Automatic or Manual..
- Thread starter potsy
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MacB
Lover of things that come in 3's
- Location
- Farnborough, Hampshire
Yep, would make Peter Pan look butch
deptfordmarmoset
Full time tea drinker
- Location
- Armonmy Way
I've driven my daughter's automatic and I really don't like it. Perhaps because it's a small car - a fairly recent Fiesta - it seems to always be in a higher revving gear than I'd be in a manual, and fuel economy suffers badly. I'm told that larger automatics' fuel consumption doesn't compare that badly with the manual equivalent, though. A more important consideration would be that, if your knee isn't likely to improve, a little extra expense might be better than driving in pain.
numbnuts
Squire
- Location
- Gone over the hill and far away
I can do that in my auto, put into sports mode, take off the overdrive and hit 6500 RPM every time through the gearbox
Profpointy
Legendary Member
and anyway, automatics are the invention of the devil so all these reasoned arguments are moot.
Put me right off buying a Bentley which would be quite tempting otherwise
Put me right off buying a Bentley which would be quite tempting otherwise
Richard A Thackeray
Legendary Member
Our XKR was an automatic (Mercedes sourced 5-speed, I believe)
The worst points were the slight delay away from a standstill, especially if you were going for a gap in traffic
Granted yes..... it could be stated that it you had to accelerate into a gap, it wasn't big enough??
BUT..... given most roads today, you could be waiting for a large enough space
The 'creep' factor of an automatic could cause issues for some people too?
Many years ago, when I was contemplating buying a Discovery (300Tdi), one of the Sisters let me try her automatic (4-speed)
My goodness!, it was horrendous, with drive take-up being glacial
I was glad I bought the manual version
(one thing that automatics are good at off-road though, is wading, if you get halted by an obstacle, the vehicle won't stall, leaving you with possible re-start issues
Will I consider an automatic, when (if?) we replace the Octavia............................
Not at present, as I look forward to a 6-speed manual
The worst points were the slight delay away from a standstill, especially if you were going for a gap in traffic
Granted yes..... it could be stated that it you had to accelerate into a gap, it wasn't big enough??
BUT..... given most roads today, you could be waiting for a large enough space
The 'creep' factor of an automatic could cause issues for some people too?
Many years ago, when I was contemplating buying a Discovery (300Tdi), one of the Sisters let me try her automatic (4-speed)
My goodness!, it was horrendous, with drive take-up being glacial
I was glad I bought the manual version
(one thing that automatics are good at off-road though, is wading, if you get halted by an obstacle, the vehicle won't stall, leaving you with possible re-start issues
Will I consider an automatic, when (if?) we replace the Octavia............................
Not at present, as I look forward to a 6-speed manual
My latest car is an automatic. With all my town driving I decided the new car would be auto and absolutely no regrets.
The modern autos are smooth and ‘intelligent’. If driven properly, they are versatile as a manual and very smooth - I often struggle to tell when mine changes gear.
As an added bonus when you put it in Sport and then floor it, it’s like a rocket launch.
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The modern autos are smooth and ‘intelligent’. If driven properly, they are versatile as a manual and very smooth - I often struggle to tell when mine changes gear.
As an added bonus when you put it in Sport and then floor it, it’s like a rocket launch.
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NorthernDave
Never used Über Member
- Location
- The real Northern Powerhouse
One of the first autos I drive was a mid 90's Fiesta 1.1 CVT. Hateful thing. At anything above about 30mph you could plant your foot to the floor and I swear it didn't go any faster, it just got louder.
Then in the late 00's I borrowed a Corsa semi-auto and that was better but not great. After about 5 miles messing about with "manual" changes (like you do), I stuck it in D and left it there
And a few months ago I was loaned a Renault Zoe and it was blinking fantastic.
Autos have definitely got better and I'd seriously consider one in our next car. If I had somewhere to charge it I'd even consider an electric one.
Then in the late 00's I borrowed a Corsa semi-auto and that was better but not great. After about 5 miles messing about with "manual" changes (like you do), I stuck it in D and left it there
And a few months ago I was loaned a Renault Zoe and it was blinking fantastic.
Autos have definitely got better and I'd seriously consider one in our next car. If I had somewhere to charge it I'd even consider an electric one.
threebikesmcginty
Corn Fed Hick...
- Location
- ...on the slake
Mrs 3BM's got a petrol Polo auto, it's a really nice car I rec.
Piemaster
Guru
- Location
- UK City of Culture
The Alfa Selespeed box was never very well thought of or reliable, and they should have manual boxes anyway.
The new Guilia flappy paddle thing is supposed to be really good, and I have a suspicion all boxes are going that way anyway. I had a rental M5 with 8 gears - would be something of a challenge finding the right gear amongst that many with a manual 'H' gate type lever.
Wifes Renault Zoe electric car is programmed to creep at 5mph in drive feet off pedals - excellent in traffic. Autos are great in traffic, electric is even better
Richard A Thackeray
Legendary Member
Yes, but in a car like the XKR, creep was definitely an issue!
I have the Brookland Books road-test collection for it, & it states that it had more torque by 1500RPM, than the naturally aspirated XK8 had at its maximum output!
I have the Brookland Books road-test collection for it, & it states that it had more torque by 1500RPM, than the naturally aspirated XK8 had at its maximum output!
Piemaster
Guru
- Location
- UK City of Culture
Electric has its max torque at 0 rpm 
. Take your point though.
. Take your point though.
mustang1
Legendary Member
- Location
- London, UK
What's the "lack of control" thing about with an auto? What is it that really needs controlling, unless you live near some traffic free A roads perhaps?
I like stick simply for the pleasure of changing gears. I don't care if its in a sublime Porsche or Type R, or a clunky Vauxhall or Mercedes.
I also like auto coz it's one less thing to be concerned about. Those dual clutch ones give an odd sensation at low speed and the the single clutch ones require too much concentration in traffic.
I like stick simply for the pleasure of changing gears. I don't care if its in a sublime Porsche or Type R, or a clunky Vauxhall or Mercedes.
I also like auto coz it's one less thing to be concerned about. Those dual clutch ones give an odd sensation at low speed and the the single clutch ones require too much concentration in traffic.
mustang1
Legendary Member
- Location
- London, UK
They are well wicked but strangely I never use them.
