Manual Vs Automatic??

[Arrius]

Call me old school but I always favour manual for some reason. I do hate shifting often in crowded traffic as much as the next person but I don't think I can drive automatic, I'd get bored. Maybe for long trips I'd like to try automatic for once

[talksthetorque]

Pica-Pica said:

If there is a quick overtake needed, I will knock the lever left into sport, in anticipation. This drops are gear and holds the revs for longer. If I am on switchback hills, I will sometimes use the manual mode it wish, to enjoy the alternating climbing and descending, although auto is perfectly OK for this. However, 80% of the time I am in simple Drive and Comfort mode.

Very similar to my use...
Auto for all the boring stuff( 80%) , paddles for coming up to roundabouts, country lanes, overtakes on A/B roads.

[smarty156]

culpz said:

For any one who has an modern automatic, how often do people actually use the manual mode via the gear stick and/or paddles?

The good thing about having manual mode and flappy paddles as you have a choice. If you want to let the car do it (and most of the time I do that as it's so good) then you can, if you want full manual control then flick the lever over and do it yourself via the stock or paddles. In my car, even in full auto, if you suddenly decide you want to change to in preparation for an overtake (as opposed to letting the box do it when you hit the thottle) then you just flick the left paddle. No need to move the lever first. It will then remain in manual for a few seconds before switching back to auto.
Also, depending on the engine mode you're in, the gear shifts change accordingly to become faster as you go up the modes and also hold gears longer. It's so good though that even if you pick a more aggressive mode, if you start driving in a more relaxed fashion the gearbox will relax the changes and change points too. Start flooring it and it will recognise that and adjust accordingly straight away. It really is an amazing combo on this car.

[culpz]

smarty156 said:

culpz said:

For any one who has an modern automatic, how often do people actually use the manual mode via the gear stick and/or paddles?

The good thing about having manual mode and flappy paddles as you have a choice. If you want to let the car do it (and most of the time I do that as it's so good) then you can, if you want full manual control then flick the lever over and do it yourself via the stock or paddles. In my car, even in full auto, if you suddenly decide you want to change to in preparation for an overtake (as opposed to letting the box do it when you hit the thottle) then you just flick the left paddle. No need to move the lever first. It will then remain in manual for a few seconds before switching back to auto.
Also, depending on the engine mode you're in, the gear shifts change accordingly to become faster as you go up the modes and also hold gears longer. It's so good though that even if you pick a more aggressive mode, if you start driving in a more relaxed fashion the gearbox will relax the changes and change points too. Start flooring it and it will recognise that and adjust accordingly straight away. It really is an amazing combo on this car.

For me, it's the best of both worlds. I've not once missed the interaction of the manual gearbox.

I'm gonna try and use the manual mode more and more and get used to it. Like you and most others have that have replied have said, you end up leaving it in D most of time for the boring stuff and then use the paddles for when out for a spirited drive and for a bit more interaction.

The DSG never fails to impress me on how quick it shifts. Just even going from 0 - 30 mph with less than half throttle.

[Filibuster]

On my B6 Audi S4 with a ZF 6-speed automatic, I rarely use the paddles.
In manual mode, it still uses kickdown, which is annoying. IIRC it doesn't upshift when you hit the rev limiter, which is great.

[Ares]

culpz said:

For any one who has an modern automatic, how often do people actually use the manual mode via the gear stick and/or paddles?

In the BMWs I had, seldom.

In the Alfa, at least half the journeys unless sat in traffic....but part of that is not being able to resist the long chrome moose antler paddles.

[Ares]

Filibuster said:

On my B6 Audi S4 with a ZF 6-speed automatic, I rarely use the paddles.
In manual mode, it still uses kickdown, which is annoying. IIRC it doesn't upshift when you hit the rev limiter, which is great.

.....because bouncing off the rev limiter is fun??

[Filibuster]

Ares said:

Filibuster said:

On my B6 Audi S4 with a ZF 6-speed automatic, I rarely use the paddles.
In manual mode, it still uses kickdown, which is annoying. IIRC it doesn't upshift when you hit the rev limiter, which is great.

.....because bouncing off the rev limiter is fun??

That is not what I said (or I didn't choose my words wisely), but I prefer my Auto in manual mode not to shift down unless it's stall otherwise and bounce off the rev limiter. That is what a rev limiter is there for after all.

It is weird for an auto to shift gears for you in manual mode, be that downshifts when using kickdown (I know, I could just learn to use the throttle not like an ape) or upshifts when hitting the rev limiter.

[Ares]

Filibuster said:

Ares said:

Filibuster said:

On my B6 Audi S4 with a ZF 6-speed automatic, I rarely use the paddles.
In manual mode, it still uses kickdown, which is annoying. IIRC it doesn't upshift when you hit the rev limiter, which is great.

.....because bouncing off the rev limiter is fun??

That is not what I said (or I didn't choose my words wisely), but I prefer my Auto in manual mode not to shift down unless it's stall otherwise and bounce off the rev limiter. That is what a rev limiter is there for after all.

It is weird for an auto to shift gears for you in manual mode, be that downshifts when using kickdown (I know, I could just learn to use the throttle not like an ape) or upshifts when hitting the rev limiter.

" it doesn't upshift when you hit the rev limiter, which is great. "


I can't see why bouncing off the rev limiter is great? Something that stops you looking/sounding like an incompetent tit is surely a fairly good thing?

[Olivera]

Ares said:

I can't see why bouncing off the rev limiter is great? Something that stops you looking/sounding like an incompetent tit is surely a fairly good thing?

It's entirely normal running it off the limiter on track in certain situations. E.g. the corner is sufficiently close that there would be no benefit changing up to then immediately change down. In that case you would instead run the car off the limiter for a short period.

[Ares]

Olivera said:

Ares said:

I can't see why bouncing off the rev limiter is great? Something that stops you looking/sounding like an incompetent tit is surely a fairly good thing?

It's entirely normal running it off the limiter on track in certain situations. E.g. the corner is sufficiently close that there would be no benefit changing up to then immediately change down. In that case you would instead run the car off the limiter for a short period.

....but the rev limiter is always after peak power? There is benefit in shifting, especially as the shift is now so quick?

Every bit of track/race tuition I've ever had has kicked my arse if I've hit the limiter??

[Filibuster]

Ares said:

....but the rev limiter is always after peak power? There is benefit in shifting, especially as the shift is now so quick?

Every bit of track/race tuition I've ever had has kicked my arse if I've hit the limiter??

I absolutely see your point, but I'm not debating whether or not to hit the rev limiter, because I agree with you.
What I am saying is, that I prefer my automatic to keep the gears as if it'd be a manual when in manual mode (except for stalling the engine when the gear is too high or when you come to a halt, obviously).

[BigMon]

The only automatic I've ever had is my C70 which it suits to a T as it's an old waftmobile.

I used to think that driving an automatic would take away the fun factor but it really hasn't for me to be honest, and the Volvo autobox I have is far from the best.

[Gad-Westy]

BigMon said:

The only automatic I've ever had is my C70 which it suits to a T as it's an old waftmobile.

I used to think that driving an automatic would take away the fun factor but it really hasn't for me to be honest, and the Volvo autobox I have is far from the best.

I bought a Volvo S60 and foolishly bought the manual. If ever a car was born to be an auto, it was that. Everything so soft and relaxed. Just not a car for 'driving'. But a great wafter.

[Ares]

Filibuster said:

Ares said:

....but the rev limiter is always after peak power? There is benefit in shifting, especially as the shift is now so quick?

Every bit of track/race tuition I've ever had has kicked my arse if I've hit the limiter??

I absolutely see your point, but I'm not debating whether or not to hit the rev limiter, because I agree with you.
What I am saying is, that I prefer my automatic to keep the gears as if it'd be a manual when in manual mode (except for stalling the engine when the gear is too high or when you come to a halt, obviously).

Cool. Me too. They usually do!

[Amebix]

I've got a 1999 2.0l Avensis estate with an Auto as my daily bus, and a modified 1991 Eunos with a manual as my weekender (amongst my old Motorbikes)

Spending enough time in one vehicle then going to the other makes me appreciate each one's attributes - Must admit though I've never found myself "Missing" the torque converter, I just know that the Avensis is a whole lot less frantic (and sometimes stressful) to drive as a daily!

[Ares]

Amebix said:

I've got a 1999 2.0l Avensis estate with an Auto as my daily bus, and a modified 1991 Eunos with a manual as my weekender (amongst my old Motorbikes)

Spending enough time in one vehicle then going to the other makes me appreciate each one's attributes - Must admit though I've never found myself "Missing" the torque converter, I just know that the Avensis is a whole lot less frantic (and sometimes stressful) to drive as a daily!

Is there really anything about a 1999 Avensis that you would miss?

In 25 years of driving, I think the 2003 Avensis I was given as a courtesy car (In 2003) was possibly the worst car I've ever driven. It may have had a fight on it's hands with the ironically named Mitsubishi Charisma for ultimate top honours.

[LarsG]

My Mondeo 210 estate only comes with a power shift gearbox, it can be caught out when slowing down at junctions and then taking off quickly, though the paddles help, the sport setting just makes it noisier.

However, in traffic is is just perfect and town driving is so much more relaxing.

[LarsG]

Just out of interest:

When at a junction with an automatic, or at a level crossing etc do you:

Keep your foot on the brake?
Apply the handbrake?
Put the gearbox in Neutral?

What do you do? I have tried all three and usually resort to the foot on the brake and blind the drivers behind me for the duration of the stop.

[Lowtimer]

If it's night and there's someone behind I always put it into Park in order not to be antisocial. If I'm just there by myself, or it's broad daylight, I will normally leave it in D on the footbrake