View Poll Results: Pick your poison
Automatic 5 speed
35
24.31%
manual 5 speed
109
75.69%
Voters: 144. You may not vote on this poll
Automatic vs. manual
02-02-2012, 08:33 PM
#42
6th Gear Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 12,260
I love my manual but damn its such a relief to drive an automatic sometimes but it gets bored quick. The worst is Atlanta traffic though... Coming back from Panama City last year I was stuck in traffic for about 3 hours on 85 and it was terrible, my left knee was shot.
02-03-2012, 02:34 AM
#45
1st Gear Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CA
Posts: 60
If you think automatics can't compete on a road course, you may have never heard of the Chaparral. In fact the last Formula One car fitted with a manually shifted gearbox raced in 1995, granted they are using automated manual gearboxes for mechanical efficiency. Citroen was a pioneer in auto shifting transmissions, and many of the fastest cars in the world including BMW and Ferrari use automatic shift transmissions. When it comes to fuel economy both the Honda civic auto and the Toyota Corolla auto get better fuel economy than the manual versions. Manual gearboxes are in wider use simply because they are cheaper, lighter, and usually give better performance, and fuel efficiency. However when it comes to technology, it seems manual shift transmissions are becoming yesterdays news. As far as pure mechanical efficiency a constant mesh clutch style automatic or manual shift transmission is going to win out over a planetary geared torque converter automatic. I know shifting manually is fun, however I thoroughly enjoy driving my twin screwed auto, so it's not like you can't have fun in an auto. Which one is better seems a bit subjective for a street driven car, as it all comes down to personal preference.
02-03-2012, 12:22 PM
#46
Mish-ogynist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Helena, MT
Posts: 3,780
what about 6 spd automatics? where is that option? 
I never have to make an excuse about missing a gear or shifting at the wrong point. if i'm ever feeling bored when driving I just have to floor it and it cures the boredom pretty quickly. Every time I have a passenger with me when I do that it's always the same reaction, "HOLY ****!" followed by them laughing
I never have to make an excuse about missing a gear or shifting at the wrong point. if i'm ever feeling bored when driving I just have to floor it and it cures the boredom pretty quickly. Every time I have a passenger with me when I do that it's always the same reaction, "HOLY ****!" followed by them laughing
02-03-2012, 05:09 PM
#47
S197 Section Modder-ator
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Orlando FL
Posts: 13,373
If you think automatics can't compete on a road course, you may have never heard of the Chaparral. In fact the last Formula One car fitted with a manually shifted gearbox raced in 1995, granted they are using automated manual gearboxes for mechanical efficiency. Citroen was a pioneer in auto shifting transmissions, and many of the fastest cars in the world including BMW and Ferrari use automatic shift transmissions. When it comes to fuel economy both the Honda civic auto and the Toyota Corolla auto get better fuel economy than the manual versions. Manual gearboxes are in wider use simply because they are cheaper, lighter, and usually give better performance, and fuel efficiency. However when it comes to technology, it seems manual shift transmissions are becoming yesterdays news. As far as pure mechanical efficiency a constant mesh clutch style automatic or manual shift transmission is going to win out over a planetary geared torque converter automatic. I know shifting manually is fun, however I thoroughly enjoy driving my twin screwed auto, so it's not like you can't have fun in an auto. Which one is better seems a bit subjective for a street driven car, as it all comes down to personal preference.
The idea of a manual on a road course is to be in control of the drivetrain, using engine brake etc...
A conventional auto (fully automatic) just won't do on a road course.
02-04-2012, 04:43 AM
#49
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: connecticut
Posts: 279
what about 6 spd automatics? where is that option?
I never have to make an excuse about missing a gear or shifting at the wrong point. if i'm ever feeling bored when driving I just have to floor it and it cures the boredom pretty quickly. Every time I have a passenger with me when I do that it's always the same reaction, "HOLY ****!" followed by them laughing
I never have to make an excuse about missing a gear or shifting at the wrong point. if i'm ever feeling bored when driving I just have to floor it and it cures the boredom pretty quickly. Every time I have a passenger with me when I do that it's always the same reaction, "HOLY ****!" followed by them laughing
And die for the best of both worlds..........
