Manual or auto?
Discussion
So I bought a 2l DCT 18 months ago. Went with the auto mainly because I had/have a dodgy knee. Love the car don't get me wrong but there's a 'but' coming.
Took mine in for its second service (B and C) on Tuesday - took one of their manual Emiras for the day. Red one. Off topic - they gave me the yellow one last time I spent the whole day hiding. Red feels the right colour for me and this car (mind's red too). Anyhow. Manual gearbox. Oh boy. Oh boy did I like the manual gearbox. Like seriously like it. My knee? Didn't complain too much at all. And it's way more flexible than you think (the gearbox not my knee) - like you can stick it in third and drive it all day - well around these country roads you can. Or even 4th. And the noise. Oh my word. The noise. Again - I love my DCT - but you really have to stick it in 'track' mode to get anything like a proper sound out of it.
So.
Damn!
This could end up costing me ten grand or so. But I think I may have to swap. Like I might seriously have to swap and get me a manual V6. And it has to be red - just because. And there's hardly any of those around. And it has to have silver wheels. Just because.
I'd forgotten how much more of a feel you have with a manual gearbox - like you feel really connected to the car etc. Again - don't get me wrong the 2L i4 I have is super excellent. And - like I say - stick the thing in track and it completely comes alive. BUT! I spent one whole day with that V6 manual and I completely fell in love.
Darn and drat!
Anybody want to buy my car? Or do a swap? 2024 9000 reasonably careful miles?
Picture because you should always post with pictures.
Took mine in for its second service (B and C) on Tuesday - took one of their manual Emiras for the day. Red one. Off topic - they gave me the yellow one last time I spent the whole day hiding. Red feels the right colour for me and this car (mind's red too). Anyhow. Manual gearbox. Oh boy. Oh boy did I like the manual gearbox. Like seriously like it. My knee? Didn't complain too much at all. And it's way more flexible than you think (the gearbox not my knee) - like you can stick it in third and drive it all day - well around these country roads you can. Or even 4th. And the noise. Oh my word. The noise. Again - I love my DCT - but you really have to stick it in 'track' mode to get anything like a proper sound out of it.
So.
Damn!
This could end up costing me ten grand or so. But I think I may have to swap. Like I might seriously have to swap and get me a manual V6. And it has to be red - just because. And there's hardly any of those around. And it has to have silver wheels. Just because.
I'd forgotten how much more of a feel you have with a manual gearbox - like you feel really connected to the car etc. Again - don't get me wrong the 2L i4 I have is super excellent. And - like I say - stick the thing in track and it completely comes alive. BUT! I spent one whole day with that V6 manual and I completely fell in love.
Darn and drat!
Anybody want to buy my car? Or do a swap? 2024 9000 reasonably careful miles?
Picture because you should always post with pictures.
Edited by jamesgareth on Thursday 26th February 15:11
Not being funny and I may be biased (having chosen mine over a Turbo SE), but have you driven the V6 Auto.
Most of what you say is good is the same in the V6 Auto because of the gearing. A bit of a longer post as to this on page 153 of the Discounted Stock Emira thread if interested.
Most of what you say is good is the same in the V6 Auto because of the gearing. A bit of a longer post as to this on page 153 of the Discounted Stock Emira thread if interested.
Colin P said:
Not being funny and I may be biased (having chosen mine over a Turbo SE), but have you driven the V6 Auto.
Most of what you say is good is the same in the V6 Auto because of the gearing. A bit of a longer post as to this on page 153 of the Discounted Stock Emira thread if interested.
I've not tried the V6 auto. I've heard plenty of good and bad things about them. But I must admit - it wasn't just the sound I liked - it was how direct the feel was from the accelerator to the acceleration. Only a manual gives you quite that sensation. Modern autos get close - but there is a discernible difference I could feel. Most of what you say is good is the same in the V6 Auto because of the gearing. A bit of a longer post as to this on page 153 of the Discounted Stock Emira thread if interested.
Beachbum said:
Keep the i4 use the paddles more, save yourself £10k 
Yeah right. Tell me about it. For now - as a stop gap - I am going to put one of those Mliltek valve controllers on it. That way at least I'll get the sound of what it's like in track - when I'm just pootling around in tour mode. Because with the valve completely open the thing really does sound pretty OK - like not bad at all. Trouble is it's more than just the sound I was getting a trip off. That's the problem.
But who knows - maybe having that sound all the time may be enough - plus the £10k swap - to push me into keeping it and just being happy anyway.
We'll see.
Beachbum said:
Keep the i4 use the paddles more, save yourself £10k
Plus I'm also thinking it may not have to cost me £10k. There's currently a green on on there - 53 - 8000 miles. Black wheels but the ones you could just have sprayed silver. Red interior - which I actually like the red one I borrowed off B&C was red inside and although I thought I was going to hate it it was actually very nice to be inside that space. And the callipers are red. So the only issue is can I live with that green? - which I have seen before in real life and it is very very dark. Maybe get it wrapped? Nice deep blue? Hmmmmm. It's got no warranty - but that doesn't worry me I've had enough experience with mine to get a feel for these and I really don't think a warranty is essential providing it's been looked after properly. And at £53K that would not cost me anything like £10k to swap.We shall see.
I've been sat in traffic in my V6 manual and after about 10 mins I wished I was in my 535d Auto.
It's horses for courses, I guess it depends what you use the car for?
Commuting - Auto, Occasional blast, nice quiet roads - Manual. It's all down to personal opinion at the end of the day.
Also a B&C customer, I unfortunately had the yellow one a couple of weeks ago. After I got over the fact it also had tan interior, the seat belt fell out the B pillar.
The yellow did grow on me over the course though! But definitely not with tan!
Mines Green, and yes it's dark, but it's very weather/light dependent, when the suns out, it really reveals itself. If you want to have a nosey round it, I think you're localish to me (Farnborough)
It's horses for courses, I guess it depends what you use the car for?
Commuting - Auto, Occasional blast, nice quiet roads - Manual. It's all down to personal opinion at the end of the day.
Also a B&C customer, I unfortunately had the yellow one a couple of weeks ago. After I got over the fact it also had tan interior, the seat belt fell out the B pillar.
The yellow did grow on me over the course though! But definitely not with tan!
Mines Green, and yes it's dark, but it's very weather/light dependent, when the suns out, it really reveals itself. If you want to have a nosey round it, I think you're localish to me (Farnborough)
Edited by couzens on Thursday 26th February 20:42
The 3rd cat delete pipe and valve controller completely transformed the noise on my v6 id say it makes the car sound much better.You also get plenty of crackles and pops on the overun too.And it was me you passed going through Witley last Saturday James the red really does suit your car looked lovely.
Before I bought my Evora ( had a deposit on an Emira originally) I tried all manner of other sports cars at far more money having sold my Noble after 18 years. It very quickly became apparent that I still wanted and needed a manual,which is what pointed me to Lotus
No matter what anyone says,I’ll never be convinced that any auto of any flavour is as involving. They might be quicker/easier whatever but that’s not what I buy a toy for.
No matter what anyone says,I’ll never be convinced that any auto of any flavour is as involving. They might be quicker/easier whatever but that’s not what I buy a toy for.
couzens said:
I've been sat in traffic in my V6 manual and after about 10 mins I wished I was in my 535d Auto.
It's horses for courses, I guess it depends what you use the car for?
Commuting - Auto, Occasional blast, nice quiet roads - Manual. It's all down to personal opinion at the end of the day.
Also a B&C customer, I unfortunately had the yellow one a couple of weeks ago. After I got over the fact it also had tan interior, the seat belt fell out the B pillar.
The yellow did grow on me over the course though! But definitely not with tan!
Mines Green, and yes it's dark, but it's very weather/light dependent, when the suns out, it really reveals itself. If you want to have a nosey round it, I think you're localish to me (Farnborough)
That's very kind of you. Are you around at the weekend? I'll DM you (if I can figure out how to do that). Thanks!It's horses for courses, I guess it depends what you use the car for?
Commuting - Auto, Occasional blast, nice quiet roads - Manual. It's all down to personal opinion at the end of the day.
Also a B&C customer, I unfortunately had the yellow one a couple of weeks ago. After I got over the fact it also had tan interior, the seat belt fell out the B pillar.
The yellow did grow on me over the course though! But definitely not with tan!
Mines Green, and yes it's dark, but it's very weather/light dependent, when the suns out, it really reveals itself. If you want to have a nosey round it, I think you're localish to me (Farnborough)
Edited by couzens on Thursday 26th February 20:42
coolchris said:
The 3rd cat delete pipe and valve controller completely transformed the noise on my v6 id say it makes the car sound much better.You also get plenty of crackles and pops on the overun too.And it was me you passed going through Witley last Saturday James the red really does suit your car looked lovely.
Ah ha. I thought as much. Small world. So that was at the temporary lights by the Chichester hall yes? I saw you there and said to my GF I think that's a McLaren but then once I got full view I could see it was an Emira. Then as you came past and we exchanged the customary waves you blipped the throttle and I said to her f
k that's a fking manual and it sounds -s w e e t- but it also sounds like he's done something to make it sound even sweeter!Gary C said:
It looks fantastic
and manual, every, single, time.
It funny. The first Emira I test drove - was a manual. The dealer in Southampton (Hendy?) let me have one for a whole morning I could barely believe my luck. Blue manual one. Almost the moment I drove it I thought fand manual, every, single, time.
k I HAVE to get me one of these. Trouble is my knee has always been a bit of an issue and I wanted to be safe so I figured the DCT would not be far off. And when I tested THAT I thought darn this is pretty similar and the price was perfect so I went for it. But here'e the thing - within a few miles in the manual my thought was 'you just HAVE to get this in a manual version'. But heck my knee feels pretty good now - so maybe now is the time! Ha. We shall see. Cheers.jamesgareth said:
Gary C said:
It looks fantastic
and manual, every, single, time.
It funny. The first Emira I test drove - was a manual. The dealer in Southampton (Hendy?) let me have one for a whole morning I could barely believe my luck. Blue manual one. Almost the moment I drove it I thought fand manual, every, single, time.
k I HAVE to get me one of these. Trouble is my knee has always been a bit of an issue and I wanted to be safe so I figured the DCT would not be far off. And when I tested THAT I thought darn this is pretty similar and the price was perfect so I went for it. But here'e the thing - within a few miles in the manual my thought was 'you just HAVE to get this in a manual version'. But heck my knee feels pretty good now - so maybe now is the time! Ha. We shall see. Cheers.sjc said:
Before I bought my Evora ( had a deposit on an Emira originally) I tried all manner of other sports cars at far more money having sold my Noble after 18 years. It very quickly became apparent that I still wanted and needed a manual,which is what pointed me to Lotus
No matter what anyone says,I ll never be convinced that any auto of any flavour is as involving. They might be quicker/easier whatever but that s not what I buy a toy for.
Right. What I do like about that 2L DCT I have right now is how easy it is to drive quick. Like it's super fNo matter what anyone says,I ll never be convinced that any auto of any flavour is as involving. They might be quicker/easier whatever but that s not what I buy a toy for.
king easy. If you want to do a 0-60 you simply floor the thing (in track especially) and it just fking flies. The manual was not so easy - not that it was hard - but timing the gear changes if you max out the revs was not so straightforward and if you got it wrong and hit the limiter the whole car just died on you. That never happens in my 2l turbo. But. The big 'but' here is the overall theatre of the thing - the manual wins that hands down. I was trying to figure it out that if I could find the exact same car so that I had two cars on my drive booth exactly the same but one was the DCT and the other the V6 manual and it was really clear to me - unless I was going into town (ie central london) - I'd take the V6 every time.jamesgareth said:
I've not tried the V6 auto. I've heard plenty of good and bad things about them. But I must admit - it wasn't just the sound I liked - it was how direct the feel was from the accelerator to the acceleration. Only a manual gives you quite that sensation. Modern autos get close - but there is a discernible difference I could feel.
I could understand this feeling with the V6 auto because it’s a traditional torque convertor box. But the 2L uses a DCT so the drive would be as direct as a manual gearbox. Gassing Station | Emira | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff