Why would someone buy an automatic sports car?

[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Because in a car like a 'Vette putting out as much power as it can, auto trannies can handle more power and the car puts out enough power to produce sickening amounts of thrust at any RPM.

while your right, it doesn't really help the E36 M3 which doesn't really make sickening amounts of torque.

And yes the Vette uses a 4-spd auto...because it's an awesome tranny and gets the job done. Putting in a 5-spd auto would only cater to the marketing folks and no one else.

As for M3's being auto...its for posers.

I met a dude who bought a E36 M3 4-door sedan with auto. He bought it cause he wanted something different and unique. I don't think he ever redlined it or raced it in any capacity. He was a nice guy though, just not an enthusiast.

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: DaZ

Originally posted by: Leetman
Maybe they drive an auto because they're not like 90% of the lamers in this thread who drive a manual to be "cool".

Yea I really think it has to do with penis size or something similar.. 😛

The performance differences are so negligable in most cases, so that really shouldnt matter. Not to mention 95% of the people buying cars like these aren't going to drag race them more then once or twice, and even then, its just for the fun.

The only big reason I could see someone getting a manual is the slightly better fuel performance, and it might be a little more fun to drive every now and then.

"OMG I need those two tenths of a second bettar to race my buddy's honda civac!!!one ricer!!!11"

...OR maybe because they're enthusiasts?

 

[Gurck]

Originally posted by: bR

Originally posted by: DaZ

Originally posted by: Leetman
Maybe they drive an auto because they're not like 90% of the lamers in this thread who drive a manual to be "cool".

Yea I really think it has to do with penis size or something similar.. 😛

The performance differences are so negligable in most cases, so that really shouldnt matter. Not to mention 95% of the people buying cars like these aren't going to drag race them more then once or twice, and even then, its just for the fun.

The only big reason I could see someone getting a manual is the slightly better fuel performance, and it might be a little more fun to drive every now and then.

"OMG I need those two tenths of a second bettar to race my buddy's honda civac!!!one ricer!!!11"

...OR maybe because they're enthusiasts?

Or maybe, as I already posted, they're after the increased control one has with a stick, the lower initial costs, and lower repair costs. I can't believe I'm even responding as if someone who considers themselves "leet" knows the first thing about driving.. it's probably still 3-4 years off :roll:

 

[StageLeft]

Maybe they drive an auto because they're not like 90% of the lamers in this thread who drive a manual to be "cool"

I don't drive manuals to be cool. I drive manuals because I am cool.

The performance differences are so negligable in most cases, so that really shouldnt matter. Not to mention 95% of the people buying cars like these aren't going to drag race them more then once or twice, and even then, its just for the fun.

I passed a Viper on the highway today with the plate "GOT505". Fact is, nobody buys these cars for performance anyway. They are all trying to showoff, since they'll get to work no faster than john doe in his 98 camry (just as the viper was unwilling to out pace me because to do so would invite serious speeding tickets). I think that if you're trying to look cool in a sports car the least you can do is play the part properly with the right transmission.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: isekii

Originally posted by: desiplaya4life
maybe... CUZ ITS HIS DAMN FUC KING MONEY AND HE WILL SPEND IT ON WHICHEVER HE WANTS? did u think of that a little?:Q:beer:

lol
yea
why the hell does he care why he bought an automatic m3.

I care because I want to understand why, no other reason. I'm not saying an auto m3 is a bad thing, but I am just trying to understand why someone would buy a $60k sports car with an automatic transmission

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: AgaBooga

Originally posted by: isekii

Originally posted by: desiplaya4life
maybe... CUZ ITS HIS DAMN FUC KING MONEY AND HE WILL SPEND IT ON WHICHEVER HE WANTS? did u think of that a little?:Q:beer:

lol
yea
why the hell does he care why he bought an automatic m3.

I care because I want to understand why, no other reason. I'm not saying an auto m3 is a bad thing, but I am just trying to understand why someone would buy a $60k sports car with an automatic transmission

well you got a thread full of answers now, haven't you?

besides who cares how much the car costs... $60k is a drop in the bucket for some people

 

[ajpa123]

Originally posted by: homestarmy

Originally posted by: ajpa123

Originally posted by: homestarmy

Originally posted by: ajpa123

Originally posted by: homestarmy

Originally posted by: ajpa123
1) Wife needs to drive it sometimes (assuming wife hates manual trannies)

That's a sexist comment. Normally I'm down with sexist comments, too, wtf? Anyhow, my woman was the one that taught me how to drive stick...

How is that a sexist comment. Please All ATOT'ers reply, i need to know now before i head out.. lol
Educate me so I don't do it again. I'm single, maybe you married people think differently.

I thought i was saying that a husband would buy an automatic version of a certain car in case his wife , who hates manual transmissions ever had to drive it. I thought i was saying that the husband was compromising.. being a nice guy so that if ever his wife's car was in the shop, or hubby had too much to drink, she could drive it without complaints.

Please rephrase my sentence to make that work !
I still think it's right.

I don't give a crap and I probably shouldn't have even used the word sexist... but what makes you think that just because she's a woman she can't drive stick? I think out of the girls I know, a higher percentage of them drive stick than guys (or at least equal). Or maybe its the kind of girls I hang out with 😀.

Hey Homestarmy,
Most wives I know have family sedans/minivans/station wagons/SUV's, meaning that they have an automatic transmission. You have to have life experience to understand a post in a thread bro.. or simple common sense. Read my sentence, I explicitly said 'assuming wife hates manual trannies.

You seem to have issues.
You need to be less beligerent.
You need to get a motherfu(king clue my freind.
And about those girls you hang out with, don't get me started. And i don't really care about what percentage of them drive sticks.

Wow, I'm belligerent? You're downright completely pissed off at this point it seems. I wasn't even being 100% serious with my posts but obviously you were. I guess you are the one that needs to get a clue maybe? Maybe you need to get out more or hit a punching bag so you won't get so pissed off at meaningless posts on the internet?

BTW, you seem to be a dumbass.:shocked:

First of all, you say something totally silly without thinking (the whole sexist thing where you include a 'wtf, so i'm pretty sure you felt strongly about it), then you admit you might have been wrong about it and then you say that you're not being 100% serious about it. (gotta love that 'catch-it-all excuse that you call fall back upon).

You took issue with my comment.
You weren't thinking when you replied.
Accept that you're wrong like a man.

Beligerent,i in this context, means that you're inclined to show hostility. In this case, you were pissed that i pointed out your mistake and you got your panties in a twist and come up with that 'i wasn't being 100% serious with my post' crap.

So why even post something if you're not sure if it's what you mean? Are you that bored or have ADD. Make me understand


I await your reply. 😉

 

[OMGoddess]

Originally posted by: homestarmy

Originally posted by: Kelvrick

Originally posted by: AgaBooga

Originally posted by: Twista

Originally posted by: OverVolt
LOL i bet the auto can switch gears in a drag better than most of you can.

oh yea, and aga booga posted this who is like 16, kinda reminds me of my friend thought, all obsessed with mustangs, anyway its nothing to get stressed out about.

I heard the same thing before. That for drag racing an automatic is better.

yeah, true it shifts faster, but when you get the gear ratios of a 6 speed vette against an auto 4 speed vette, even if the guy shifts slowly, the gear ratios should more than make up for the difference, not to mention an auto won't redline itself

Really? I've redlined my automatic plenty of times. And when have you gone up past 4 gears in a 1/4 mile?

Wow, are you joking? It's not about going past the gears... that just doesn't make any sense. It's the fact that having less gears means that they are looser, meaning that less torque is being put to the ground. That means that a 150hp car with tight gears can blow the doors of a 160hp car with looser ratios.

Torque coming out of the engine x the gear ratio = power put to the ground.

And you can always shift a manual faster than a conventional auto.

:roll: Ok first off, an auto can shift faster then you can blink (well performance autos anyways) and no human can shift as fast as an auto, ANY auto! Then most extreme enthusiast not running alchol or funny cars, are running as low as THREE gears and of course auto. Just because there are less gears does not mean they are looser, more gears usually mean higher top speed. For example the vette 6-speed tops out at 175MPH. While the A4 only hits 160. Mainly because it's missing 2 gears, but it is indeed looser then the MN6. But that can be changed.

Also all the Autos I've ever driven (all made over the year 2000 though) have been able to redline in ANY gear. It's about putting it into full throttle and the computer senses the need for power and hold off switching.

 

[TuxDave]

I still like the original answer. He has money, he wants a sports car, and can't or doesn't want to drive stick.

 

[Tremulant]

Feh, my dad has a G35 coupe w/ auto for a few reasons..

1) My mom doesn't want to drive a manual tranny, even though she can, she hasn't in about 12 years... last time was probably when my dad has his '91 Nissan 240sx (my mission in the next 5 years is to buy a nissan s13 for me.. and maybe sil-eighty it, and eventually, I'd like a s15, but they're practically impossible to domesticate).

2) I haven't learned howto drive a manual yet because we haven't owned a car with a manual since the '91 240sx. (and I drive the g35c quite a bit)

3) My dad is a realtor, he spends most of the time driving people around and/or talking on the phone. It would just be a pain in the ass to be shifting all the time, he uses a headset, but it's still distracting.

4) My dad drives a lot. He doesn't want to drive a manual, he uses the tiptronic from time to time, but he'd rather not be bothered with having to shift. And he still blows away all the riced civics that pull up to him and rev their engines.

The biggest reason is #1. It's the same reason my car (focus zx3 🙁) is an auto. Eventually, my mom will get my car when I get a S13.

 

[desiplaya4life]

Also all the Autos I've ever driven (all made over the year 2000 though) have been able to redline in ANY gear. It's about putting it into full throttle and the computer senses the need for power and hold off switching.

yup.....

 

this thread is all armchair quarterbacks.

 

[ajpa123]

Originally posted by: SampSon
this thread is all armchair quarterbacks.

NFL reference huh !
That's the first SampSon post that i really liked
😀
Are you a he or a she btw ?

 

[BigPappaBuck]

When was the last time you ever saw a guy with an automatic blow a shift? Automatics have their place they can cushion a weak drivetrain which in turn saves a lot of people repair costs that the would encounter with a manual transmission. They are very consistant which helps a lot in bracket racing. If you don't know what bracket racing is then you shouldn't even post in this thread. Automatics can shift faster than all but the best manual drivers in the world. An automatic can even be shifted manually if it is built to do so.


Manual transmission do have there place though but is mostly in auto-x cars or road racers. Now why would anybody with a manual want a clutch? Clutchless transmissions are the way to go... dog ring engagement is so much faster than pushing down a pedal to shift gears. It all comes down to preference and driveability.

Most of the cars that I'm into now have an automatic standard and the manual is an option that usually adds about 700 dollars to the price. I don't know if the little imports are cheaper with manuals since I usually cring when I see a dealership so i have never stepped foot inside of one to check out build sheets and costs. It depends on the type of transmission as far as repair costs go. Usually a properly built auto will last you the life of your car. You cant say the same for a hard driven manual since they "shock" the internals more than an automatic and are more prone to break and those parts that you break are usually very expensive I know from experience.

I have owned both and rebuilt and worked on both. Both styles of transmissions have there strongpoints. I think the automatic will gain popularity with new 5 and 6 speed models coming out. The new corvette actually has a sensor that measures lateral forces i.e. G forces and chooses gears based on that. It will hold a gear in a hard turn and wait till the lateral forces drop to shift into the next gear so that you don't loose controll in a corner. Which in my book is pretty cool and may even lead to more automatics at road racing events.

Right now I'm rebuilding a T56 six speed that has had 4500 dollars worth of money stuck into it by the previous owner. The shop that rebuilt it didn't see that the internal gear selector and stop was broken so every time he shifted the transmission it would overshift and pop the shyncro keys out which in turn really ate up the slider assemblys among other things. You could buy two pro built automatics with warrentys for that price. You'll be very hard pressed to find a performance manual with a warrenty.

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: OMGoddess
:roll: Ok first off, an auto can shift faster then you can blink (well performance autos anyways) and no human can shift as fast as an auto, ANY auto! Then most extreme enthusiast not running alchol or funny cars, are running as low as THREE gears and of course auto. Just because there are less gears does not mean they are looser, more gears usually mean higher top speed. For example the vette 6-speed tops out at 175MPH. While the A4 only hits 160. Mainly because it's missing 2 gears, but it is indeed looser then the MN6. But that can be changed.

Also all the Autos I've ever driven (all made over the year 2000 though) have been able to redline in ANY gear. It's about putting it into full throttle and the computer senses the need for power and hold off switching.

I agree with you about the auto being faster.

 

[cucumber]

Well, this question applies directly to me since I'm going to buy either a Camaro or Firebird in the next 2 months, and I am looking only at automatics. Considering I'm going to this from a 91 Geo Prizm (straight 4, aprox 90-100 HP I think...) anything is a nice upgrade.

Mostly I'm buying one of these cars because they apeal to me. They are decently powerfull, and I like how they look. I really don't care if I can get a slightly faster acceleration from a manual. I'm not looking to race anyone, nor do I care if there are faster cars than mine. (which there absolutely will be...) I just want a car that's fun to drive. Whether some other car can beat me in a race is a non issue.

I like autos for the convenience. I can drive manual but after having an auto car, I don't think I can give up it's convenience. Also, I'm a drummer and I often don't have time to warm up before a gig. When I'm driving to one I will warm up by beating my legs with drumsticks (one hand at a time while steering with the other). If I had to shift I would not be able to do this.

Edit: Also status has nothing to do with it. (at least for me) I could care less if my car gives me status or not. I just want something I like.

 

[OS]

I don't think autos are so bad, but I have a lot of understanding and appreciation for the technology. Mercedes makes a 7 speed automatic for the SLK which they claim is actually faster than the 6 speed manual for the same car.

No human can ever outshift a machine. Shifts in autos are almost instant, it just clicks off the next gear without any break in power delivery. And you can never misshift an auto.

Part of the reason autos have a bad rep is because the most cars have crappy tuning. Shifts are soft and stall points are low. If more cars had a performance/built option, complete with 3k rpm launches and tire chirping 1-2/2-3 shifts, you'd get a lot less bad mouthing about autos.

 

[ectx]

So that the teenage son/daughter wants to borrow the car, he or she feel slightly better.

I prefer manual personally but today's auto is getting pretty good.

Have you driven one of the ealier BMW's? The clutch is heavy. I know a girl who is an excellent driver and always drives a sports car (manual), but she did not like to drive her husband's BMW in stop-and-go traffic. (BMW clutch has since gotten a lot better, I really like the Z-4 I test drove a few weeks ago).

 

[ponyo]

I had a tip yellow Porsche Boxster I bought new. I paid about $3500 more to get the Tip since I can't drive a stick or really care to.

I wouldn't mind getting AMG Benz. Those all come auto.

 

[LongAce]

I bought a manual sports car and it's really awesome ride. It's a real hassle driving a manual on certain days mainly when you're stuck in traffic. Also, when I don't feel like driving, my gf can't drive it for me.

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: LongAce
Also, when I don't feel like driving, my gf can't drive it for me.

That's the point. :evil:

 

[TerryMathews]

I firmly believe that 90% of the "OMGZ!!!!1! Automatic sports cars make baby Jesus cry" crowd have never actually driven a sports car.

For the record, I've got a 91 Vette convertible auto. 2.59:1 rear end. 250HP and 350ft/lb tq. Dad's got a 96 auto coupe 3.06:1 rear, 320 HP 330ft/lb tq.

I'll be the first to grant that not all companies auto trannies are created equal (*cough*Honda*cough), but as an example GM's 700R4 and 4L60E autos are both excellent transmissions. That said, ragging on someone's car just because of the transmission in it is very immature. There are plenty of very fast autos out there; google 4L80e and amaze yourself.

 

[TerryMathews]

Originally posted by: Gurck
Or maybe, as I already posted, they're after the increased control one has with a stick, the lower initial costs, and lower repair costs.

Going to have to pick a nit over your costs argument; in a lot of sports cars, the manual transmission is the option; hence it would increase the price of the car. Along the same lines, a strong auto tranny (Ex: 700R4, 4L60E, 4L80E) holds up very well and has no clutch to wear down.

 

[tlam617]

Originally posted by: XietyCOM
#1: Traffic
#2: They don't know how to drive stick-shift.
#3: They don't like stick-shift.
#4: They have to be on the phone constantly, thus need a free hand.
#5: Other family members need to drive it.
#6: Dealer didn't have a manual, and he needed a car quick.
#7: They are disabled.
#8: They just want power, nothing more.
#9: It has better resale value.
#10: To annoy people who have nothing better to do than bitch about others' cars (that's you.)

#11: Have a free had to wack off.

 

[JoPh]

manual sux0rz in traffic. manual is good for a sunday drive.