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YAC(ar)T : Automatic vs. Stick shift

M

MC

Platinum Member
Given two same model car with Automatic transmission and Stick shift, given the driver drives the stick very well.

Is there anyway the automatic would beat the stick shift in a quater-mile race ???

My friends claimed that auto will win and i said he is wrong.
 
There are plenty of high powered automatic cars that could beat their stick counterparts in a drag.
 
In the _vast majority_ of cases the stick shift will win.

EDIT: Provided the driver is not a spaz and can drive a stick well as you said.
 
Originally posted by: MingChia
Originally posted by: atom
There are plenty of high powered automatic cars that could beat their stick counterparts in a drag.
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Example?
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Uh, I dunno, any muscle car ever made? Camaro, Mustang, Trans Am, heck even a twin turbo Supra. They could all beat their stick counterparts in a drag.
 
In general, fbody autos are faster than the 6 speeds at the drag strip. And with a little bit of work, the same is true for mustangs.
 
Doesn't an auto work by shifting at a certain RPM that is programmed into the car?

For someone to beat a auto in a stick, they might have to shift at an RPM higher than what the auto does shift to compensate?
 
it depends on the car and how smart their auto is
it also depends on the manual driver and how fast (or slow) he shifts

if it's a convential auto, he's gonna be putting less power (for the most part) than the manual counterpart

if anything, the auto will be more consistant than the manual
 
The average car on the road, however, suffers a bit loss of 1/4 going to the auto.

So it does depend on the model of the car but if all you know is auto vs. stick put your money on the stick (if the driver can drive well).
 
Originally posted by: Imaginer
Doesn't an auto work by shifting at a certain RPM that is programmed into the car?

For someone to beat a auto in a stick, they might have to shift at an RPM higher than what the auto does shift to compensate?
Click to expand...

the manual generally has at least a gear on the auto, so it can keep in a tighter rpm range. but the auto just shifts faster.
 
If you have a 5.7L V8 with 350+tq it'll probably be even.

If you have a 1.8L 4-cyl with 130tq, the stick shift will win.

Also depends on the individual car too. if its a crappy auto that doesn't shift fast, well then it'll be slow anyway.
 
Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN
If you have a 5.7L V8 with 350+tq it'll probably be even.

If you have a 1.8L 4-cyl with 130tq, the stick shift will win.

Also depends on the individual car too. if its a crappy auto that doesn't shift fast, well then it'll be slow anyway.
Click to expand...

from my experiences, i generally agree with this statement.
 
Originally posted by: MingChia
Given two same model car with Automatic transmission and Stick shift, given the driver drives the stick very well.

Is there anyway the automatic would beat the stick shift in a quater-mile race ???

My friends claimed that auto will win and i said he is wrong.
Click to expand...

depend on the driver.
 
Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN
If you have a 5.7L V8 with 350+tq it'll probably be even.

If you have a 1.8L 4-cyl with 130tq, the stick shift will win.

Also depends on the individual car too. if its a crappy auto that doesn't shift fast, well then it'll be slow anyway.
Click to expand...

true dat.
 
Originally posted by: Linux23
Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN
If you have a 5.7L V8 with 350+tq it'll probably be even.

If you have a 1.8L 4-cyl with 130tq, the stick shift will win.

Also depends on the individual car too. if its a crappy auto that doesn't shift fast, well then it'll be slow anyway.
Click to expand...

true dat.
Click to expand...


Why is car with 5.7L V8 with 350+tq will be even?
 
From my experiences with a 96 Chevrolet Lumina, automatics are SLOW!!!! From a full stop to 50mph to get in front of a huge and slow truck was snot slow!!! I had the Lumina floored!!!
 
It all depends on the torque curve of the vehicle, the TC and the Tranny's involved.

As far as in the case of a daily commuter like a Maxima or an Accord the manual is faster in most cases due to their configuration. In the case of a E4OD behind a supercharged 351, it's gonna have a lower ET then a manual but the manual will be capable of a higher MPH. Learn reciprocating mass to figure this one out. I have compared many ET's and I trash many of the manual trucks even 2WD's sadly with my 4L60. This is living proof people, not rumors and Supra forums.

Honestly this forum just becomes a flamefest when it comes to this subject.... best way to get your answer is to get your azz out to a track and watch some Test N' Tune races. You will soon learn why all the fastest cars have tranny's called C4, C6, TH400 and the infamous Power Glide.

Open a summit catalog, look for a powerglide, I'm POSITIVE you will find one 😉

P.S. Stopall that driver blabbin, that is a bunch of crap, another case of go to a track IN PERSON. Yes people mess up on their lights, but the clock on the 1/4 mile does not start until you break the beams. I don't care if you get a .508 (my personal best) or a 4.880 light, the clock doesn't start until the beams are broke. So quit that!!!! :| :| :|
 
Originally posted by: NokiaDude
From my experiences with a 96 Chevrolet Lumina, automatics are SLOW!!!! From a full stop to 50mph to get in front of a huge and slow truck was snot slow!!! I had the Lumina floored!!!
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Well I'm sure we can get a 2.70 STR TC in there and wake that sucker right up for ya 😀
 
Originally posted by: LAUST

P.S. Stopall that driver blabbin, that is a bunch of crap, another case of go to a track IN PERSON. Yes people mess up on their lights, but the clock on the 1/4 mile does not start until you break the beams. I don't care if you get a .508 (my personal best) or a 4.880 light, the clock doesn't start until the beams are broke. So quit that!!!! :| :| :|
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its not quite crap... if you have someone who can't shift their stick right they're going to lose time shifting.
 
Originally posted by: Skoorb
In the _vast majority_ of cases the stick shift will win.

EDIT: Provided the driver is not a spaz and can drive a stick well as you said.
Click to expand...
You're also assuming that the automatic uses a standard torque converter. A tweaked automatic will be consistantly faster. The only reason that a standard is generally faster is because in a typical stock, street setup the torque converter is a very lossy device.

ZV
 
Originally posted by: ElFenix
Originally posted by: LAUST

P.S. Stopall that driver blabbin, that is a bunch of crap, another case of go to a track IN PERSON. Yes people mess up on their lights, but the clock on the 1/4 mile does not start until you break the beams. I don't care if you get a .508 (my personal best) or a 4.880 light, the clock doesn't start until the beams are broke. So quit that!!!! :| :| :|
Click to expand...
its not quite crap... if you have someone who can't shift their stick right they're going to lose time shifting.
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I have enough time slips to book mark every page in Yoda's Diary and I have only raced ONE guy who miss-shifted into 2nd.... good thing too cause our lights were within the same hundreth.

 
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Originally posted by: Skoorb
In the _vast majority_ of cases the stick shift will win.

EDIT: Provided the driver is not a spaz and can drive a stick well as you said.
Click to expand...
You're also assuming that the automatic uses a standard torque converter. A tweaked automatic will be consistantly faster. The only reason that a standard is generally faster is because in a typical stock, street setup the torque converter is a very lossy device.

ZV
Click to expand...

Depends...there's also more loss through an auto tranny..if you're talking about little engines (like mine -- 1998 Corolla w/manual tranny), chances are the manual will win, assuming there's a good driver...autos lose more power through the tranny than manuals do.

On bigger engines & drag racing, some say autos are better..with a high stall torque converter & a fast tranny, an auto could have the advantage (instant shifting).

This is just from my limited knowledge..so wait for Roger to come around. 😉
Just for kicks, here's a video of a slow car (mine 😛) w/manual transmission...I was quite slow shifting to second, but second to third wasn't too horrible. link
 
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