Manual Vs Automatic??
Discussion
Autos are better. Faster, allow for lazy/relaxed driving right up to full manual control. Hold gears when you want, let the car do the job (better) if you don't.
Never an issue in going back to a manual, chop and change you driving style in the auto car, and in a different, manual car.
....the only thing is if you feel that without a manual linkage to the cogs you are not a proper driver and properly in control of the car. I don't, hence why I have an auto and haven't once missed a manual, but for some, that physical connection to a selection of cogs over-rides everything else. If thats you, get a manual before they get ever worse.
Never an issue in going back to a manual, chop and change you driving style in the auto car, and in a different, manual car.
....the only thing is if you feel that without a manual linkage to the cogs you are not a proper driver and properly in control of the car. I don't, hence why I have an auto and haven't once missed a manual, but for some, that physical connection to a selection of cogs over-rides everything else. If thats you, get a manual before they get ever worse.
The obvious answer is to give the automatic option a go and see if you like it, bearing in mind that not all of them are the same. However, there's rarely a huge difference between them in the grand scale of things. Smoothness and shift speeds are probably the main couple of points to pick up on.
Honestly, both for fun and daily driving, i'd personally go automatic. I'm a total convert now. I do alot of stop/start city driving on my commute but, even if i didn't, i reckon i'd still pick the auto. I've got a DSG, which is my first ever auto and i am having fun with the paddles, more so than stirring a gear stick!
Honestly, both for fun and daily driving, i'd personally go automatic. I'm a total convert now. I do alot of stop/start city driving on my commute but, even if i didn't, i reckon i'd still pick the auto. I've got a DSG, which is my first ever auto and i am having fun with the paddles, more so than stirring a gear stick!
The dislike of automatics is a relic of the days when autos were all 3 speed, hopelessly vague slushy affairs. Plus it was considered more manly to change gears oneself (because of the being in control thing).
Most modern automatics are amazing, especially with the paddles, and much more usable in traffic which is an ever present issue pretty much anywhere. I live in the middle of nowhere and often spend miles hunting between second and third behind a tractor or lorry on narrow country lanes with few overtaking places.
Most modern automatics are amazing, especially with the paddles, and much more usable in traffic which is an ever present issue pretty much anywhere. I live in the middle of nowhere and often spend miles hunting between second and third behind a tractor or lorry on narrow country lanes with few overtaking places.
AngryChimp241 said:
I've never driven an Automatic, I've always been used to a manual however now I'm in the market people are telling me to get an automatic because it's a lot easier and there's no reason not to. My question is, is there any particular reason I should go with an automatic over anything else? What are the pros and cons for each? And more importantly im concerned if I drive an automatic for a long time, will that effect my ability to jump back into a manual?
A manual is fun. Autos are lazy and boring. I guess it depends if you want to be engaged in the act of driving, or see it as a waste of your valuable twitogrambook time.
As for your last question, a skill left unpractised is a skill lost.
captain_cynic said:
A manual is fun. Autos are lazy and boring.
I guess it depends if you want to be engaged in the act of driving, or see it as a waste of your valuable twitogrambook time.
As for your last question, a skill left unpractised is a skill lost.
Some driving is a waste of [troll deletion bot woz ere] time. Sat in traffic. Crawling through roadworks. Trying to find a space in a car park.I guess it depends if you want to be engaged in the act of driving, or see it as a waste of your valuable twitogrambook time.
As for your last question, a skill left unpractised is a skill lost.
I'm not sure a manual makes any of these "fun". ( maybe one of them if you are Russ Swift)
Auto is great in todays traffic, don't exactly equate shifting in heavy traffic with "fun". More of a grind in heavy traffic and if I am doing 70 then why to I need to pretend I am in Fast and Furious with a gazillion changes. Auto already has me there and with cruise control, don't even have to wake up for hills and shift gear or press the pedal. It just wafts away up the hills. Can get away with it though on the down side......
Keep the manual for where it can be used.
Keep the manual for where it can be used.
I've been auto for 4 cars now and never going back to manual
The Mercedes 7 speed box in my C350 CDI is great and I normally leave it in Sports mode as it's even more fun to drive.
We had a week around the Highlands last month in it and had a blast driving some great roads and never once wished I had a manual gearbox.
The Mercedes 7 speed box in my C350 CDI is great and I normally leave it in Sports mode as it's even more fun to drive.
We had a week around the Highlands last month in it and had a blast driving some great roads and never once wished I had a manual gearbox.
captain_cynic said:
A manual is fun. Autos are lazy and boring.
I guess it depends if you want to be engaged in the act of driving, or see it as a waste of your valuable twitogrambook time.
As for your last question, a skill left unpractised is a skill lost.
Living up to your user name there, i see I guess it depends if you want to be engaged in the act of driving, or see it as a waste of your valuable twitogrambook time.
As for your last question, a skill left unpractised is a skill lost.
I have both - as others have said - no issue in moving between them...
I prefer to be in control of the gear - so some Autos are a nightmare - not changing when you want them to / delays in changing / changing when you don't want them to...
But other autos are lovely - and it is not just based on age - my Z3 is an auto - wasn't a choice I made, car was already in the family - but over in manual mode you get to choose what gear you are in - so it simply becomes an easy way to drive... so a 17 year old car, but a good auto box - I have driven more modern ones which are awful...
So, choose the car you enjoy driving, but nothing wrong with having a sports car or any other as an auto...
I prefer to be in control of the gear - so some Autos are a nightmare - not changing when you want them to / delays in changing / changing when you don't want them to...
But other autos are lovely - and it is not just based on age - my Z3 is an auto - wasn't a choice I made, car was already in the family - but over in manual mode you get to choose what gear you are in - so it simply becomes an easy way to drive... so a 17 year old car, but a good auto box - I have driven more modern ones which are awful...
So, choose the car you enjoy driving, but nothing wrong with having a sports car or any other as an auto...
s70rmp said:
I've been auto for 4 cars now and never going back to manual
The Mercedes 7 speed box in my C350 CDI is great and I normally leave it in Sports mode as it's even more fun to drive.
We had a week around the Highlands last month in it and had a blast driving some great roads and never once wished I had a manual gearbox.
That's the sad reality. Autos have got so good at a time when manual 'box development has largely plateaued. Whimsical/Halcyon desires for historic engineering connection aside, the manual box is to this generation was servo brakes were to the last generation. The Mercedes 7 speed box in my C350 CDI is great and I normally leave it in Sports mode as it's even more fun to drive.
We had a week around the Highlands last month in it and had a blast driving some great roads and never once wished I had a manual gearbox.
It is sad, and I say that as a massive auto fan, but times move on.
captain_cynic said:
A manual is fun. Autos are lazy and boring.
I guess it depends if you want to be engaged in the act of driving, or see it as a waste of your valuable twitogrambook time.
As for your last question, a skill left unpractised is a skill lost.
What a load of tripe.I guess it depends if you want to be engaged in the act of driving, or see it as a waste of your valuable twitogrambook time.
As for your last question, a skill left unpractised is a skill lost.
Driving a manual after being in an auto for some time is like riding a bike - it's a 'skill' (if you can call it a skill) you keep and very quickly becomes second nature again.
There are cars with frustrating, obstructive manual boxes that are a complete pain to drive just as there are autos that are sublime ( especially if you have the function to change auto ratios yourself - flappy paddles, etc).
I drive an auto and hire manual cars when on holidays a few times a year. It simply is not an issue and I, as most others I imagine, adapt without a second thought.
Ares said:
That's the sad reality. Autos have got so good at a time when manual 'box development has largely plateaued. Whimsical/Halcyon desires for historic engineering connection aside, the manual box is to this generation was servo brakes were to the last generation.
It is sad, and I say that as a massive auto fan, but times move on.
'Tis a good point. The manual gearbox can only develop so far on the technological side of things. The automatic gearbox will also be pushed for better emissions, which was not always the case.It is sad, and I say that as a massive auto fan, but times move on.
In fact, any advancement with the manual gearbox probably makes it less of what it once was. Things like automatic re-matching does many of the interaction for you, although they can be disabled.
valiant said:
I drive an auto and hire manual cars when on holidays a few times a year. It simply is not an issue and I, as most others I imagine, adapt without a second thought.
I find I adapt to the auto, just after the first junction. Because on approach, just when coming to a stop, I'll instinctively try to put the clutch down. Thus stamping on the wider brake pedal, with my left foot, resulting in a more sudden stop than intended. After that it's no bother. The other way, auto to manual...never noticed any issues.In the past I think the ideal was:
Auto for the boring "get from A to B" journeys.
Manual because I want to play on the fun journeys.
With the modern DSG boxes...just get one of those and switch modes ad the mood takes you I'd have thought.
Ares said:
captain_cynic said:
A manual is fun. Autos are lazy and boring.
I guess it depends if you want to be engaged in the act of driving, or see it as a waste of your valuable twitogrambook time.
As for your last question, a skill left unpractised is a skill lost.
Troll will troll.I guess it depends if you want to be engaged in the act of driving, or see it as a waste of your valuable twitogrambook time.
As for your last question, a skill left unpractised is a skill lost.
kambites said:
I'm rather fond of my unassisted brakes too. They're a big part of the reason I bought the car. 
Exactly. The arguments for those are the same as for a manual box. Factually, it makes no sense to prefer them, but intangible subjectivity is a totally different issue, even if it flies in the face of physics/science.DoubleD said:
Ares said:
captain_cynic said:
A manual is fun. Autos are lazy and boring.
I guess it depends if you want to be engaged in the act of driving, or see it as a waste of your valuable twitogrambook time.
As for your last question, a skill left unpractised is a skill lost.
Troll will troll.I guess it depends if you want to be engaged in the act of driving, or see it as a waste of your valuable twitogrambook time.
As for your last question, a skill left unpractised is a skill lost.
It is not as simple these days as the choice between auto and manual you have the choice between auto (traditional torque converter style), DSG or other branded equivalents, some hideous CVT boxes and then the manual.
I have always favoured the manual for all of the reasons cited in earlier posts but lived with a zf 6sp auto box mated to a nice big V8 for 5 years. This is a traditional torque converter box and not as good or fast at changing as the current crop of torque converter boxes like the new zf 8sp. In general for 90% of my driving needs it was great and certainly as people have said for the daily grind you can't fault an auto. Where if felt slightly disappointed was when driving enthusiastically down my favorite B road. Occasionally the box would just get it wrong and I found myself using the manual selection option rather than the sport mode.
The bit that used to annoy me most though was when you come to overtake and it would decide to drop an extra gear to let you use all the rev range. Inevitably by the time it had changed settled used the last 1k rpm it was having to change up again and staying in 1 gear higher from the start would have been quicker. I learnt to drive around this. I would hope that with the new 8sp box the shifts are quicker and this would not be an issue and certainly shouldn't with a DSG type box.
My experience with CVT was a hire car last year and it was the most awful combination ever, a CVT box mated to a under powered smallish petrol, never again.
I cannot comment on the robustness of DSG type boxes only spread more internet/my mate told me stories that if they go wrong the bills are ruinous but great when they are working.
What ever car it is you are looking at as an auto, drive it as the experience could vary massively depending on the engine/box/software combination not to mention your own driving style and journey type.
I have always favoured the manual for all of the reasons cited in earlier posts but lived with a zf 6sp auto box mated to a nice big V8 for 5 years. This is a traditional torque converter box and not as good or fast at changing as the current crop of torque converter boxes like the new zf 8sp. In general for 90% of my driving needs it was great and certainly as people have said for the daily grind you can't fault an auto. Where if felt slightly disappointed was when driving enthusiastically down my favorite B road. Occasionally the box would just get it wrong and I found myself using the manual selection option rather than the sport mode.
The bit that used to annoy me most though was when you come to overtake and it would decide to drop an extra gear to let you use all the rev range. Inevitably by the time it had changed settled used the last 1k rpm it was having to change up again and staying in 1 gear higher from the start would have been quicker. I learnt to drive around this. I would hope that with the new 8sp box the shifts are quicker and this would not be an issue and certainly shouldn't with a DSG type box.
My experience with CVT was a hire car last year and it was the most awful combination ever, a CVT box mated to a under powered smallish petrol, never again.
I cannot comment on the robustness of DSG type boxes only spread more internet/my mate told me stories that if they go wrong the bills are ruinous but great when they are working.
What ever car it is you are looking at as an auto, drive it as the experience could vary massively depending on the engine/box/software combination not to mention your own driving style and journey type.
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