Turbo'd automatic sportscars, why does anyone want them?
Discussion
OK, someone missing a left leg.
Other than that and on the back of the EVs, no one wants them, what is the point of a turbo'd automatic sportscar?
A sportscar needs to be fun and an experience to drive.
A sportscar needs a manual gearbox.
A sportscar needs a revvy NA engine.
YOU need to feel responsible for the car and the car needs to feel responsive to you.
Automatics kill involvement. You may as well be in an EV.
Turbos reduce a petrol to no more than a tdi.
I know all the top cars are generally turbo'd automatics, but are they any fun compared to slightly older manual NAs?
Bit of a rant, but I am getting to hhe age where I can afford something tasty and the majority is just a bit meh.
Alpine A110 perfect example. Nice light car but surely would be so much more fun with a manual NA engine.
Or is it all to do with emissions and you can't have your cake and eat it?
Other than that and on the back of the EVs, no one wants them, what is the point of a turbo'd automatic sportscar?
A sportscar needs to be fun and an experience to drive.
A sportscar needs a manual gearbox.
A sportscar needs a revvy NA engine.
YOU need to feel responsible for the car and the car needs to feel responsive to you.
Automatics kill involvement. You may as well be in an EV.
Turbos reduce a petrol to no more than a tdi.
I know all the top cars are generally turbo'd automatics, but are they any fun compared to slightly older manual NAs?
Bit of a rant, but I am getting to hhe age where I can afford something tasty and the majority is just a bit meh.
Alpine A110 perfect example. Nice light car but surely would be so much more fun with a manual NA engine.
Or is it all to do with emissions and you can't have your cake and eat it?
I'd say, try as many cars as you can and choose based on that. Not on the opinion of others.
That being said, I know I prefer a manual box for my 'toy' as it were, but admit the autos of the moment can change gear faster and better than I - I don't care. The involvement, for me, is what it is all about.
That being said, I know I prefer a manual box for my 'toy' as it were, but admit the autos of the moment can change gear faster and better than I - I don't care. The involvement, for me, is what it is all about.
All the automatics I have driven (in the USA) have been poor: either 90s 3 speed things or cvts. Maybe I didn't adapt my driving style? but I found them unsatisfactory in terms of control and engagement.
Fine for thousands of miles of humdrum, or nose to tail traffic, but that's my "lived experience".
My mate with a supercharged jag raves about his 8 speed zf auto box, and I recall the VW dsg box finally usurping manual boxes for acceleration and mpg. So obviously opinions differ.
It's hard to analyse/ discuss this issue without basically comparing the two transmissions, but I get where you're coming from.
Fine for thousands of miles of humdrum, or nose to tail traffic, but that's my "lived experience".
My mate with a supercharged jag raves about his 8 speed zf auto box, and I recall the VW dsg box finally usurping manual boxes for acceleration and mpg. So obviously opinions differ.
It's hard to analyse/ discuss this issue without basically comparing the two transmissions, but I get where you're coming from.
And I'd also add: I had a 90s turbos car (mr2). It was a one trick pony in terms of point and shoot, but another mate's Elise wiped the floor with it in terms of feedback and involvement.
So it does also come back to what people look for from a car.
Turbos/forced induction are a great way to add power and torque without the mass and poor mpg of larger displacement engine.
That can fit the brief for sports cars / city cars / vans whatever really.
So it does also come back to what people look for from a car.
Turbos/forced induction are a great way to add power and torque without the mass and poor mpg of larger displacement engine.
That can fit the brief for sports cars / city cars / vans whatever really.
I thought that I'd seriously miss 'manual gear change' when I moved to the kind of car you're calling 'automatic' (although many cars without clutch pedals are not really automatics).
In fact, I don't miss it at all - the one 'manual' car I still own just seems like unnecessary hassle.
If I'd had the choice 4 years ago between an old school manual and paddle shift on the current car I own, I'd have gone old school manual. Having made the transition, if I had the choice now - ii I'd stick with paddle shift.
In fact, I don't miss it at all - the one 'manual' car I still own just seems like unnecessary hassle.
If I'd had the choice 4 years ago between an old school manual and paddle shift on the current car I own, I'd have gone old school manual. Having made the transition, if I had the choice now - ii I'd stick with paddle shift.
Most drivers are not (high earning?) enthusiasts that have a daily car, a weekend toy & a tip car. We have one car to cover all our needs; most of which we have because they're necessary to live our lives - driving for fun is little, if any, of our mileage.
For me, a 5-door 1.4T (150) hatchback is the perfect compromise. Adequate performance, decent economy, room for 4 & takes stuff to the tip when needed.
As my 1.4T engine has more torque (& at lower revs) than 2.0NA engine of the same power it is far better for day today driving when fun is not a cosideration.
For me, a 5-door 1.4T (150) hatchback is the perfect compromise. Adequate performance, decent economy, room for 4 & takes stuff to the tip when needed.
As my 1.4T engine has more torque (& at lower revs) than 2.0NA engine of the same power it is far better for day today driving when fun is not a cosideration.
andrewburton said:
So where is the enjoyment in a turbo'd automatic sportscar?
Maybe for some, its just about the sheer forwards acceleration, the looks of the car, the handling. Some won't need the interaction with a manual box and are more than happy with flappy paddles with the ability to be fully automatic too.They are maybe only interested in the outright performance capabilities of cars and that is more with a modern auto box.
For me though, manual please.
andrewburton said:
OK, someone missing a left leg.
Other than that and on the back of the EVs, no one wants them, what is the point of a turbo'd automatic sportscar?
A sportscar needs to be fun and an experience to drive.
A sportscar needs a manual gearbox.
A sportscar needs a revvy NA engine.
YOU need to feel responsible for the car and the car needs to feel responsive to you.
Automatics kill involvement. You may as well be in an EV.
Turbos reduce a petrol to no more than a tdi.
I know all the top cars are generally turbo'd automatics, but are they any fun compared to slightly older manual NAs?
Bit of a rant, but I am getting to hhe age where I can afford something tasty and the majority is just a bit meh.
Alpine A110 perfect example. Nice light car but surely would be so much more fun with a manual NA engine.
Or is it all to do with emissions and you can't have your cake and eat it?
Generally most cars and humans have moved on a bit since the 80's try it you might be surprised Other than that and on the back of the EVs, no one wants them, what is the point of a turbo'd automatic sportscar?
A sportscar needs to be fun and an experience to drive.
A sportscar needs a manual gearbox.
A sportscar needs a revvy NA engine.
YOU need to feel responsible for the car and the car needs to feel responsive to you.
Automatics kill involvement. You may as well be in an EV.
Turbos reduce a petrol to no more than a tdi.
I know all the top cars are generally turbo'd automatics, but are they any fun compared to slightly older manual NAs?
Bit of a rant, but I am getting to hhe age where I can afford something tasty and the majority is just a bit meh.
Alpine A110 perfect example. Nice light car but surely would be so much more fun with a manual NA engine.
Or is it all to do with emissions and you can't have your cake and eat it?
andrewburton said:
OK, someone missing a left leg.
Other than that and on the back of the EVs, no one wants them, what is the point of a turbo'd automatic sportscar?
A sportscar needs to be fun and an experience to drive.
A sportscar needs a manual gearbox.
A sportscar needs a revvy NA engine.
YOU need to feel responsible for the car and the car needs to feel responsive to you.
Automatics kill involvement. You may as well be in an EV.
Turbos reduce a petrol to no more than a tdi.
I know all the top cars are generally turbo'd automatics, but are they any fun compared to slightly older manual NAs?
Bit of a rant, but I am getting to hhe age where I can afford something tasty and the majority is just a bit meh.
Alpine A110 perfect example. Nice light car but surely would be so much more fun with a manual NA engine.
Or is it all to do with emissions and you can't have your cake and eat it?
You should drive an Alpine Other than that and on the back of the EVs, no one wants them, what is the point of a turbo'd automatic sportscar?
A sportscar needs to be fun and an experience to drive.
A sportscar needs a manual gearbox.
A sportscar needs a revvy NA engine.
YOU need to feel responsible for the car and the car needs to feel responsive to you.
Automatics kill involvement. You may as well be in an EV.
Turbos reduce a petrol to no more than a tdi.
I know all the top cars are generally turbo'd automatics, but are they any fun compared to slightly older manual NAs?
Bit of a rant, but I am getting to hhe age where I can afford something tasty and the majority is just a bit meh.
Alpine A110 perfect example. Nice light car but surely would be so much more fun with a manual NA engine.
Or is it all to do with emissions and you can't have your cake and eat it?
You have to remember that people like different things. I'm a bit of a dinosaur and I love RWD/manual gearbox/NA/LSD/hydraulic steering etc, however that isn't to say that an automatic sportscar would be crap though for me. Also I'd personally much rather drive an automatic sportscar over an EV all day everyday for example.
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff