Automatic Transmissions

[guest_100]

Hi, Ive been driving manual cars for like 10 years now and the other day i drove an automatic. They are so nice to drive!! Once you take your foot off the footbrake and the car will move foward at walking pace, then to go faster put your foot on the gas. This is so nice when driving in stop start traffic. Theres no need to worry about the gears because they can be changed automatically. Its much nicer not having a clutch and you cant stall. I found it much more relaxing and easier to drive!

Why does the UK still drive manuals? Half the world thinks the UK is weird for driving manuals. In many countries like America everyone dives automatics, why doesn’t everyone do that in this country?

[retan]

Half the world thinks the UK is weird for driving manuals. In many countries like America everyone dives automatics, why doesn’t everyone do that in this country?

I'm in America and I've always pref. manuals. Especially in college... more things to go wrong with an automatic trannie on an older car--and when it does you're fuqed. Although I agree with you about stop and go traffic. Also:

Manuals +'s:

Better gas mileage.
Faster acceleration.
More control.
Cheaper price.
Less break wear (if you down shift).
Easier to fix a worn out clutch than a worn out auto. tran.

[Guest]

I dont think you really get more control in a manual, autos are just as good. In automatics you can put it in drive which automatically changes gear, but they all allow you to hold it into a lower gear if you want to. My car has gears 1, 2 and 3 and drive. So if i want to stay in gear 1, i can put it in gear 1 when nessecary. Also most new automatics automatically change gear, but still have a manual mode to manually select any gear when you fell nessecary (not just the lower ones). So the only differnce is the clutch. You can move off easily and control your speed in an automatic just as good as you can in a manual.

As for better gas mileage, manuals are slightly better then autos, but theres not much differnce. The newer automatics such as CVT, have improved the fuel efficency.

Also CVT autos have better and smoother accelration. Many autos have sports modes which change gears / shift ocurs at higher RPM, which improves acceleration. They have snow modes which pull away in 2nd gear and stay in a high a gear as possible. So i think they are just as good as manuals when it comes to control and accelration.

I found Buying automatics here are more or less the same price as manual versions.

Less break wear (if you down shift).

If you use a automatic properly, that is holding it in a lower gear when you need to, you wont have more wear on the brake then in a manual.

[Exodus]

There is a reason why Automatic trans adds about an extra $1000+ onto a car price. Its expensive, and I'd rather pay for new shift cables, clutch, etc anyday over a new auto trans.

[retan]

Also most new automatics automatically change gear, but still have a manual mode to manually select any gear when you fell nessecary (not just the lower ones). So the only differnce is the clutch.

Not really. Tiptronic transmissions are slower to shift since they use a torque converter... and also many tiptronic systems auto shift up if you approach red-line. Manual = human control (hence why its called "manual")

As for better gas mileage, manuals are slightly better then autos, but theres not much differnce. The newer automatics such as CVT, have improved the fuel efficency.

True. Dont know much about variable transmissions... but I suppose you could aslo get am automatic hybrid (damn i want one of those... i like the new lexus hybrids =) Most automatics in the city where I live are much worse on mileage considering most people dont have the newest technology in their cars and the simple reality is that automatics are heavier and less efficient.

I found Buying automatics here are more or less the same price as manual versions. If you use a automatic properly, that is holding it in a lower gear when you need to, you wont have more wear on the brake then in a manual.

In southern california anyways (car culture mecca) manuals are cheaper since most people pref. auto--they're lazy, always in traffic, and generally bad drivers. I guess if you were smart and treated your auto like a manual to downshift i guess less break wear but no one really drives like that... in a manual its 2nd nature to downshift.

[Loki]

I've always preferred manual. I feel alot more involved with the car then driving an auto 'box.

[Guest]

I dont think you really get more control in a manual, autos are just as good. In automatics you can put it in drive which automatically changes gear, but they all allow you to hold it into a lower gear if you want to. My car has gears 1, 2 and 3 and drive. So if i want to stay in gear 1, i can put it in gear 1 when nessecary. Also most new automatics automatically change gear, but still have a manual mode to manually select any gear when you fell nessecary (not just the lower ones). So the only differnce is the clutch. You can move off easily and control your speed in an automatic just as good as you can in a manual.

As for better gas mileage, manuals are slightly better then autos, but theres not much differnce. The newer automatics such as CVT, have improved the fuel efficency.

Also CVT autos have better and smoother accelration. Many autos have sports modes which change gears / shift ocurs at higher RPM, which improves acceleration. They have snow modes which pull away in 2nd gear and stay in a high a gear as possible. So i think they are just as good as manuals when it comes to control and accelration.

I found Buying automatics here are more or less the same price as manual versions.

Less break wear (if you down shift).

If you use a automatic properly, that is holding it in a lower gear when you need to, you wont have more wear on the brake then in a manual.

you do have much more control with a manual gearbox - makes driving much quicker and safer if your in the right gear for cornering etc - you can change down and always have power if you get into some trouble. An auto you have to wait for the bloody thing to change down which is so slow and fustrating when your in a hurry! Its also safer for towing trailers. I have been in a vehicle (discovery) when its come into S*** snaking while towing (about 10 times now...ended in it being written off.......) - bloody automatic transmition just wasn't quick enough to accelarate out of it. It also makes a difference down hills cos you can't keep it in a low gear for the engine braking. braking with a heavy trailer is very dodgy downhill!

[Guest]

you do have much more control with a manual gearbox - makes driving much quicker and safer if your in the right gear for cornering etc - you can change down and always have power if you get into some trouble. An auto you have to wait for the bloody thing to change down which is so slow and fustrating when your in a hurry! Its also safer for towing trailers. I have been in a vehicle (discovery) when its come into S*** snaking while towing (about 10 times now...ended in it being written off.......) - bloody automatic transmition just wasn't quick enough to accelarate out of it. It also makes a difference down hills cos you can't keep it in a low gear for the engine braking. braking with a heavy trailer is very dodgy downhill!

All automatics can be held in a low gear when going down hills. Before going down a steep hill you put it in gear 1, thats why autos have this, so its not dangerous when you need to be in a low gear. Maybe alot of people dont do this, but they should if they want to control.

Maybe you do get more control in a manual, but i personally dont nottice the differnce. All i need a car for is to get me from a to b easily - for me autos do this fine - I find autos more relaxing/nicer to drive.

[james1202]

I think any problems with autos such as fuel efficency, control etc will be sorted out sooner or later. Manuals are likely to be gradually phased out over time abd replaced by manuals, whether that will be soon or many years away. These days everything is made so humans have to do less, manuals are old technolgy.

[Guest]

Over the last 10 years, autos have became alot more common here in the UK. Theres still alot more manuals then there are autos, but autos are definatly getting more demand then they used to.

[Guest]

its not practical to do this all the time - what about when your driving along at 50 and come accross a hill? Manuals will be here for ever.....drivers love the control of it....being able to blip the throttle, change to second and redline it all the way up through the gears is an amazing adrenaline rush....for this reason alone you won't ever get me buying an automatic! what annoyes me about automatics is when you boot it in sport mode and ease off for a corner etc. it changes up a gear when I want it to stay in the gear it was in. boot it again and the bloody thing takes an age to change back.....

All automatics can be held in a low gear when going down hills. Before going down a steep hill you put it in gear 1, thats why autos have this, so its not dangerous when you need to be in a low gear. Maybe alot of people dont do this, but they should if they want to control.

Maybe you do get more control in a manual, but i personally dont nottice the differnce. All i need a car for is to get me from a to b easily - for me autos do this fine - I find autos more relaxing/nicer to drive.[/quote]

[Guest]

the only gear boxes that will appeal to proper drivers are the paddle shift type gear boxes......so you are still in full control of your gear choice but the changing and clutch mech is all electronic. this will be expensive, unreliable for years yet and weight significantly more than the standard manual set up. once this system is established in the motor car industry and is affordable it will be very popular, but the price is going to be high for it!

[Dunbar]

For driving around town and in stop and go traffic, automatic transmissions are great. I have a manual transmission truck and am definitely tired of shifting after all of these years. It's so much more relaxing to let the stupid tranny shift for you. But ideally one would have a sports car with a manual. But a daily driver? Gimmie the auto.

[Guest]

An automatic shifts as quick and more reliably than a manual these days. Once apon a time race cars only had manuals, then even dragsters moved to automatics with special shift points. Now an automatic on a good American or Japanese car is as good as an older dragster automatic. Used to be, the shifting in an automatics was slow and mushy, but today you can hit a button and change all your shift points to a performance mode, or do it manually, and the shift is still crisp and clean.

A stick helps with gas milage... if you shift like my late grandmother did. Let's face it, you hit that shifter like it needs a spanking don't you? The automatic is just as good as the manual for gas milage in every day driving. It's only if gas milage is always on your mind and you're shifting like the manufacturers testing crew on a closed course, that the manual will be a tiny tiny fraction better.

The manual is less expensive if you always tow your dead cars to the junkyard. If you plan to sell the car and most people do, your trade-in value is going to be much lower. Who wants a manual? No one these days.

An automatic lets you watch the road. Try sipping a coffee whilst making a right turn in a manual. Did you see the guy step in front of you? Heck no he's stuck in your grill groaning for a lawyer and a doctor. (In that order if you live in the USA.)

I prefer a manual. It IS more fun...

[Guest]

the only gear boxes that will appeal to proper drivers are the paddle shift type gear boxes......so you are still in full control of your gear choice but the changing and clutch mech is all electronic. this will be expensive, unreliable for years yet and weight significantly more than the standard manual set up. once this system is established in the motor car industry and is affordable it will be very popular, but the price is going to be high for it!

Hasnt that already happened though. Firstly theres automated manual transmissions and then theres DSG. DSG shifts much faster then it is humanly possible. It can be driven in full auto mode, sport mode or manual mode - where the driver selects the gears either with the gear stick or with the paddles by the steering wheel. These are quicker to 60 then manuals, smoother gear changes then manual and they have improved fuel consumption. I think they are aso chaper then a normal automatic - but they are abit more expensive then manuals. But I think its worth it!

If you havent heard of DSG take a look here:
http://www.volkswagen-media-services.com/medias_publish/ms/content/en/features/2005/11/01/new_interest_in_automatic_gearboxes_thanks_to_dsg.standard.gid-oeffentlichkeit.html