Are you an automatic transmission convert?

[cerb4.5lee]

Triumph Man said:

Whilst I admire autoboxes - my next daily will probably be one - I couldn't be without a manual box for at least one of the cars. I'd feel I was missing something if I didn't have access to a manual!

That was the same for me when I had auto only cars for 4 years needless to say that I now have rectified that with 2 manuals and 1 auto!

[anonymous-user]

Autos are great for a simple life. If you’re stuck in traffic, have medical issues etc, nothing better. A bad manual is more annoying than a good auto, and modern diesels don’t suit manual boxes at all.

But if you have a free spinning engine why hobble it with an auto, for me it takes something away from the fun of driving the car. Soon enough, they’ll be no gears, so I’ll enjoy them whilst I can

[Maxym]

Ollerton57 said:

Also in BMW's, I also assume most other auto's, you have auto hold which puts the parking brake on for you.

On a different note, Maxym, do you really put your car in neutral and pull up the handbrake every time you stop - even in stop/start traffic? If so, you have more important things to look at in the mirror than deriding people for using the footbrake...

No, with a manual box sometimes I have it in neutral with no brake on provided the car won't roll - bit sloppy actually - but I'm always (I hope) very aware of what's going on. If there's a slope then it's parking brake and neutral.

With an automatic it's pretty much the same only I'm much more likely to apply the parking brake. It's all about security and control. I'm just putting into practice what I learned on my advanced driving course - gold pass, though that was 15 years ago now. I might have lapsed into some bad habits since then...

[giggity]

Autos for me.

Started driving: convinced I’d always drive a manual.

I had 3, one failed it’s clutch (wear)

Purchased my first Mercedes back in 2008 and never looked back.

Still take a manual for a spin (mates cars, vans, rentals) but never miss it.

Living in London must have part to play in that, but even a twisty country road in manual mode is more than adequate.

[Welshbeef]

Ollerton57 said:

Also in BMW's, I also assume most other auto's, you have auto hold which puts the parking brake on for you.

On a different note, Maxym, do you really put your car in neutral and pull up the handbrake every time you stop - even in stop/start traffic? If so, you have more important things to look at in the mirror than deriding people for using the footbrake...

Yep mine has autohold you press a button next to the handbrake before setting off it releases the handbrake (red light) turns on autohold (green light) not once in nearly 6 years of ownership of this auto have I had to put my foot on the brake and wait.

C5 RS6 yes you had to do it
56 reg 231 Bhp 330d yes you had to do it
Dec 2010 reg535d no autohold function.

[durbster]

I bought my first auto as a daily driver a couple of months ago.

I came to the realisation that the vast majority of my time spent in the car these days is either towing, ferrying the family around or sitting in the crawling traffic of the commute.

None of those scenarios suit a manual.

I did drive the manual version and it was undoubtedly more fun to drive but, all in all, I'm happy with the decision.

It helps that wife has a Swift Sport so I can steal that to get my driving fix.

[300bhp/ton]

kiseca said:

I find it interesting that you have such frustration with the A class box and yet will defend the Smart Roadster's famously slow change as an acceptable part of the car's character.

Hi, yes I do admit I'm aware I opened myself up for this potentially.

kiseca said:

That's not an attack, I believe you in both cases. I just think it's an interesting observation that in the one case, you can put up with the slow change, and in the other you can't, like perhaps in the Smart you found a way to drive around it and in the Merc you didn't. Or the Smart had other good points which made you more forgiving of the box. Or something else.

I think for me, the Smart while slower to shift (although still as quick as a normal person driving a manual most of the time). It does give you much more manual control. Meaning it will hold the gears in manual mode and only auto shift at the very extremes (high or low rpm).

As a driver you can also work with the box to perfect your driving style. I find this very involving and enjoyable and a major part of what a sports car should be.

The newer auto boxes in; 6, 7 & 8 speeds. And also latter Smarts (the current ForTwo) use a DSG 6 speed box. They all seem to suffer from the same thing. Lack of manual control. In the manual modes in all of them they seem to still override you too much. And as said, in auto mode still seem a bit dimwhitted. For cruising about, drag racing or city traffic driving they are fine. But for enjoyment I just find them very annoying. And not in a way that you can work with the box and perfect a technique to make it better. There is nothing you can do about the issues they have.

I will admit I've not driven an Aston Martin/Ferrari or even the new Supra. I'm curious to know if the manual mode in these cars is better and if the box is programmed differently. I'd hope so. But still remain somewhat skeptical.

kiseca said:

So many complicated bits that can make someone like or dislike a car.

Agreed

kiseca said:

I also think it's more to do with the programming than the box itself. The ZF8 in the XE was also slow to change down when putting your foot down, and would then suddenly shift down a bunch of gears and leap off or spin its wheels up. And in manual mode, if you floor it, the kickdown still operates. It would shift down to a gear, headbutt the limiter and then stay there waiting for me to change up... because it's in manual mode

Meanwhile the same box in the Alfa Giulia never gave me a concern about what gear it wanted to pick, never shifted by itself while in manual, never made me wait when I wanted to go faster.

That is reassuring about the Alfa. Thanks

[RobM77]

I really want to be, because so many decent cars these days only come with autos, but I just can't get on with them. I respect them, but am not sure I could live with one every day.

[Welshbeef]

RobM77 said:

I really want to be, because so many decent cars these days only come with autos, but I just can't get on with them. I respect them, but am not sure I could live with one every day.

Have you tried the ZF8?

[cerb4.5lee]

RobM77 said:

I really want to be, because so many decent cars these days only come with autos, but I just can't get on with them. I respect them, but am not sure I could live with one every day.

One of my all time favourite cars is the R35 GTR and I would personally have to compromise with the auto gearbox to get one. But I'd like to think that the performance/overall enjoyment of the car supersedes the gearbox. I've not been in one though so I don't know.

I wouldn't use it everyday if I had one, but I'm not sure that I could have a weekend/occasional car with only two pedals...and that is the sticking point.

[telecat]

Welshbeef said:

RobM77 said:

I really want to be, because so many decent cars these days only come with autos, but I just can't get on with them. I respect them, but am not sure I could live with one every day.

Have you tried the ZF8?

I have tried ZF8's in various cars. Didn't live up to the hype. I used to hire decent auto cars in Florida. Camaro, Challenger etc. Came back to the UK thinking I would prefer the auto over the Manual. Nope it was a relief to drive a manual again.

[SOL111]

RobM77 said:

I really want to be, because so many decent cars these days only come with autos, but I just can't get on with them. I respect them, but am not sure I could live with one every day.

The ZF in a BMW is about as good as it gets for a boggo auto but isn't perfect and you have to live with the compromises. I've had a few (latest in an M140i) but found comfort mode stayed in too low a gear and sport revved too high.

They work best in manual mode but then this kind of defeats the point to so e extent.

Having said that, a commute in auto is great, providing you switch off completely and forget about the gearbox.

[RobM77]

Welshbeef said:

RobM77 said:

I really want to be, because so many decent cars these days only come with autos, but I just can't get on with them. I respect them, but am not sure I could live with one every day.

Have you tried the ZF8?

Yes, in a few of the newer BMWs. It's probably the best auto I've tried, but I still prefer three pedals and a stick.

[opieoilman]

I've always had manuals until January this year. I had a big knee op as a kid and over the last year, the pain has been getting worse and worse. I had problem with my Volvo in December, so it was pretty much off the road for a month or so and I drove a minimal amount, but the times I drove, my knee ached afterwards, so rather than getting the Volvo fixed, I bought a Saab 9-3 auto and it has really helped my knee out. I was looking for something with a ZF box, but there was nothing available within a sensible distance and sensible price at the time.

I thought I would use the manual mode all the time, but I think I've used it twice. Auto is fine the vast majority of the time.

My brother has a manual Cayman, but sometimes needs to borrow my estate, so I have a manual for a few days. I had it couple of weekends ago and had too much on to have a decent drive, I basically used it for commuting and a couple of other trips stuck in traffic. I preferred the auto for pretty much everything I used the Cayman for, although I didn't have the chance to take it out for fun.

I've realised that while I'm stuck with an auto, at least until my knee gets sorted out (just been referred to a consultant), I'd probably get an auto anyway now.

[telecat]

opieoilman said:

I've always had manuals until January this year. I had a big knee op as a kid and over the last year, the pain has been getting worse and worse. I had problem with my Volvo in December, so it was pretty much off the road for a month or so and I drove a minimal amount, but the times I drove, my knee ached afterwards, so rather than getting the Volvo fixed, I bought a Saab 9-3 auto and it has really helped my knee out. I was looking for something with a ZF box, but there was nothing available within a sensible distance and sensible price at the time.

I thought I would use the manual mode all the time, but I think I've used it twice. Auto is fine the vast majority of the time.

My brother has a manual Cayman, but sometimes needs to borrow my estate, so I have a manual for a few days. I had it couple of weekends ago and had too much on to have a decent drive, I basically used it for commuting and a couple of other trips stuck in traffic. I preferred the auto for pretty much everything I used the Cayman for, although I didn't have the chance to take it out for fun.

I've realised that while I'm stuck with an auto, at least until my knee gets sorted out (just been referred to a consultant), I'd probably get an auto anyway now.

My Son finds the Seat position on his Golf Match is really bad for his knee and switched to an auto. He prefers to drive his van though which is a Manual. I didn't like the driving position in a Volvo V60 either. A number of cars I have drievn recently seem to have too high a driving position for comfortable clutch control.

[jamei303]

SOL111 said:

Having said that, a commute in auto is great, providing you switch off completely and forget about the gearbox.

Yes, I think the key coming from a manual is to stop giving any fcks about what gear it's in. If you've spent your whole life thinking "should be fourth for this bend" etc it can be quite hard to let go.

[M4cruiser]

Back to mundane cars for a moment, and I have to say that "french" cars have had poorly set up autos, (until recently).

My daughter's Clio is frustrating; despite being in an auto I like to know which gear it's in, and the wretched thing won't change up when I want, and changes down unexpectedly. I'm always happy to hand the key card back and get into my proper Torque converter Jap car.

More modern french things are better, the 308 and C3 are quite acceptable, although I wouldn't want to own the C3 for other reasons.

[unsprung]

Would it be nonsense or grotesque to say that we've arrived at the golden age of the automatic?

I mean: They're very clever nowadays. Managed by software, switchable modes, some with dual clutch operation, up to 10 speeds, etc.

Then, of course, there's that ultimate "automatic" -- the battery-electric vehicle.

[AndrewNR]

Went from civic type r (ep3) to a leased golf r estate (7 speed one).

Replacing it with a '17 plate Octavia (boring, I know), but when searching the [automatic] option was always ticked; didn't even want to consider a manual.