auto. I would take the auto every day. There were days of driving through traffic in Bristol, lots of hills, plenty of changing gear, plenty of hillstarts and it was frankly hard work as much as I love my car. similar driving in my dads? I press go or stop. Sorted. On a long cruise as well I prefer the auto.
The manual is better for hooliganism but Its nice in my dads car to use the forward back changing up or down gear mode with just a light touch or leaving it in "S" and concentrate on the steering.
Really suits the car better.
automatics in small engined cars are horrible though. Needs to be over 150bhp and torquey for it to work.
Mr Dave said:
automatics in small engined cars are horrible though. Needs to be over 150bhp and torquey for it to work.
Absolutely this - there is a time and a place for a manual gearbox, and likewise for an auto. A gutless 1.6 petrol in a heavy Focus Mk2 is NOT the place for a 4 speed slushbox. I was so very happy when I handed that courtesy car back.I'm actually considering an XJ or XJR auto barge to tool around in for a year or two. I used to swear by manual gearboxes, but I was super impressed by the Powershift unit in a mk4 Mondeo (2.0TDCi Titanium X admittedly).
)
RenesisEvo said:
Mr Dave said:
automatics in small engined cars are horrible though. Needs to be over 150bhp and torquey for it to work.
Absolutely this - there is a time and a place for a manual gearbox, and likewise for an auto. A gutless 1.6 petrol in a heavy Focus Mk2 is NOT the place for a 4 speed slushbox. I was so very happy when I handed that courtesy car back.
stowey1984 said:
NavSat said:
More to the point, why are test driving a car you can't afford? Just curious!
^^^ This. Why bother wasting your own time and the sales persons time? then I will buy it. I'm not trying to waste anyone's time, but the only way I'll know about this car is to try it.
As per one of the earlier posts, I can afford it if I really really want to. Sell soul to devil, etc.
cwis said:
For all of you that have not yet experienced a proper auto:
Go out and buy a 80's-90's Jag with 12 months test on it. The 4 litre 6 is best. Auto obviously.
Insurance though a specialist will be a few hundred quid.
And... Waft for a year. It should cost you a grand all in, maximum. The difficulty will be either scrapping or trying to save the Jag after the year is up - large engined auto-wafters are addictive.
Mine was a 500 quid Daimler. Still miss it.
Edited to read: For all of you who have not experienced a proper manual:Go out and buy a 80's-90's Jag with 12 months test on it. The 4 litre 6 is best. Auto obviously.
Insurance though a specialist will be a few hundred quid.
And... Waft for a year. It should cost you a grand all in, maximum. The difficulty will be either scrapping or trying to save the Jag after the year is up - large engined auto-wafters are addictive.
Mine was a 500 quid Daimler. Still miss it.
Go out and buy a 80s-90s Jag with 12 months test on it. The 4 litre 6 is the best. Manual obviously.
Insurance through a specialist will be a few hundred quid.
And thrash it for a few years. It should cost a grand all in, maximum. The
difficulty will be convincing others. Large engined manual barges are a real hoot.
Mine is a SOTW X300 and would never part with it.
mej023 said:
So I drove the car. Very nice. Nice auto box. Car too damn wide for my garage. If only the mirrors folded more than 45 degrees. Leaving on road not an option unfortunatly. End of test drive.
The garage test was one of my primary reasons for test driving the car.
Wouldn't it have been easier to measure your garage and look on line for the dimensions of the car you are interested in?The garage test was one of my primary reasons for test driving the car.
If that is always going to be a show stopper then I would do that before arranging test drives. Save everyone's time plus the risk of scraping a loan car whilst you see if it fits.
i think a big saloon with a nice smooth engine works very well with an auto and is really relaxing to drive, that's the point. imagine a rolls royce phantom with a manual gearbox for instance, absurd.
manual boxes have their places, i love a good manual when on a nice fun drive around some mountain roads. around town, in traffic or on the motorway (especially when there is a jam) on hot sunny days.....i'll take the auto thanks.
each have their places, and not one is better than the other, but one is more preferable in given situations.
manual boxes have their places, i love a good manual when on a nice fun drive around some mountain roads. around town, in traffic or on the motorway (especially when there is a jam) on hot sunny days.....i'll take the auto thanks.
each have their places, and not one is better than the other, but one is more preferable in given situations.
E38Ross said:
manual boxes have their places, i love a good manual when on a nice fun drive around some mountain roads. around town, in traffic or on the motorway (especially when there is a jam) on hot sunny days.....i'll take the auto thanks.
I can see the attraction in a motorway traffic jam, but surely for normal motorway use there's no advantage to an auto? You just get on the motorway, stick it in top gear and don't touch the clutch or lever until you're off again.Perd Hapley said:
E38Ross said:
manual boxes have their places, i love a good manual when on a nice fun drive around some mountain roads. around town, in traffic or on the motorway (especially when there is a jam) on hot sunny days.....i'll take the auto thanks.
I can see the attraction in a motorway traffic jam, but surely for normal motorway use there's no advantage to an auto? You just get on the motorway, stick it in top gear and don't touch the clutch or lever until you're off again.to be honest, i love both a manual and an auto; although (IMO) an auto only works with an engine which has half decent power. my mate had a 2.0 merc 190 with a 4 speed auto and i hated it. the one in the E38 is much, much better.
for 99% of the time i love having an auto in a big barge, it's only on that rare occasion i'd rather a manual, but then it'd have to be a different car.
i was actually worried whether i'd hate the auto in my 7 series, i've actually grown to love it.
when it comes to smaller saloons i'd probably prefer a manual (e.g. 3 series...especially an M3) in a 5 series i'm not sure what i'd rather, given the new 8 speed box though i'd probably go for that, in something like a 7 series, S class etc it's auto all the way.....waftalicious.
E38Ross said:
yes, if the motorway is clear there is no difference. ever been on a motorway where you keep going 70 (or north of) and then back to 50 or so, then speed up again, slow down.....those busy times after work etc; an auto is nicer then too.
I have a liking for the sort of revvy cars that people criticise for not having much low down (Civic Type-R, RX-8, 111R), but they're all fine left in top gear for that kind of thing. It's once it all grinds to a halt and becomes stop-start that the left leg starts to cry out for a slushbox!otolith said:
E38Ross said:
yes, if the motorway is clear there is no difference. ever been on a motorway where you keep going 70 (or north of) and then back to 50 or so, then speed up again, slow down.....those busy times after work etc; an auto is nicer then too.
I have a liking for the sort of revvy cars that people criticise for not having much low down (Civic Type-R, RX-8, 111R), but they're all fine left in top gear for that kind of thing. It's once it all grinds to a halt and becomes stop-start that the left leg starts to cry out for a slushbox!
fair enough.to be fair, as long as whatever you drive you enjoy it on the whole then that's what counts. what i find irritating is you get people saying "autoboxes are rubbish" or "manuals are pointless in this day and age". people get enjoyment from different things, i find each extremely appealing depending on the situation (and car) at hand.
most clutches on cars these days are pretty light so as not to be tooooooo much effort when needed, but it can still be annoying around town or in traffic. likewise, i find a manual generally more enjoyable on a welsh mountain road!
I see what you did there!
Wouldn't mind a go in a manual Jag actually - the engine and chassis certainly deserve one - I couldn't believe how quick and fuss free cornering was....
Wouldn't mind a go in a manual Jag actually - the engine and chassis certainly deserve one - I couldn't believe how quick and fuss free cornering was....
no17 said:
Edited to read: For all of you who have not experienced a proper manual:
Go out and buy a 80s-90s Jag with 12 months test on it. The 4 litre 6 is the best. Manual obviously.
Insurance through a specialist will be a few hundred quid.
And thrash it for a few years. It should cost a grand all in, maximum. The
difficulty will be convincing others. Large engined manual barges are a real hoot.
Mine is a SOTW X300 and would never part with it.
Go out and buy a 80s-90s Jag with 12 months test on it. The 4 litre 6 is the best. Manual obviously.
Insurance through a specialist will be a few hundred quid.
And thrash it for a few years. It should cost a grand all in, maximum. The
difficulty will be convincing others. Large engined manual barges are a real hoot.
Mine is a SOTW X300 and would never part with it.
Dr Jekyll said:
I've driven a manual C class and I didn't think the gear box was that bad. The problem was the combination of manual box and Mercedes demented foot operated parking brake.
Yep. Some of the Vitos at work are manual with a foot parking brake. Remarkably tricky doing hill starts!Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff