Manual Vs Automatic??
Discussion
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?
I've always been a member of the "stir my own" club (stop sniggering at the back), until August last year when I was looking for a Golf GTI and the local VW dealer had one in exactly the right spec, with a DSG gearbox.
Now the attraction here was the paddle shift, and I liked it when I took the car for a test drive. The deal was done, and since I collected the car I've spent almost all of the time just leaving it in "drive" and treating it as an automatic. Along with the "auto hold" function it just makes a manual gearbox and clutch seem so archaic.
Now the attraction here was the paddle shift, and I liked it when I took the car for a test drive. The deal was done, and since I collected the car I've spent almost all of the time just leaving it in "drive" and treating it as an automatic. Along with the "auto hold" function it just makes a manual gearbox and clutch seem so archaic.
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?
Kind of obvious really, but pro's & cons to both. In traffic an Auto is actually a pleasure to drive as nothing your left foot has to do. Keep chasing gear with a manual in stop/start traffic can actually become painful. Performance the modern Auto wins as it can change gear far quicker than you can in a manual.A manual allows for more control as the gears can be held for longer if caning it & dropped for reducing speed.
Have for the last 15yrs mainly had Auto or DCT boxes, but never yet have i got confused when jumping into a manual car. It's like riding a bike.
I like both, for different reasons, though I do find autos can be frustrating when they dont change up and down as expected, thought they are much better these days than they used to be.
I like heel and toeing, matching revs as I change down, it is very satisfying and I miss that in an auto.
Never had a problem switching, its like your brain has a program for one and the other and it just seamlessly loads the specific program for the car you are driivng.
Autos are better in traffic, of that there is no doubt, nose to tail congestion then an auto is the way to go, and if you are doing big mileages.
Some can be a bit wooly, especially the older ones and with the traditional ones you do lose some performance, but more modern conventional autos are much better and tend to be marginally faster and better on fuel than the manual version, the dual clutch robotized manuals are especially rapid in their changes.
Also depends on the manual version, Mercedes for example are generally brillaint at autos but their manual offerings can be ropey.
Bigger engines suit autos better, certainly used to be the case that the bigger engine, needed a hefty clutch which tended to make it heavy and truck like to drive, better these days but worth considering.
You dont get the same engine braking either, just takes some adjustment.
DSG is probably the best compromise for gears that change themselves but can still feel sporting, but never quite like a good manual and clutch.
I like heel and toeing, matching revs as I change down, it is very satisfying and I miss that in an auto.
Never had a problem switching, its like your brain has a program for one and the other and it just seamlessly loads the specific program for the car you are driivng.
Autos are better in traffic, of that there is no doubt, nose to tail congestion then an auto is the way to go, and if you are doing big mileages.
Some can be a bit wooly, especially the older ones and with the traditional ones you do lose some performance, but more modern conventional autos are much better and tend to be marginally faster and better on fuel than the manual version, the dual clutch robotized manuals are especially rapid in their changes.
Also depends on the manual version, Mercedes for example are generally brillaint at autos but their manual offerings can be ropey.
Bigger engines suit autos better, certainly used to be the case that the bigger engine, needed a hefty clutch which tended to make it heavy and truck like to drive, better these days but worth considering.
You dont get the same engine braking either, just takes some adjustment.
DSG is probably the best compromise for gears that change themselves but can still feel sporting, but never quite like a good manual and clutch.
There's no denying that automatics make driving easier, if that's what you're after. I don't think you'd struggle to go back to a manual later if you wanted to.
For me its a question of manual for fun driving; auto for traffic; dont care for anything else so which I'd choose would come down to how much of each of those things the car will be doing.
For me its a question of manual for fun driving; auto for traffic; dont care for anything else so which I'd choose would come down to how much of each of those things the car will be doing.
Edited by kambites on Friday 20th April 15:12
Had my 640D with the ZF8 for a little over 2 years love the thing. I kept my MX5 for just under a year with it and could jump fine between them.
But honestly, brutally...most of the time I would jump in the 640 as the auto just suited traffic so much better and was just nicer to drive for a majority of the time.
But honestly, brutally...most of the time I would jump in the 640 as the auto just suited traffic so much better and was just nicer to drive for a majority of the time.
I've got the 8sp ZF unit in my M135i, and having only driven manual cars before it was a huge change. The box itself is great, changes when you want it to, feels as quick as a DCT box in sport mode and can cruise along at 1800rpm in 8th, at 70. Perfect all round gearbox, and suits the car.
In something like the Megane RS though, to me, has to be manual.
In something like the Megane RS though, to me, has to be manual.
I went auto about 10 years ago , driving a manual truck all day all over the UK and then Europe I wanted something as relaxing as possible to drive when not at work .
I found it gave me a nice split between work and leasure.
I then got a little hot hatch ( Alpha) manual for fun.
The manual reminded me that a manual car in stop start congestion in not fun .
Modern automatic transmission is so much better these days provided it's a proper auto rather than some that are electronic shifts with a clutch. I have found these to be very annoying to drive .
I found it gave me a nice split between work and leasure.
I then got a little hot hatch ( Alpha) manual for fun.
The manual reminded me that a manual car in stop start congestion in not fun .
Modern automatic transmission is so much better these days provided it's a proper auto rather than some that are electronic shifts with a clutch. I have found these to be very annoying to drive .
Similar I have a 650i GC which has the same zf8 and it's lovely for cruising and just relaxing in. For weekends or a bit of fun I've a manual 350z which is always good fun on the twisties. Totally depends what you enjoy and where you have the most use/fun. If you spend lots of time commuting the auto is better suited no doubt. If you commute less and enjoy your country drives go for the manual. The more upmarket autos have paddles for manual shifts but if your serious about that do look at what they do, the 650 has paddle shifts which are more like an indicator to the gearbox (it'll revert back to auto by itself) useful for overtakes or a sport sequential shift which is the "no I want this gear" option. The cars are vastly different though obviously I've never driven the same car with and without an autobox.
Some manuals also have rev matching which is a weird mid point between the two
Some manuals also have rev matching which is a weird mid point between the two
If you've never driven an auto, I'd suggest you borrow or even hire one for a bit and see how you get on.
Personally, I love my manual in the weekend toy, but wouldn't even think of buying a manual daily these days, as living in the south east, I spend lots of time in traffic etc, and an auto is perfect for that. Mine has paddles if I want to play, and those get used occasionally but most of the time it's in D.
Despite doing most mileage in autos, I've never found any issue getting back into a manual - I don't think you ever forget how to work a clutch!
Personally, I love my manual in the weekend toy, but wouldn't even think of buying a manual daily these days, as living in the south east, I spend lots of time in traffic etc, and an auto is perfect for that. Mine has paddles if I want to play, and those get used occasionally but most of the time it's in D.
Despite doing most mileage in autos, I've never found any issue getting back into a manual - I don't think you ever forget how to work a clutch!
I had a car with a DSG box for 4 years and had no problem jumping back into a manual.
Maybe a few hours or so with it feeling weird, but you soon get used. Maybe you'll pull up to a junction and stall once or twice. Or on the other side hit the brake with your left foot. You'll know about that!
I definitely prefer a manual when driving for fun, but day to day an auto is quite nice.
A semi-auto (like the vag DSG) is the best of both worlds IMHO. Still good craic to flick through the gears with paddles or the stick.
I did find myself missing the feel of a manual though, but not as often as I thought.
Maybe a few hours or so with it feeling weird, but you soon get used. Maybe you'll pull up to a junction and stall once or twice. Or on the other side hit the brake with your left foot. You'll know about that!
I definitely prefer a manual when driving for fun, but day to day an auto is quite nice.
A semi-auto (like the vag DSG) is the best of both worlds IMHO. Still good craic to flick through the gears with paddles or the stick.
I did find myself missing the feel of a manual though, but not as often as I thought.
I love my auto (ZF8), it's lovely in traffic and make life super easy when you wanna be lazy but also offers as much control as a manual when you stick it in manual. The roads are so busy these days unless you live in the middle of nowhere and have a glorious country commute I'd seriously consider an auto.
Ninja59 said:
Had my 640D with the ZF8 for a little over 2 years love the thing. I kept my MX5 for just under a year with it and could jump fine between them.
But honestly, brutally...most of the time I would jump in the 640 as the auto just suited traffic so much better and was just nicer to drive for a majority of the time.
Completely agree. 90% of my driving is town/motorway so auto makes perfect sense. If I was still living in the highlands of Scotland I'd probably plump for a manual as the roads up there are more suited to it. But I'm not and the ZF box is perfect for my current situation.But honestly, brutally...most of the time I would jump in the 640 as the auto just suited traffic so much better and was just nicer to drive for a majority of the time.
I think the pros and cons of driving have been fairly comprehensively covered above so another point I thought worth mentioning is that some autos are not as reliable as their manual counterparts. This could be a factor depending on whether you're buying/leasing a new car vs a second hand car. If buying new I would probably go auto for a daily but second hand I'd be more inclined towards a manual for reliability.
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