Manual v Automatic cars

Cardiffdaffs said:
I had Auto in my last car but changed back to manual as I enjoy driving that way. No other answer. It’s definitely easier in an auto but I don’t feel the drive the same.
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I think this is the correct answer really. Manuals are more engaging to drive,you have more of a sense you are controlling the machine. I guess that'll all go away soon. Almost all EV only have a single gear.
 
I've got a car with a terrible automatic gearbox and I've had cars with a great one. The old one is inefficient on fuel, always in the wrong gear, forever hearing excessive revving noises. Even then though, it's really easy to drive. It's just stop and go. Never had a problem with bad weather (although don't think there has been any extreme weather in the 7 years I've had it). Any driving with hills just takes away any consideration of hill start, rolling backwards etc. It is just easier. The DSG in the VW I had was brilliant. I had flappy paddles but I found it was always n the correct gear anyway so never used it and that was in a sporty car. The EV I have now doesn't need them. I had to drive a manual a few weeks back for the first time in 4 years and it's just another thing you have to think about which distracts you a bit for no added benefit.

I can definitely see why there was some resistance when they first came out but these days the automatic is superior in almost every way.

Anyone know how an F1 car operates? I presume they don't have a gear stick but are the drivers changing gears or is their auto better then them even? I suspect they manually shift but is that because they have to or because they are better than the gearbox?
 
boroPE said:
Anyone else find the start stop a pain on Automatic cars ? Try to remember to turn mine off.
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Weirdly, I had two MK7 Golfs that had this, and it worked better with the manual than the auto as it worked off when the clutch was enaged.
 
sadgit said:
I'll never forget hiring my 1st car in LA, I asked the guy for a manual car... he looked at me and said "with a stick???" Laughed and said no :D
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A friend of mine wanted to buy a manual BMW in Manhattan. They just said "if you want a manual, you know what you're getting" and refused a test drive.
 
Surprised no-one's mentioned fuel economy. Has there been a big improvement in automatics in recent years?
 
I got a new car last November and wasn't really fussed about the transmission. I test drove an automatic and after getting use to not using my left foot couldn't believe how easy it was. It's the first auto I've ever had and it's brilliant to drive. I wish I had it when driving in East Sussex last summer as the amount of clutch control needed was ridiculous. The car was getting a bit temperamental about it at one point.
 
Anton_Berg said:
Surprised no-one's mentioned fuel economy. Has there been a big improvement in automatics in recent years?
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I had a 2.0 litre manual previously. The 1.6 litre automatic seems about the same to me. It's all effected by driving. If there's constant increases or decreases in speed the MPG suffers.
 
Nano said:
I've got a car with a terrible automatic gearbox and I've had cars with a great one. The old one is inefficient on fuel, always in the wrong gear, forever hearing excessive revving noises. Even then though, it's really easy to drive. It's just stop and go. Never had a problem with bad weather (although don't think there has been any extreme weather in the 7 years I've had it). Any driving with hills just takes away any consideration of hill start, rolling backwards etc. It is just easier. The DSG in the VW I had was brilliant. I had flappy paddles but I found it was always n the correct gear anyway so never used it and that was in a sporty car. The EV I have now doesn't need them. I had to drive a manual a few weeks back for the first time in 4 years and it's just another thing you have to think about which distracts you a bit for no added benefit.

I can definitely see why there was some resistance when they first came out but these days the automatic is superior in almost every way.

Anyone know how an F1 car operates? I presume they don't have a gear stick but are the drivers changing gears or is their auto better then them even? I suspect they manually shift but is that because they have to or because they are better than the gearbox?
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F1 cars manually shift. With "flappy paddles" on the steering wheel. I think the regs deliberately forbid autos
 
I have this conversation with my dad all the time, I always thought Automatics were for OAP's who "couldn't drive anymore" that was until I got one myself in a company car.

I honestly wouldnt go back to driving a manual, i just dont see the point! The automatic always selects the most economical gear and if you put your foot down to overtake hard it will take 0.5seconds to shift down 1-2 gears and give you full beans.

Ps, car before my current car had the "flappy paddles" but as I'm not a F1 driver I never used these.
 
I think that manuals are great for engagement, auto's for comfort. The last gen BMW's with the DCT, the current VAG DSG and Porsche PDK are brilliant twin clutch designs. The ZF 8 speed used in the new M3 and M4 is pretty good, but not as good as the old DCT. I have that gearbox in my F10 and it is lovely to pootle around in, but its not the most responsive thing when hustling, even in sport mode.
 
I have an Rx8 which redlines at 9k rpm. The automatic version is rubbish. Each to their own though.
 
I'll never go back to manual by choice. I get nearly 60mpg out of my Golf automatic and have had no issues with snow and ice.
 
Anton_Berg said:
Surprised no-one's mentioned fuel economy. Has there been a big improvement in automatics in recent years?
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Good auto's are usually better, as they usually have 8/9 forward gears, compared to 5 in a manual, so they can rev lower at higher speeds.
 
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Full auto's are unreal on the good cars, especially from BMW, Audi, VW etc, but I've not had much experience of others.

The missus had a Semi-Auto Fiat 500, and that was awful.

Some of the cheaper mercs aren't that great in auto, with the lower spec engines, but the higher cost cars/ engines are good.
 
BaronSmoggie said:
Not an issue, more than likely just a comfort choice.
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Exactly this. Have no issue with changing gear if I have to drive a manual, but enjoy the comfort and convenience of an automatic, especially when driving in towns or small, windy roads. I like cruise control as well but some people seem scared of it. Is it a strangely British thing wanting to have a gear knob to use? In other countries automatics seem to be the norm.
 
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I prefer a manual, for now. Bit of a pain in the bum when in heavy traffic though and you're on and off the clutch for a while.
 
Andy_W said:
Good auto's are usually better, as they usually have 8/9 forward gears, compared to 5 in a manual, so they can rev lower at higher speeds.
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My first auto was a 2.3 Cortina Ghia. I think the gearbox had only 3 speeds! Got 29mpg in town, on motorway, anywhere really.
 
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