Automatic or Manual?

[jlee75]

One test drive on the Pontiac Firebird Formula a while back. Professional drivers. The auto was faster. I believe this was in Motor Trend back in 93-96 sometime.

So to answer your question.... only in rare instances will a auto be faster than a stick using pro drivers. In most instances, an auto will be faster as most ppl don't know how to shift properly.

 

[gygheyzeus]

Manual accelerates faster, and brakes faster. It's also safer in winter, as you can control your rev's better. I don't know how many times having a manual transmission has been a true blessing when on ice. (also a hell of a lot of fun).

 

[Nefrodite]

hm, well if you want to eat or do other things behind the wheel take auto.

 

[LAUST]

For the Concentration thing on an Manual... you guys must be the people who have trouble talking on a cell phone while driving, Shifting is easy and second nature, As far as the Performance and Auto being a total Slush box... Well yes until a point, once you start reaching very high TQ and HP number's and your talking Dragstrip... ALL the fastest drag cars are Auto's... sorry to breat the truth out, but thats how it is :Q

Also if you buy a truck for towing and you get a Manual you just made a huge mistake, the guys in the Auto's will tear you limb from limb

But as far as if you buy an econo box or a track sports car Manual no competition there, but as far as more fun or whatever, Shifting is SOO cake. I don't even have to think to shift.

BTW... POWERGLIDE anyone!!??

 

[Lithium381]

Personally i like my manual better, gives me something to do...heh....besides, yeah, it is more "fun" for me

 

[LethalWolfe]

Stix are fun on weekends. But no in LA traffic, or if you have a busted left leg

Lethal

 

[audiophan]

If your a good driver and can keep rpm's in the power band, manual will get you going quicker.

 

[JediJeb]

Manual, definately, besides with the right passenger it can be fun to have your hand "slip" of the shifter once in a while.

 

[monto]

automatic until i can afford a M5

 

[Phunktion]

<< something like an electronically controlled manual transmission(clutch instead of torque converter) would be the best of both worlds, quick shifting without the power loss of an automatic. just my two cents, doesn't mean i know what i'm talkin about >>


In other words a Tiptronic = computer controlled clutching

 

[dakata24]

automatic cuz i have a hard enough time driving with an auto let alone having to deal with changing gears..

 

[DerProfi]

Toph99 something like an electronically controlled manual transmission(clutch instead of torque converter) would be the best of both worlds, quick shifting without the power loss of an automatic. just my two cents, doesn't mean i know what i'm talkin about

Phunktion In other words a Tiptronic = computer controlled clutching

Actually, such a beast is available on the M3 from BMW (and soon on their 325 and 330). It's called SMG, and gives you F1-style paddle shifters on the steering wheel that hook up to a computer-controlled hydraulic-actuated clutch. There is no torque converter like you'd have in an automatic transmission, and it shifts faster than even the best human driver. Here's a sweet Flash presentation that talks about SMG.

Tiptronic is not the same thing as SMG. Tiptronic is what Porsche/Audi/VW calls their manually-shiftable automatic transmission which is not a computer-controlled clutch. Benz calls it Steptronic, Lexus calls it E-Shift, but I call it "Slushtronic" because it's not much better and certainly no more fun than your standard auto. BTW, I own a car with this blasphemy of a transmission, so I figure it's OK for me to cast stones

 

[Murpheeee]

In Europe, Automatics are only driven by old ladies and lazy rich people.

 

[jjones]

give me a manual anyday. automatics are suck; no fun at all.

 

[Supahfreak]

I thought Manuals were more efficient til recently, I drove a Celica GTS w/ Indy style shifter Automatic trans and it was pretty impressive. For lower end cars like Civics etc. manual is still better but the gap is closing.

NEVER OWNED AN AUTOMATIC,

FreAk

 

[vi edit]

I don't agree with saying that *all* manuals are faster than auto's. It's not true. Look at the acceleration times of a CVT car. The auto is a full second to a second and a half faster than the manual. The auto CVT also pulls better gas milage as well.

I would say that in a N/A 4 cylinder, and some of your smaller 6 cylinders, the manual will almost always be quicker. They already have low HP and Torque ratings, and the slushboxes on the autos suck up valuable power making a greater hit performance. Also keep into consideration that these smaller engines generally have their powerbands at higher RPM's where automatic transmissions have trouble staying at.

When you move up to big V6's and your V8's, things start to change IMHO. The powerband moves down to the lower end of things, and much of the power is usable at low RPM's. In these sorts of engines, they have enough power to overcome the drain by the auto tranny, and infact, are efficient enough that they can shift better than the guy with the stick. It also helps that they have low end grunt so if the auto tranny decides to upshift on you, you can still accellerate well. The same can't be said for a high reving 4 cyl.

Outside of "start from a stop" acceleration, one place where manuals shine, especially in high reving 4 cyls and small sixes, is in the fact that I can keep the car in the power band myself. I can run any gear at 6,000 RPM's and keep it there provided I have the road to run it. When I go to pass, I can take it out of the overdrive gear, drop it into third, and then rocket past the other car. Can't really say the same for auto's. The auto tranny will take a second to register I am trying to accellerate, and then it will many times put me outside of the powerband on the initial takeover. I don't get my power until I'm past the other car. With a manual tranny I get my power when I want my power.

 

[beat mania]

<< hm, well if you want to eat or do other things behind the wheel take auto. >>



Yeah, plus it'd be kind of tough to brush your teeth and floss afterwards while driving a stick.

Jeez. I don't care what transmission it it, please understand that one should be DRIVING when behind the wheel.

 

[LAUST]

Vi, your right, Auto's when you get in the bigger blocks and especially forced induction are much faster at accelerating, I've seen many people who have Single digit to low double convert to Manual on the dragstrip, they may loose a MPH or 2 but they can pick up over a 1/2 second by stickin a powerglide in there and are also FAR more consistant. Also when it comes to the one's on the forced induction why do people think the Sy/Ty's and GN's come with Auto's, when a SLOW human shift's gears there go's all his boost, in my Auto I don't skip a beat on boost.

And again in trucks the towing capacity is over 1000lbs more when it comes to trucks. One reason, your going up Loveland pass, you have to make a shift, your loosin momentem there, thats not a good thing.

Again not saying Auto's are better cause in a Econo box or Circle track car it's Manual all the way, I'm trying to set straight the IGNORANCE here about Auto's

 

[Sneezer]

Really, it will come down to the vehicles you are considering and the majority of the driving you will be doing. Personally, I don't want a manual for the daily commute back and forth to the office. Auto is definitely the way to go there. If you do not have to worry about rush hour traffic, then you might be happier with a manual. Especially if you are getting a cheaper car like a Civic, etc, you will get a little more power to the wheels through a manual. Go up in size with engine capacity and autos begin to take the lead. I have driven a couple auto stick cars, and I did enjoy them a great deal. You can keep greater control of your powerband with a manual but forcing it into one gear for longer than an auto will let you. Some are going to be quicker than others, depending on the car and engine.

 

[neovan]

gotta get the manual...automatic doesn't compare (yes, even in los angeles (101 freeway) traffic during rush hour)