Why are executuive cars frequently automatic?

[barky]

The manual gearbox as we have known it is fading away, automatics outsell manuals globally I believe --- time isn't that far away when manuals will be cost options on many cars in Europe ... by then we have prospect of more of those with just forward & reverse & electric motors too ..... enjoy the manuals while you can folks!
Am glad to have had a almost 2 decades of manuals myself ... switched to auto a few years back by necessity *groans* ... would never wish to go back now

[schmalex]

I've predominantly run auto's for the 10 years & unless I bought a Boxster for fun, really wouldn't go back back to manual now.

My current car is a 5.0 v8 with a great auto box that, when in slush mode just wafts along on a never ending wave of torque. When in sports mode, it picks its skirt up bombs along pretty well.

[schmalex]

Grr. Bloody iPhones

[m444ttb]

I never wanted an automatic, but when I started looking for a 6cyl BMW e36 touring back in the summer I came across a 323i Sport touring that ticked all the boxes BUT was an automatic. Took the plunge anyway and haven't looked back. I have a 328i Sport track car and my wife's Focus ST for manual kicks and I'm not sure I'd want to be entirely without a manual option, but I have no intention of buying another for a daily driver again!

Add a nice armrest and padded door card and it's properly comfortable. I'm now looking at e39 540iA tourings to take it on a stage!

One last thing to add is that I discovered a love for high profile tyres along with my love of the autobox. All at the grand old age of 29!

[E38Ross]

m444ttb said:

I never wanted an automatic, but when I started looking for a 6cyl BMW e36 touring back in the summer I came across a 323i Sport touring that ticked all the boxes BUT was an automatic. Took the plunge anyway and haven't looked back. I have a 328i Sport track car and my wife's Focus ST for manual kicks and I'm not sure I'd want to be entirely without a manual option, but I have no intention of buying another for a daily driver again!

Add a nice armrest and padded door card and it's properly comfortable. I'm now looking at e39 540iA tourings to take it on a stage!

One last thing to add is that I discovered a love for high profile tyres along with my love of the autobox. All at the grand old age of 29!

i have my 728i at 22....do i win a prize?

i'm not sure whether to feel like an old man or not; it seems i should be driving around in barried 1.2 litre hatch backs at the moment, but instead i have a really comfortable, refined and silky smooth 7 series with a 2.8; i think it's funny but my mates at uni think i'm silly (or a member of the mafia)

[Expatloon]

Nobody who professes to enjoy can possibly choose an automatic - period.

I'll get me coat

[E38Ross]

Expatloon said:

Nobody who professes to enjoy can possibly choose an automatic - period.

I'll get me coat

i hope you're joking....

[Baryonyx]

Expatloon said:

Nobody who professes to enjoy can possibly choose an automatic - period.

I'll get me coat

Must be a joke. I used to think manual was the only way to really enjoy driving, but my mind was changed by a friend and his Mercedes SL500. Five and a half litres of V8 in a two seater, luxuriously equipped, put forward a good argument for the case of automatics. Refined and easy going when you want, capable of a good turn of pace when you fancy it. Mind you, even he admits manuals are still the best as far as pure enjoyment and control goes. I keep dreaming of buying an auto barge, but he always tells me to wait until I'm older and that two seater sports cars are the best thing for me at the moment.

[Rawwr]

I love autos for commuting sheds but then I am quite stunningly lazy. Nothing beats an auto in a traffic jam... with perhaps the exception of a motorbike.

[falkster]

The first two jags my dad had took ages for the dealers to find because he wouldn't have an auto box!!!
It was ok for me as I was 18 and an auto wasn't entertained!! Quite quick as I remember, still like the XJ40!!

[v8will]

Rawwr said:

I love autos for commuting sheds but then I am quite stunningly lazy. Nothing beats an auto in a traffic jam... with perhaps the exception of a motorbike.

This sums up having an auto of any description.

Executive cars are all about the comfort, again a good auto will be much smoother than the vast majority of drivers can manage with a conventional manual box.

Anyway, get used to it. Auto boxes will only become more and more common.

[mej023]

andy-integrale said:

Wouldn't it have been easier to measure your garage and look on line for the dimensions of the car you are interested in?

It would if the brochure I consulted beforehand had give a dimension of "width over mirrors when folded". But it didn't. It gave width of car (fits OK) and width over mirrors (doesn't fit OK). I knew it'd be tight, but I'd never know for sure without driving it to the doorway.

[chrisispringles]

m444ttb said:

I never wanted an automatic, but when I started looking for a 6cyl BMW e36 touring back in the summer I came across a 323i Sport touring that ticked all the boxes BUT was an automatic. Took the plunge anyway and haven't looked back. I have a 328i Sport track car and my wife's Focus ST for manual kicks and I'm not sure I'd want to be entirely without a manual option, but I have no intention of buying another for a daily driver again!

Add a nice armrest and padded door card and it's properly comfortable. I'm now looking at e39 540iA tourings to take it on a stage!

One last thing to add is that I discovered a love for high profile tyres along with my love of the autobox. All at the grand old age of 29!

29? Pah, that's nothing. At the ripe old age of 18 I fell for the charms of balloon tyres and a sludgomatic in my dad's old 528i. I love the relaxation of barging along without even having to change gear, I'm sold on them. Manuals are still more fun though.