Are you an automatic transmission convert?
Discussion
Hol said:
Outside of stop start, the auto box MUST have the option to manuallychange down when approaching roundabouts at speed.
I’ve had the misfortune to drive some of the mid range Mercs when paddles were only an option of the top ranges and you would often corner in a less appropriate gear.
No probs with my 335d, it uses sat nav to read when a downchange is needed. If pressing on, but in comfort mode, I sometimes paddle-down to get an even lower gear for the exit, but usually rely on the box to sort itself out.I’ve had the misfortune to drive some of the mid range Mercs when paddles were only an option of the top ranges and you would often corner in a less appropriate gear.
My M140i is the first automatic car I've owned, and I genuinely struggled with the decision of whether or not to tick the option box. 2 and a bit years later, I've never regretted it.
Most of my driving is fairly mundane A to B work stuff, and I find the 'box pretty much flawless. it's quick-witted, smooth and consistent in its behaviour. The torque converter locks up early in all gears, so you get proper engine braking, and none of the slushy, slipping clutch feeling that you get with a traditional auto. The car always seems to be in the right gear for what I need it to do at a given moment. Sat nav data is fed into the logic, and it's really quite impressive how it goes down through the box as you slow for a roundabout for example, or delays an upshift until you come out of a long corner. The transmission also has the ability to block downshift to the lowest useable gear, for example ahead of an overtake.
Just very occasionally I find myself missing the interaction of a manual, but for every one instance of this, there are probably 20 where I'm glad I'm not faffing about with a clutch and a gear lever.
My view of automatics was tainted by the hopeless 3 speed stuff that used to be fitted to cars driven by my parents generation back in the 80s, but the new stuff is really in a completely different league. I've found a few, repeatable ways to catch it out, but I have to deliberately drive the car in a certain way to do so.
Most of my driving is fairly mundane A to B work stuff, and I find the 'box pretty much flawless. it's quick-witted, smooth and consistent in its behaviour. The torque converter locks up early in all gears, so you get proper engine braking, and none of the slushy, slipping clutch feeling that you get with a traditional auto. The car always seems to be in the right gear for what I need it to do at a given moment. Sat nav data is fed into the logic, and it's really quite impressive how it goes down through the box as you slow for a roundabout for example, or delays an upshift until you come out of a long corner. The transmission also has the ability to block downshift to the lowest useable gear, for example ahead of an overtake.
Just very occasionally I find myself missing the interaction of a manual, but for every one instance of this, there are probably 20 where I'm glad I'm not faffing about with a clutch and a gear lever.
My view of automatics was tainted by the hopeless 3 speed stuff that used to be fitted to cars driven by my parents generation back in the 80s, but the new stuff is really in a completely different league. I've found a few, repeatable ways to catch it out, but I have to deliberately drive the car in a certain way to do so.
Personally I think it's all about what car it is and the intended use. I've owned a combination of both automatics and manuals and both have a time and a place.
At opposite ends of the spectrum, a modern auto box is perfect for the daily slog or if you're chasing laptimes on track. Plus, they're needed in a high performance car where the sheer number of gears and performance on tap makes a manual obsolete.
However, in a mid performance car (upto 300ish hp), if primarily used for "fun", you'd be hard pressed to beat the enjoyment and engagement that comes along with a manual box.
I drive around 3-5,000 miles a year, mostly at weekends in my manual e89 z4 23i. Whilst I do believe modern autos are great, I wouldn't swap the box in this for anything.
At opposite ends of the spectrum, a modern auto box is perfect for the daily slog or if you're chasing laptimes on track. Plus, they're needed in a high performance car where the sheer number of gears and performance on tap makes a manual obsolete.
However, in a mid performance car (upto 300ish hp), if primarily used for "fun", you'd be hard pressed to beat the enjoyment and engagement that comes along with a manual box.
I drive around 3-5,000 miles a year, mostly at weekends in my manual e89 z4 23i. Whilst I do believe modern autos are great, I wouldn't swap the box in this for anything.
sambucket said:
Manual transmission... one of many oddities of the UK that we think is normal!
You are not wrong! I live in Australia and the first time i visited the UK i was amazed at the number of manual cars i saw. You even have manual hire cars which is unheard of here! More than anything else i was amazed at the number of 'normal' drivers with manual cars. People who were obviously just using a car to get from one place to the other but still shifting their own gears. For me i have always been in favor of the manual transmission. But my commute is short and i drive a hot hatch which should be manual in my opinion. But with that being said i recently started doing a lot of track time and competing in rally sprint events where consistent times matter. I am now looking at my next vehicle possibly being an auto even though in the past i would have scoffed at the idea.
vearlytr6 said:
Hello,I have only ever owned one auto car (they didn't come in manual) a 300 SEL 6.3 .One of my most impressive even with the 11 MPG but ...still auto. My wife owns an Audi A3 1.8T manual of course Great.I have a few cars ALL manual and a few bikes also all manual.Regards,Michael.
That is really special! I've only had 4 autos, just because manual ones were like unobtainium!
MK2 Granada 2.8 Ghia, Ford Scorpio 2.8i, Mercedes W123 280e and a Mercedes W202 280 Sport.
But I didn't really enjoy any of them! Manual is just so much better.
Wacky Racer said:
Far prefer automatics, why have a dog and bark yourself?
Most of my cars since 2014 have been automatic, I've returned to a manual and regret it, but am looking to get back to the 8 speed ZF in an X5... cheaper cars aren't bad with manuals but just wait until you have to fork out for that Dual Mass Flywheel if the clutch goes 
Worst auto box was in Mercedes R350, but all my BMWs were great
sambucket said:
Manual transmission... one of many oddities of the UK that we think is normal!
Well, for one thing it is normal IN THE UK.Go somewhere like America or Australia with long straight roads and huge distances before the next set of tight turns and a auto has been the norm for years.
Who knew that people might actually buy cars that suited their particular needs.
Kuji said:
sambucket said:
Manual transmission... one of many oddities of the UK that we think is normal!
Well, for one thing it is normal IN THE UK.Go somewhere like America or Australia with long straight roads and huge distances before the next set of tight turns and a auto has been the norm for years.
Who knew that people might actually buy cars that suited their particular needs.
Mind you the car had sporty pretentions rock harrd suspension, lowish profile tyres and sports seats mk4 astra 1.6 sport.
Now give me a straight empty road, and the it doesnt matter.
Yes, I never got any enjoyment from trying to guess or remember what gear would be best to take the next bend in.
It's quite liberating being able to think about other aspects of driving rather than whether you should have changed down or not and whether it's worth doing it now or if it's too late etc etc.
It's quite liberating being able to think about other aspects of driving rather than whether you should have changed down or not and whether it's worth doing it now or if it's too late etc etc.
Jazoli said:
I drive a (dsg) auto out of necessity but still occasionally drive a manual car and hate it, it all feels archaic and unnecessary to me with having to constantly stir a lever and press and extra pedal.
You've been here a long time, but maybe this really isn't the right website for you.... 
rfn said:
It depends.
I drive a 2014 m135i with a ZF8 which I've had for 2.5 years. It's my "yardstick" for auto gearboxes. I wouldn't have the manual, and absolutely love the gearbox/car combo. I drive it probably 80% of the time using the paddles. It's quicker and more economical on a long journey than the equivalent manual.
I don't particularly "like" the VW DSG7 - I think it's a bit too clunky. And I really didn't like the 10-speed Ford auto in a Mustang we recently hired in the US. Coupled with the 2.3T engine it made for a poor experience overall. The manual (6-speed) would've been better in this car.
My current car is a 2016 M135i with the ZF. I passed my test back in '92 and have only ever had manuals. This is the first car I've had with an auto box. Not only is is faster, more economical and easier to live with, it's just a better gearbox than the manual in this car. As a daily driver, I don't think I could go back to a manual now that the ZF and DC systems exist. They are a long way off the slush boxes of old. I drive a 2014 m135i with a ZF8 which I've had for 2.5 years. It's my "yardstick" for auto gearboxes. I wouldn't have the manual, and absolutely love the gearbox/car combo. I drive it probably 80% of the time using the paddles. It's quicker and more economical on a long journey than the equivalent manual.
I don't particularly "like" the VW DSG7 - I think it's a bit too clunky. And I really didn't like the 10-speed Ford auto in a Mustang we recently hired in the US. Coupled with the 2.3T engine it made for a poor experience overall. The manual (6-speed) would've been better in this car.
Edited by rfn on Friday 17th May 17:07
That said, I am considering getting an M2 next and because it's a more special car, I'm on the fence about getting a manual version. 90% of the time it will be the wrong option for me but that 10% on a Sunday afternoon on a good back road free of traffic, I think it may just be the way to go.
toon10 said:
My current car is a 2016 M135i with the ZF. I passed my test back in '92 and have only ever had manuals. This is the first car I've had with an auto box. Not only is is faster, more economical and easier to live with, it's just a better gearbox than the manual in this car. As a daily driver, I don't think I could go back to a manual now that the ZF and DC systems exist. They are a long way off the slush boxes of old.
That said, I am considering getting an M2 next and because it's a more special car, I'm on the fence about getting a manual version. 90% of the time it will be the wrong option for me but that 10% on a Sunday afternoon on a good back road free of traffic, I think it may just be the way to go.
I think the question you need to ask yourself is not ‘do I want an auto?’, but ‘do I want to keep pressing a clutch?’ You know with a ZF8 you will have your 90% and your 10%.That said, I am considering getting an M2 next and because it's a more special car, I'm on the fence about getting a manual version. 90% of the time it will be the wrong option for me but that 10% on a Sunday afternoon on a good back road free of traffic, I think it may just be the way to go.
I was a strict manual fan, I first bought (and drove) an automatic because I really wanted the car and it only came in auto (Mercedes C126 560 SEC), I thought it was tremendous. I've since owned quite a few autos including a DSG and I still think they are tremendous in the right car. Some cars must remain manual however, anything light with a small revvy petrol engine, roadsters and hot hatches in particular.
I've just bought a manual E90 330i, I specifically looked for the manual because I thought it would match the engine best but it's on the borderline of where a manual should be. If it were a 330d or 335i I would go for the auto instead.
I've just bought a manual E90 330i, I specifically looked for the manual because I thought it would match the engine best but it's on the borderline of where a manual should be. If it were a 330d or 335i I would go for the auto instead.
Interesting question. When I was in my twenties I vowed that I would not own an automatic. Roll forward to today at 42 and there are 3 cars on the drive and they are all automatic.
1981 Mercedes 500 SEL (Hence the username)
2018 VW Arteon R Line
2019 Polo GTI
I find the auto in the Merc fine for the car, I can manually shift if required and do every journey.
The other two have the DSG and to be honest, I am not a huge fan. In D they are dim-witted and in S it just over revs. I find that whenever I need to make a sharp getaway, I have to bang it in S to guarantee I wont be t-boned.
In most situations they are fine, just a bit uninspiring. I had ordered a Golf GTI Performance with a manual gearbox, but the wife's work car scheme gravy train appears to be drawing to a close :-(
I live in MK, so an automatic really is a sensible option.
1981 Mercedes 500 SEL (Hence the username)
2018 VW Arteon R Line
2019 Polo GTI
I find the auto in the Merc fine for the car, I can manually shift if required and do every journey.
The other two have the DSG and to be honest, I am not a huge fan. In D they are dim-witted and in S it just over revs. I find that whenever I need to make a sharp getaway, I have to bang it in S to guarantee I wont be t-boned.
In most situations they are fine, just a bit uninspiring. I had ordered a Golf GTI Performance with a manual gearbox, but the wife's work car scheme gravy train appears to be drawing to a close :-(
I live in MK, so an automatic really is a sensible option.
TurboHatchback said:
I've just bought a manual E90 330i, I specifically looked for the manual because I thought it would match the engine best but it's on the borderline of where a manual should be. If it were a 330d or 335i I would go for the auto instead.
I do think sometimes it can be a case of does the gearbox suit the car as you say. I had a E90 330i auto and I thought it was a poor match to the engine and a manual would be much better. I had a E90 330d auto though and I thought that the auto matched that engine pretty well. The 335i is a tricky one and I think I would still personally prefer a manual in that, yet most do prefer the M135i/M140i with the auto though for example.
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