Can auto ever be a purists choice?
Discussion
Saw this advert for a tiptronic 997 and the wording got me thinking; can any for of auto transmission EVER be a purists choice, or can it only ever be manual (where the manual option exists in a model of course!) agorgeous car don't get me wrong, just interested in the wording.
advert here
advert here
On my other other car that is currently on a ship in the middle of the Atlantic, the 8 speed paddle operated auto box is hands down the better choice over the notchy, long throw 6 speed manual. When driving it I can not find any places where a full manual would be an advantage (348 bhp Hyundai Genesis Coupe)
To clarify, I am not an automatic transmission die-hard, my daily driver is a 5 speed manual.
To clarify, I am not an automatic transmission die-hard, my daily driver is a 5 speed manual.
Nothing spoils a Porsche like a Tiptronic transmission. They're fine in cruisers and barges but not what you want in a sports car. I'm not totally opposed to fancy autos in sports cars, as long as you get the control you need, when you it(Porsche PDK, for instance). However, Tiptronics are just dire in sports cars.
depends on the car, and what you mean by an auto
that car i don't think it has a conventional auto, i believe it has a clutchless 5 speed manual, without seamless shift, essentially it was one of the generation of s
t flappy paddle gearboxes, the later models had the 7 speed seamless shift, which beats a manual's performance, a 911 S isn't really a purist's car at all anyway, it's a middle of the range Porsche i don't think you could say it is something a purest would usually buy, but someone who buys a more modern, more high performance 911, and picks a manual, now they are the ones who are not the purist, because they've bought a car that is all about performance, then down graded it to satisfy their own desires for a stick to wiggle.
luxury barges are another obvious example, the purest's choice would always be an auto, even if a manual is an option, and more than they would be insisting, not just that it's an auto, but it's a traditional auto with a torque converter, because until they make a clutched gearbox which is as smoother or smoother than a torque converter, it will always be what you want in a wafter
that car i don't think it has a conventional auto, i believe it has a clutchless 5 speed manual, without seamless shift, essentially it was one of the generation of s
t flappy paddle gearboxes, the later models had the 7 speed seamless shift, which beats a manual's performance, a 911 S isn't really a purist's car at all anyway, it's a middle of the range Porsche i don't think you could say it is something a purest would usually buy, but someone who buys a more modern, more high performance 911, and picks a manual, now they are the ones who are not the purist, because they've bought a car that is all about performance, then down graded it to satisfy their own desires for a stick to wiggle.luxury barges are another obvious example, the purest's choice would always be an auto, even if a manual is an option, and more than they would be insisting, not just that it's an auto, but it's a traditional auto with a torque converter, because until they make a clutched gearbox which is as smoother or smoother than a torque converter, it will always be what you want in a wafter
ging84 said:
depends on the car, and what you mean by an auto
that car i don't think it has a conventional auto, i believe it has a clutchless 5 speed manual, without seamless shift, essentially it was one of the generation of st flappy paddle gearboxes, the later models had the 7 speed seamless shift, which beats a manual's performance, a 911 S isn't really a purist's car at all anyway, it's a middle of the range Porsche i don't think you could say it is something a purest would usually buy, but someone who buys a more modern, more high performance 911, and picks a manual, now they are the ones who are not the purist, because they've bought a car that is all about performance, then down graded it to satisfy their own desires for a stick to wiggle.
luxury barges are another obvious example, the purest's choice would always be an auto, even if a manual is an option, and more than they would be insisting, not just that it's an auto, but it's a traditional auto with a torque converter, because until they make a clutched gearbox which is as smoother or smoother than a torque converter, it will always be what you want in a wafter
That car has a conventional torque converter gearbox.that car i don't think it has a conventional auto, i believe it has a clutchless 5 speed manual, without seamless shift, essentially it was one of the generation of s
t flappy paddle gearboxes, the later models had the 7 speed seamless shift, which beats a manual's performance, a 911 S isn't really a purist's car at all anyway, it's a middle of the range Porsche i don't think you could say it is something a purest would usually buy, but someone who buys a more modern, more high performance 911, and picks a manual, now they are the ones who are not the purist, because they've bought a car that is all about performance, then down graded it to satisfy their own desires for a stick to wiggle.luxury barges are another obvious example, the purest's choice would always be an auto, even if a manual is an option, and more than they would be insisting, not just that it's an auto, but it's a traditional auto with a torque converter, because until they make a clutched gearbox which is as smoother or smoother than a torque converter, it will always be what you want in a wafter
You have a lot of strong opinions on gearboxes and what is best in performance sports cars, which I find surprising given that you have a mondeo which you bought for £1000 and then found it had a transmission fault. Perhaps you previously owned a number of sports cars with a range of gearboxes so you are able to comment from a position of knowledge.
Edited by jkh112 on Sunday 22 February 13:02
Edited by jkh112 on Sunday 22 February 13:05
Even in the 997 it's still a Mercedes one, I think?Monty Python said:
TBH I'm surprised the gearbox has such a polarizing view - after all it's only one part of the car. What about steering, suspension and brakes? You can't turn a rubbish car into a great one simply by putting a manual gearbox in it. A car is the sum of it's parts.
No, but you can turn a great car into a rubbish one just by putting an ancient torque converter automatic in it, at least IMO. If it had something like the latest ZF-8HP in it it might be a different matter but it doesn't. 
No choice in mine, I can use either normal auto, sports auto, tiptronic or paddle shift.
That's what you get in a Conti GT anyway. Personally I prefer the paddle shift and sports mode.
As for auto's in general, I have always been of the opinion that the bigger the engine, the more reason for having an auto. Mind you, I'm an ex drag racer so am probably biased.
That's what you get in a Conti GT anyway. Personally I prefer the paddle shift and sports mode.
As for auto's in general, I have always been of the opinion that the bigger the engine, the more reason for having an auto. Mind you, I'm an ex drag racer so am probably biased.
jkh112 said:
That car has a conventional torque converter gearbox.
You have a lot of strong opinions on gearboxes and what is best in performance sports cars, which I find surprising given that you have a mondeo which you bought for £1000 and then found it had a transmission fault. Perhaps you previously owned a number of sports cars with a range of gearboxes so you are able to comment from a position of knowledge.
What the hell is your problem. You edited your 1 line saying it was a conventional auto to a personal rant about me. So what I was wrong about the type of gearbox in it, which I was not certain about, which is why I said I believe it is, and that's not something I've had to go back and edit it. Don't be so pathetic, if you want to do a post having a personal pop at me, do it properly instead of trying to sneak it past me by tagging onto a post I've already read. I don't really know what your problem is, perhaps you are a carera S owner upset that I said it's not really a car a purist would buy.You have a lot of strong opinions on gearboxes and what is best in performance sports cars, which I find surprising given that you have a mondeo which you bought for £1000 and then found it had a transmission fault. Perhaps you previously owned a number of sports cars with a range of gearboxes so you are able to comment from a position of knowledge.
Edited by jkh112 on Sunday 22 February 13:02
Edited by jkh112 on Sunday 22 February 13:05
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff