Why did people spec auto on performance cars?
Discussion
ddom said:
DoubleD said:
Yep thought so.
Apart from anti stall, auto downshift (still yes?), pit lane limiters...and about 120 people per car and one to one communication. But I’m sure those buttons on the steering wheel are all just for show? 
Personally with travelling the motorways etc to see extended family in wales or weekends away in Cornwall I got sick to death of getting stuck in stop start traffic and having to clutch work all the time. Fart around changing gear to stop and then do it all again.
From a driving point of view I was always one of those that would leave the car in first and just let it slowly move forwards. This isn’t always possible though and one day I just snapped and said f
k it I’m buying an auto.
Sold my then bmw and bought a C350 coupe with all the trimmings, but more importantly, an autobox.
Now the car itself is what 300bhp or so, so if that falls into peoples views of a performance car is probably debatable. For me it’s a performance car, and at no point have I thought I wish thus was a manual.
The box works perfectly fine and changes gear rapidly. It only really holds onto gears longer in sports mode, even when you think it could do with a change down.
In normal mode, it’s still quick and changes up and down perfectly.
Works for me.
From a driving point of view I was always one of those that would leave the car in first and just let it slowly move forwards. This isn’t always possible though and one day I just snapped and said f
k it I’m buying an auto. Sold my then bmw and bought a C350 coupe with all the trimmings, but more importantly, an autobox.
Now the car itself is what 300bhp or so, so if that falls into peoples views of a performance car is probably debatable. For me it’s a performance car, and at no point have I thought I wish thus was a manual.
The box works perfectly fine and changes gear rapidly. It only really holds onto gears longer in sports mode, even when you think it could do with a change down.
In normal mode, it’s still quick and changes up and down perfectly.
Works for me.
ITP said:
DoubleD said:
ITP said:
Olivera said:
ITP said:
One of the main reasons I think it’s a bit boring sometimes is due to the very short braking distances. There is just no time to out brake anyone from behind. I suppose that’s why they brought in the KERS to allow at least some overtaking before you even get to a corner.
Do F1 cars still have any form of traction control, or was that recently banned too?
Traction control in F1 was banned over a decade ago. There's also lots of opportunity to outbrake other cars as there is no ABS.Do F1 cars still have any form of traction control, or was that recently banned too?
The one I mean is the one that allows a boost of power when within 1 second in the prescribed zone just to allow overtaking. Like I said, before this you just had to rely on slipstream and if that didn’t get you past or at least fully along side you had no chance due to tiny braking zones.
They used to have KERS - Kinetic Energy Recovery System - which offered 6.6 seconds of 60kW per lap extra power, at the driver's control. So could be used for overtaking and for defence. That was replaced in 2014 with a proper hybrid powertrain that's controlled by the ECUs, not the driver. The driver now has an "overtake" button but that's just giving all the boost available in the pack at one time.
Both of these were introduced because the aero means you need to be ~2 seconds a lap faster than the driver ahead to be able to pass naturally - as following other cars in the grip-limited corners just isn't possible. You lose too much downforce, which means by the time you reach a straight where passing is possible you're too far back to slipstream and pass. The braking distances are an issue too, but less so than the first issue.
DoubleD said:
Pan Pan Pan said:
I stand corrected, but don't know much about F1 these days, because it is so boring, which was why I had to google it.
But surely an electronic gearbox operated by paddles and not a gear lever, is exactly what the subject of this thread is? Not forgetting electronic power steering of course
.
You dont know much about it, but you know its boring? But surely an electronic gearbox operated by paddles and not a gear lever, is exactly what the subject of this thread is? Not forgetting electronic power steering of course
.I had no choice but to get an Auto back in 2014 as Audi stopped selling manuals on their bigger engines to allow them to quote a lower emissions value (If only in Economy Mode).
I missed the clutch a lot at first but managed to change my driving style to suit the cars limitations, including the easy (in that car) ability to switch into sport mode for tight roundabouts.
For mooching around town centres or motorway trips it was fine, but I would still choose a car with three pedals given the choice.
I once drove a bike engine car around Silverstone all day at speed, and flappy paddles certainly made that car better.
Raygun said:
For many years now (at least 40 years) I've always thought performance cars should have manual gearboxes, we've had tiptronic, auto etc but s/h it's always manual that commands a premium. I just don't understand why anyone buying a performance car with an option of a manual gearbox would not tick that box on a spec sheet?
Drive in London for 10 mins, you’ll never drive manual again. I'd never buy a manual performance car, I can see the appeal, it's to say "I would only drive a manual" right? 
Last few cars C55 AMG, Jaguar XFR, BMW 135i and now the Alfa Quadrifoglio. I likes torques, torques need less flapping about to keep it in the zone and I don't want to drive like that. Would use the paddles on a track, does that count? I'm a one car man, short commute, some school runs etc. and fun. Zero interest in another pedal.
Last few cars C55 AMG, Jaguar XFR, BMW 135i and now the Alfa Quadrifoglio. I likes torques, torques need less flapping about to keep it in the zone and I don't want to drive like that. Would use the paddles on a track, does that count? I'm a one car man, short commute, some school runs etc. and fun. Zero interest in another pedal.
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