Manual Vs Automatic??

Author
Discussion

ian in lancs

3,774 posts

199 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
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warch

2,941 posts

155 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
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Why are people talking as if changing gear is some kind of mystical skill to be mastered? Unless you're driving a truck with loads of gears and a 500rpm wide powerband then it really isn't.

Pericoloso

44,044 posts

164 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
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warch said:
Why are people talking as if changing gear is some kind of mystical skill to be mastered? .
It is for some ,grinding them away....ears

dalzo

1,877 posts

137 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
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Autos for the daily grind

Manuals for fun


Plug Life

978 posts

92 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
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Neither.

Shiv_P

2,750 posts

106 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
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Plug Life said:
Neither.
Have you ever posted anything useful?

Sammo123

2,105 posts

182 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
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Ares said:
With respect, that's 20yr old technology. Step into this century, then see how you feel.
Haha yes I'm aware it's old technology. I drive brand new automatics every day at work and I can safely say the newer technology doesn't endear itself to me either. I don't mind them for a little bit but when borrowing the cars for the weekend I find myself getting bored of them.

Frank7

6,619 posts

88 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
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kambites said:
There's no denying that automatics make driving easier, if that's what you're after. I don't think you'd struggle to go back to a manual later if you wanted to.

For me its a question of manual for fun driving; auto for traffic; dont care for anything else so which I'd choose would come down to how much of each of those things the car will be doing.

Edited by kambites on Friday 20th April 15:12
This is where I start to stutter, I don't get the concept of "driving for fun."
All I need to do, is get from A to B, as smoothly, quickly, and safely as possible.
No contest, I can't be a***d with shifting gears, so it's automatic for me, and has been for years, can't see it changing.

DoubleD

22,154 posts

109 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
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Frank7 said:
This is where I start to stutter, I don't get the concept of "driving for fun."
All I need to do, is get from A to B, as smoothly, quickly, and safely as possible.
No contest, I can't be a***d with shifting gears, so it's automatic for me, and has been for years, can't see it changing.
Frank, you do know that pistonheads is a motoring enthusiasts forum?

ian in lancs

3,774 posts

199 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
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I really like the box in my X3d and 325d. Comfort for normal, sport / manual flappers for pushing on. Plenty of intervention options if you want more control. Fab once mastered.

I have no trouble switching back to my manual Z4M.

If I were buying a new M I would spec auto

Pica-Pica

13,830 posts

85 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
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LarsG said:
J4CKO said:
LarsG said:
Went auto in December and where traffic is concerned it is a pleasure to drive. Where in the U.K. is there not any traffic? The paddles let me mess about on occasion, the sports setting is neither here nor there. Do I miss a manual gear box? A little but then get stuck on the M6 or in town traffic and I don't any longer.
I know what you mean, I have also noticed beige sports coats and thinking they look dapper and got a taste for Werthers originals, damn that new Honda Jazz looks appealing....
Nothing wrong with Werthers....
Ah but original or sugar free?

Pica-Pica

13,830 posts

85 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
quotequote all
ian in lancs said:
I really like the box in my X3d and 325d. Comfort for normal, sport / manual flappers for pushing on. Plenty of intervention options if you want more control. Fab once mastered.

I have no trouble switching back to my manual Z4M.

If I were buying a new M I would spec auto
Agree. Unless you have a penchant for pushing a clutch pedal up and down, a decent auto gives you as much/more control than a manual. Would those who prefer a manual go for central heating with no room thermostat, no timer and no radiator thermostat?

anonymous-user

55 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
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Depends on the auto. I was a manual fan through and through for years, even in London traffic because I hate the torque converter slush boxes. Then I tried a really good DSG (on my current car), a “semi auto” if you like, and now I’d never go back...

Too many poor quality slushy autos out there imo.

DoubleD

22,154 posts

109 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
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Pica-Pica said:
Agree. Unless you have a penchant for pushing a clutch pedal up and down, a decent auto gives you as much/more control than a manual. Would those who prefer a manual go for central heating with no room thermostat, no timer and no radiator thermostat?
As you know, there is more to a manual car than just pushing a clutch pedal up and down. Also I dont find any central heating systems fun to use, but I do find it fun driving a manual car.

Jasandjules

69,931 posts

230 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
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I have dodgy knees now so really needed an Auto as it was a major struggle with a manual in Traffic etc. The car has various engine and suspension modes so I can drive it slow or fast as desired. It also has flappy paddles so I can manually change gear if I like. It is a lovely car to drive and not too slow either.... It is also a much, much easier drive than my previous manual, I can drive 3 hours and it doesn't really bother me, whereas in the old car a three hour drive would be quite tiring and result in sore legs....

The "fun" car however is a manual, which means I tend to be restricted to distances of about 40 mins driving and I hope I don't hit traffic.

Danxr46

142 posts

81 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
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Depends if it’s an actual auto or DSG etc which is and auto box controlled manually with the next gear lined up hence the quicker changes. It gives u a little bit extra involvement with flappy paddles and quicker changes and are a lot better in town traffic etc and to an extent you can ‘get on’ more without having to change all the time but it’s all personal preference e and depends on which manufacture you go for as some are shocking autos. I’ve been in a Peugeot auto which when it changed gear everyone in the car would shift forwards then back when it had changed. It was that slow and poor. The bmw auto zf6 box is good but could be a little quicker

cerb4.5lee

30,734 posts

181 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
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ian in lancs said:
I really like the box in my X3d and 325d. Comfort for normal, sport / manual flappers for pushing on. Plenty of intervention options if you want more control. Fab once mastered.

I have no trouble switching back to my manual Z4M.

If I were buying a new M I would spec auto
My Z4M almost put me off a manual forever because it was an absolute turd of a gearbox. So I can easily see why you would want an Auto instead.


Olivera

7,155 posts

240 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
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Pica-Pica said:
Agree. Unless you have a penchant for pushing a clutch pedal up and down, a decent auto gives you as much/more control than a manual.
More control? You can't block change in an auto. You can't hold the current gear at the limiter in most autos. You can't clutch kick.

That's three examples off the top of my head that you can't do in the vast majority of autos. I'm sure there's more.

cerb4.5lee

30,734 posts

181 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
quotequote all
Pica-Pica said:
Agree. Unless you have a penchant for pushing a clutch pedal up and down, a decent auto gives you as much/more control than a manual.
I enjoy the simple things of dipping the clutch and blipping the throttle to enjoy the sound of the engine revving though. You can't do that with an Auto, so for me its less control.

Danxr46

142 posts

81 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
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cerb4.5lee said:
Pica-Pica said:
Agree. Unless you have a penchant for pushing a clutch pedal up and down, a decent auto gives you as much/more control than a manual.
I enjoy the simple things of dipping the clutch and blipping the throttle to enjoy the sound of the engine revving though. You can't do that with an Auto, so for me its less control.
You can do it when you downchange and the DSG pop happens. More so with a good exhaust on