A U T O M A T I C ?
Discussion
I'll have to chip in here. My Z06 is a great, terrific driver's car but the gear shifter was a pain. The aftermarket shifter solves that but it's still an effort, albeit a pleasant effort.
In many ways, my automatic Z28 is a far better car and far easier to drive and losing very little, if anything to a manual car.
I would compare them thus. The Z06 is a precise tool requiring large driver inputs to extract the maximum fun from it but can be equally frustrating when there's lots of traffic as it's like a bulldog on a short lead. The Z28 can be far more fun as it's more like driving a dodgem car at the fair. Get in, belt up, floor the throttle and twirl the wheel. You decide which is nmost fun and which most rewarding. Often they're different things.
Who wants an auto muscle car? Most of America for a start.....
In many ways, my automatic Z28 is a far better car and far easier to drive and losing very little, if anything to a manual car.
I would compare them thus. The Z06 is a precise tool requiring large driver inputs to extract the maximum fun from it but can be equally frustrating when there's lots of traffic as it's like a bulldog on a short lead. The Z28 can be far more fun as it's more like driving a dodgem car at the fair. Get in, belt up, floor the throttle and twirl the wheel. You decide which is nmost fun and which most rewarding. Often they're different things.
Who wants an auto muscle car? Most of America for a start.....
Yeah but who wants an American auto in the uk?
Sorry to be opinionated but I would rather be covered in my own excrement and set on fire than put up with a 3 gear automatic, christ I put up with 2 6-speed sequential auto boxes (flappy paddle poo) and thats bad enough, could'nt afford the brake pads if mine was auto either
Me offend, you bet
Sorry to be opinionated but I would rather be covered in my own excrement and set on fire than put up with a 3 gear automatic, christ I put up with 2 6-speed sequential auto boxes (flappy paddle poo) and thats bad enough, could'nt afford the brake pads if mine was auto either
Me offend, you bet
I would go for an auto for the sort of driving I do as a Monaro would be my everyday wagon and I cover a lot of miles very slowly on the M25!!
As I understood it, the reason the auto didn't make it over here was down to:
1) Not offering options on the car due to an unaccepatable lead time
2) The car would have not got through UK noise emission regs.
3) The car would have not got through Euro emission regs.
Perhaps Stu Harris can help me out here?
As I understood it, the reason the auto didn't make it over here was down to:
1) Not offering options on the car due to an unaccepatable lead time
2) The car would have not got through UK noise emission regs.
3) The car would have not got through Euro emission regs.
Perhaps Stu Harris can help me out here?
Yes guy's there are good arguments from both sides,
Most people would only consider a performance car as a manual, but depends what you want.
Some high performance manual cars are pigs to drive in trafic, especially if you have a heavy clutch !
Auto's are good for drag racing,& quicker & they will cope with more HP.
I have driven a Maloo Ute here in the UK & believe me it was fun, put in gear & stand on it, No worries !
Then to overtake with-out fuss, stand on it again, no need to drop down a gear, she will kick down, snap you back in the seat & off we go, Fun !
The auto's are fairly popular in Aussie, but NOT excepted in the UK YET.
Both are fun when you have a V8 mate.
Most people would only consider a performance car as a manual, but depends what you want.
Some high performance manual cars are pigs to drive in trafic, especially if you have a heavy clutch !
Auto's are good for drag racing,& quicker & they will cope with more HP.
I have driven a Maloo Ute here in the UK & believe me it was fun, put in gear & stand on it, No worries !
Then to overtake with-out fuss, stand on it again, no need to drop down a gear, she will kick down, snap you back in the seat & off we go, Fun !
The auto's are fairly popular in Aussie, but NOT excepted in the UK YET.
Both are fun when you have a V8 mate.
V8HSV said:
Yeah but who wants an American auto in the uk?
Sorry to be opinionated but I would rather be covered in my own excrement and set on fire than put up with a 3 gear automatic, christ I put up with 2 6-speed sequential auto boxes (flappy paddle poo) and thats bad enough, could'nt afford the brake pads if mine was auto either
Me offend, you bet
That would be a 4 speed automatic then.
I have both. The Z28 is the more relaxing drive but can still kick a mighty piece of ass just by extending the toe. Since all 6 speed cars are grossly overdriven in 6th, the difference isn't as great as you'd imagine.
I never use 6th as I like to loiter in 4th & 5th ready to respond. I have altered the s/w on my sequential cars so that they coast when the loud pedal is not applied just so I can select the gear of choice when cornering to exit as I want, if I had to endure the auto side it would never select the gear I want or at the time required.
Well the Corvette C6 pumps 400bhp through it's auto and they're not going to run it too near it's limits given GM's attitude to warranty work. The old 3rd gen Camaros had to have auto with the 240bhp 350 as the T5 couldn't cope with the power so it was the other way round. Remember too that the Jaguar XKR is auto only as the manual won't take it.
I have a cunning device on my Z28. It's called a push-down shifter and a hand. By using the hand and pushing down the shifter knob, you can manually select the appropriate gear and use it as a manual. I will concede that in very fast pursuit mode, it's a little too widely spaced and can bang into the lower gears without the safety cushion of a clutch but it's never really been a substantial problem except when er...competing against a Mercedes AMG through the twisties. On the plus side, being caught in the wrong gear with a slow and ponderous manual shifter can be potentially worse so there are pros and cons.
Whilst driving in a lower gear is commendable, it does little except burn unnecessary fuel unless you race all the time (tut, tut)and kickdown is as fast, if not faster and will always select the lowest possible gear and remove the guesswork. It also avoids the error element where you might be in sixth, think you're in fourth, accelerate to overtake and whoops, that's 5th scenario. Come on, you've all done it...LOL.
I think the point is already demonstrated though - many people prefer autos especially in bigger cars. If sales are what Vauxhall want, they ought to have an auto. After all, Jags and Mercs are auto only in many cases.
The other huge advantage which is oft under-rated with autos is the longevity in a high power car (not modified as most wouldn't)and the convenience of not having to replace a clutch pack yet still be able to use the full performance is a bonus. Personally, I don't look forward to having to buy a new clutch for the Z06 as it will be about £1000 I'd guess?
I have a cunning device on my Z28. It's called a push-down shifter and a hand. By using the hand and pushing down the shifter knob, you can manually select the appropriate gear and use it as a manual. I will concede that in very fast pursuit mode, it's a little too widely spaced and can bang into the lower gears without the safety cushion of a clutch but it's never really been a substantial problem except when er...competing against a Mercedes AMG through the twisties. On the plus side, being caught in the wrong gear with a slow and ponderous manual shifter can be potentially worse so there are pros and cons.
Whilst driving in a lower gear is commendable, it does little except burn unnecessary fuel unless you race all the time (tut, tut)and kickdown is as fast, if not faster and will always select the lowest possible gear and remove the guesswork. It also avoids the error element where you might be in sixth, think you're in fourth, accelerate to overtake and whoops, that's 5th scenario. Come on, you've all done it...LOL.
I think the point is already demonstrated though - many people prefer autos especially in bigger cars. If sales are what Vauxhall want, they ought to have an auto. After all, Jags and Mercs are auto only in many cases.
The other huge advantage which is oft under-rated with autos is the longevity in a high power car (not modified as most wouldn't)and the convenience of not having to replace a clutch pack yet still be able to use the full performance is a bonus. Personally, I don't look forward to having to buy a new clutch for the Z06 as it will be about £1000 I'd guess?
V8HSV said:
Kak, who on earth wants a muscle car with automatic, HSV that are go for about half there value from what I have seen
I drove a fast Merc. coupe the other day, with a 7-speed auto. box (3-speed autos. went out decades ago) and it certainly changed ratios a lot quicker than anyone could with the manual Monaro clutch and 'box!
It was a stunningly efficient set of cogs and I was amazed at how rapid the shifts were.
You could also use it as a manual, when you wanted and there was sport and normal modes.
The new 507bhp BMW M5 is automatic, with 7 ratios. No manual option as i understand it.
The M5 is a muscle car!
I had a day with an SL55 which was a bit tasty to say the least, would not complain about that auto box, yes auto can chage quicker than manual but then I am a control freak and bought the HSV as it was old school and not a sloppy American set up. I like to select the gears, crumbs I need it too to slow my 2 ton monster down.
If GM could provide an auto that could cope with the power from LS1/2 engines that are modified it would be a different debate no doubt.
Not really trying to upset all you nice pistonheaders but I do not like automatic gearboxes, intrusive safety systems outside of ABS, ttaction control, stabilty software, alright maybe I should have bought a TVR but then I don't like sports cars either.
Oh and for the record I don't think many here would refer to a BMW unless its one they have blown away!
>> Edited by V8HSV on Wednesday 13th April 14:20
If GM could provide an auto that could cope with the power from LS1/2 engines that are modified it would be a different debate no doubt.
Not really trying to upset all you nice pistonheaders but I do not like automatic gearboxes, intrusive safety systems outside of ABS, ttaction control, stabilty software, alright maybe I should have bought a TVR but then I don't like sports cars either.
Oh and for the record I don't think many here would refer to a BMW unless its one they have blown away!
>> Edited by V8HSV on Wednesday 13th April 14:20
ringram said:
How on earth do you "drift" around corners in an auto? A manual gives you much better throttle control. You would have to lock the auto into gear to get the same effect.
So Im glad all the Monaro's are manual. If you want a girls car get a fiesta.
Tell Schumacher that. His 'box is nigh-on automatic.
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