Automatic vs. manual transmission

[Pretender]

....in racing video games. Although the top speed in manual is usually like 5-10mph faster, is it really worth it to use manual? If you forget to shift or at the wrong time once or twice, wouldn't you lose all the advantages of extra speed in mistakes.

In conclusion....how skilled do you have to be with manual for it to be better then using automatic?

And one more question...since I'm one of the newer generation who hasn't been around when manual was the only choice...when are you supposed to shift? I've been doing it when the tachometer is in the red area...like 5-6krpm, as for downshifting I'm not sure.


Isn't this much better then one of those muppet/nef/political threads?

 

[Francodman]

I can't stand driving automatic in games, it doesn't give you the same control!, Say if I want a few extra RPM's to passup someone, you just can't do that in the automatic.

 

[Pretender]

You drive paulson?

 

[Chooie]

You have to have a good feel for where the powerband of the engine is. You want to upshift whenever you feel the rate of accelleration drop off-basically, at the tail end of the torque curve. On some cars, peak torque comes as low as 2k rpm, some it kicks in around 7k rpm (aka the S2000). Once you've driven the car for a bit of time, you can just go by feel in daily driving.

 

[Pretender]

Alright, as long as you stay away from New York, I'll feel safe.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

<< when are you supposed to shift? I've been doing it when the tachometer is in the red area...like 5-6krpm >>

:Q :Q :Q

Don't wait that long! Shift before you redline it. Ughh redlining is a sure-fire way to seriously fsck something up. For general purpose driving 4000rpm is a good time to shift.

 

[NFS4]

<< For general purpose driving 4000rpm is a good time to shift. >>


Geez, maybe for your car. Every car is different. Try shifting at 4000RPM in a Honda S2000 and watch it sputter all over the place

 

[BoberFett]

If I recall, my dad's old 5-speed Ranger red lined at 4000. Whenever I drove that thing I remember shifting at around 2500.

As for computer games, manual is worthless. I have yet to see a game where there's an accurate enough physics model to even bother with manual. Driving a manual so that it makes a difference requires tactile, visual and aural feedback that games don't yet provide. It's more than just waiting until the tach reaches a certain RPM then shifting.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

I used to race manuals for more control, but when playing with a bunch of guys who never tried. You get out of practice and have a hard time getting back. As for when to shift, that is game dependant and sometimes car dependant.

 

[NFS4]

<< As for computer games, manual is worthless. I have yet to see a game where there's an accurate enough physics model to even bother with manual. Driving a manual so that it makes a difference requires tactile, visual and aural feedback that games don't yet provide. It's more than just waiting until the tach reaches a certain RPM then shifting. >>


Bah, manual is the only way to go with Need for Speed: Porsche Unleased. It has a very good physics model, although not nearly as good as GPL. I've been playing it with an auto for the past 4 months (using a Gravis Xterminator) b/c I couldn't get comfortable changing gears with the gamepad even though it has about 58 million buttons on it But after receiving my Logitech Formula Force steering wheel/pedal combo on Wednesday, I made the quick switch to manual and have not looked back. The paddle shifters behind the wheel (ala Ferrari F355 F1, Ferrari F360 Modena F1, and Formula 1 cars) are perfect. It gives you so much more control especially when downshifting to attack sharp corners and hairpins. And it just feel good to feel the steering wheel vibrate in your hands wildly as you hit the red line. And after only about a couple hours of driving with the wheel and with the manual transimission, I was pulling off times within 2-3 seconds of my FASTEST EVER laps (in the four months of playing the game) with the auto and Gravis Xterminator. Give me another week or couple of weeks to get used to the wheel and pedals, and I'll be beating those auto times by 2-3 seconds and maybe even more.


<< . I have yet to see a game where there's an accurate enough physics model to even bother with manual. >>


I can't believe you just dissed Grand Prix Legends:Q That is the most accurate physics model to date in a computer racing game. The physics model is so accurate indeed that even real race car drivers (CART driver Juan Montoya comes to mind) exclaim how realistic it is. In fact, that's the reason why GPL wasn't a sales success. People couldn't handle the damn cars b/c it was too realistic. Only the hardcore can handle that game And a manual is a must to enjoy that game.

To say that a manual is uneccessary in racing games means that either

a) You're not playing a decent racing game
b) You don't have a controller that best suits the game or
c) You're just a wuss

I'd like to see you hop on over to the High Gear Racing Forums (these forums are to sim racing games what Anandtech is to computer hardware) and see what happens when you say that a manual is unnecessary for today's games. You had better bring the fire extinguisher and a flame retardent suit

http://forums.simracingnews.com/cgi-bin/Ultimate.cgi

 

[fergiboy]

Automatics are for the lazy. I have an automatic.

 

[Viper GTS]

Sometimes the &quot;point &amp; click&quot; approach to driving is nice. I'd rather have the auto option when I'm mad, 'cause I can crank up the radio &amp; just floor it. However, for everyday driving, I'll take the manual every time. There's just something magical about dropping the clutch at 3500 RPM &amp; leaving parallel lines on the pavement.

Viper GTS

 

[BoberFett]

NFS4

You're right, I have heard about GPL and have not played it. I also don't own a steering wheel which might skew my point of view a bit.

 

[Chooie]

Hell, I just recently got back into driving standards... my initial experience was limited to a grand total of 30 minutes behind the wheel of my uncle's old three on the tree van. I just retaught myself how to drive a standard a week ago, and now I'm looking to spend $10,000 on a vehicle with a standard. This is from a guy who takes his cars in GT2 in the automatic flavor only. I have yet to post a fastest lap or track record in a manual car, and I've been trying to beat my old automatic records for 2 weeks now (with a standard) with the exact same cars on the exact same tracks.

 

[geno]

Gotta go with manual - you just can't get the same degree of control using auto. It's also much better for drifting - at the right time you can downshift to induce wheelspin, makes drifting much easier depending on the game you're playing. Some game's aren't that physically accurate though. So to conclude - yes, manual

 

[randomlinh]

i have an auto car My dad has manual, and I finally learned a little on it. And ME LIKE. heh. A lot of the time, I pop it in nuetral and just coast. Driving stick be the only way to go (unless you live in SF, heh.. or have A LOT of stop and go traffic).

 

[dohyun]

how bad is it to shift at 1500-2000. i need to save gas.

 

[Sacotool]

<< how bad is it to shift at 1500-2000. i need to save gas. >>



That's fine for most engines out there. Depends solely on your engine, just don't bog it down by shifting too early.

 

[PCAddict]

If I lived in a less-populated area, I'd own a vehicle with a manual transmission. Around here with the traffic/idiots, an automatic is alot easier to deal with. Also, if I am out someplace (i.e. a bar) and need someone else to drive my drunk ass home, I avoid being stuck because the person I am with can't drive a stick.

 

[Blayze]

I have a auto in real life, but use a manual in games