Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Steve Webb on 18 December 2009, 12:20:39

Title: Auto vs. Manual. Can you give me some info?
Post by: Steve Webb on 18 December 2009, 12:20:39
Hi guys,

I'm a new member and I recently bought a silver Omega 2.5 V6 CD. I am soooo pleased with it. I think it's so comfortable and very fast in sports mode!!!

I have to drive an auto as I've only got the one hand and when I talk to peopl about how fast it is my beautiful Omega gets put down 'cos it's not a manual'. I'm getting a bit fed up with this as I think it's very fast.

So I want to know (out of pure interest) that if you had the fastest accelerating road car with the highest top speed (which I belive to be the Bugatti Veyron) would it make a difference if it was auto or manual??? I had a quick look at autotrader and the only Veyron is automatic so what's the deal with this whole manual is better thing????

ps I love this site and any help I need is always there. Oh and I know I only have a baby 2.5 but she's in mint condition and I'd love to show her off. Do Omega owners have meets near or in Northampton????

Cheers guys  :y
Title: Re: Auto vs. Manual. Can you give me some info?
Post by: Jimbob on 18 December 2009, 12:29:14
I drive 3.0 auto and manual, and there is not a lot in it

IF i was racing round twisty B roads, the manual would be faster
he auto does very well though, esp in sport mode.

You can drive using the gears in an auto as well for even better performance.
Title: Re: Auto vs. Manual. Can you give me some info?
Post by: joshwyatt on 18 December 2009, 12:33:56
Hello Steve,
Automatics are naturally slower, and that doesn't take into account dsg gearboxes.
You're 2.5 will be pretty rapid, but being an auto it will be slower than the manual equivalent. If you have two Omega's, with eactly the same engine and bodystyle the manual would be faster.
For example, the 2.6 manual saloon has a top speed of 142 mph, and a 0-60 of 8.5. Whereas the automatic version with same engine has a top speed of 139 mph and a 0-60 of 9.0. So it is slower, but not by much.
Regarding something like the the Veyron, I don't think it would make much difference, there's just so much power there.
I think it's more noticeable on vehicles with less BHP where you have to use most, if not all of the power from time to time.
Title: Re: Auto vs. Manual. Can you give me some info?
Post by: MickAP on 18 December 2009, 13:35:36
Does it really matter about speed, in other words which is the faster. The way I look at it is if your happy with what it does (how fast, or how slow it accelerates, top speed etc) then I don't give a chuff what anybody else says.
I drive both manual and auto. If I was asked which I prefer my answer would be I don't really know.
But given different driving conditions I would choose the manual over an auto for long distance motorway cruising. But would choose the auto for short stop/start town driving.
But on the other hand I drive a manual diesel and a petrol auto..............the diesel feels the fastest of the two, it's been chipped :y

Mick
Title: Re: Auto vs. Manual. Can you give me some info?
Post by: Dave Elite on 18 December 2009, 17:36:29
Just out of interest, does anyone know the top speed of a 3.0 auto saloon?
Title: Re: Auto vs. Manual. Can you give me some info?
Post by: serek on 18 December 2009, 17:42:32
Quote
Just out of interest, does anyone know the top speed of a 3.0 auto saloon?
150 MPH ish 8-)
Title: Re: Auto vs. Manual. Can you give me some info?
Post by: Dave Elite on 18 December 2009, 17:45:53
Is it much slower than the 3.2?
Title: Re: Auto vs. Manual. Can you give me some info?
Post by: davethediver on 18 December 2009, 17:47:29
Quote
Quote
Just out of interest, does anyone know the top speed of a 3.0 auto saloon?
150 MPH ish 8-)

On a private track of course ;D
Title: Re: Auto vs. Manual. Can you give me some info?
Post by: encino on 18 December 2009, 18:56:06
In the real world, autos are usually first away at the traffic light prix. On paper a manual is quicker but those figures are obtained by dropping the clutch at optimum revs and power shifting through the gears without lifting off. Not the way most people drive their own car!
By contrast, anyone can match the road test figures with an auto - just floor it.
As for winding roads, the sports button on my newish astra 1.8 auto holds gears until the redline and changes down itself when the revs drop, selecting and holding the right gear ready for the maximum acceleration when needed, allowing anybody to drive like Lewis Hamilton. ;D
I feel that a lot of anti-auto rhetoric is spoken by people who have never driven a powerful auto long term and feel that having  to change gear hundreds of times a day is worthwhile for the bragging rights. IMHO a large car should be automatic, it is so much more relaxing to drive and the kickdown means safe and speedy overtaking.
Title: Re: Auto vs. Manual. Can you give me some info?
Post by: Entwood on 18 December 2009, 19:01:35
Auto every time..  :)

I think you need to go for a drive with someone who knows how to handle the car  ... you WILL be very surprised... :)

Select 2nd gear, sports mode ON and don't touch the gear selector again ....   :)

You WILL still break the national speed limit, and sooner than you think... now on most windy roads you won't be able to get above 80 mph .. so you don't need the other gears, if you do just drop it into 3rd at 80 ... :)

BTW .. when driving like this you need to be aware of a few things ...

1) don't look at the fuel consumption readings

2) know where the next petrol station is

3) be prepared to empty your wallet at 2)


:)
Title: Re: Auto vs. Manual. Can you give me some info?
Post by: Omega3 on 18 December 2009, 19:04:09
Quote
Hi guys,

I'm a new member and I recently bought a silver Omega 2.5 V6 CD. I am soooo pleased with it. I think it's so comfortable and very fast in sports mode!!!

I have to drive an auto as I've only got the one hand and when I talk to peopl about how fast it is my beautiful Omega gets put down 'cos it's not a manual'. I'm getting a bit fed up with this as I think it's very fast.

So I want to know (out of pure interest) that if you had the fastest accelerating road car with the highest top speed (which I belive to be the Bugatti Veyron) would it make a difference if it was auto or manual??? I had a quick look at autotrader and the only Veyron is automatic so what's the deal with this whole manual is better thing????

ps I love this site and any help I need is always there. Oh and I know I only have a baby 2.5 but she's in mint condition and I'd love to show her off. Do Omega owners have meets near or in Northampton????

Cheers guys  :y
In real world conditions acceleration times become the same because of clutch delay on manuals as most people will not make totally flat out changes in their manual cars out of respect for their car and a desire not to detonate their clutches or hit the rev limit when they miss a gear whereas an auto will just keep going flat without lifting off the throttle and the changes are without the declutch delay.
An auto held in gear manually is easily a match through the twisty bits for a normal manual without the irritating delay of having to push that left pedal down... and allows you to use your left foot bracing or braking 
::)
3.2 shows in excess of 160mph but think tyre growth is having an effect.
Title: Re: Auto vs. Manual. Can you give me some info?
Post by: Martin_1962 on 18 December 2009, 20:53:18
The auto is a very good box.
Title: Re: Auto vs. Manual. Can you give me some info?
Post by: waspy on 18 December 2009, 21:38:22
Don't forget performance can be different even with the same engine size. We had two Sierra's at a place i worked at, both identical in every way, same spec, same year even the same colour, but one was a lot quicker than the other.
Title: Re: Auto vs. Manual. Can you give me some info?
Post by: goonv6 on 19 December 2009, 01:46:18
Quote
Hi guys,


ps I love this site and any help I need is always there. Oh and I know I only have a baby 2.5 but she's in mint condition and I'd love to show her off. Do Omega owners have meets near or in Northampton????

Cheers guys  :y
I'm in Wellingborough mate. The Boy and Tunnie are in Northants.
Title: Re: Auto vs. Manual. Can you give me some info?
Post by: damon80 on 19 December 2009, 02:28:42
So what is, at the end of the day, the conclusion of this auto-vs-manual debate??

I put the question forwards a couple of days ago, after seeing the stupidly cheap prices late-plate 3.2 elite (with all the toys, leather and colour telly) go for.

Was contemplating chopping in my stupidly-quick 3.2 manual in for an Auto elite with all the gizmo's.

Heard some arguments for, some against.

But, the reason why (I think!) I've decided to keep the manual is that - even though 90% of the time I drive very economically, and get up to 38mpg, the other 10% of the time I can cane it silly, and return what an auto will do on average,.

Yes, I would have loved a CID.  But, if I can get some cream leather fitted to me ex-plod mobile, I'll be a happy chappy.

I think, at the end of the day, it's each to their own?
Title: Re: Auto vs. Manual. Can you give me some info?
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 19 December 2009, 20:49:56
autoboxes have very long ratio for 1st gear to avoid frequent gear changes and to normalize fuel consumption ..my 2.5 reaches nearly 90 kms/hr in 1st if I use like manual.. and of course the following other gears are arranged according to that and the lack of 5th and 6th obviously effects the overall timings..

the second factor is that the autobox even in overdrive mode hesitates for sometime when you change down or up.. this means you loose some meters on every change if you are racing..

and finally Omega is not designed to be a race car as its heavy..

Title: Re: Auto vs. Manual. Can you give me some info?
Post by: serek on 19 December 2009, 21:49:17
Quote
Quote
Quote
Just out of interest, does anyone know the top speed of a 3.0 auto saloon?
150 MPH ish 8-)

On a private track of course ;D
was on German A2 ;D
Title: Re: Auto vs. Manual. Can you give me some info?
Post by: Jim on 20 December 2009, 16:43:26
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Just out of interest, does anyone know the top speed of a 3.0 auto saloon?
150 MPH ish 8-)

On a private track of course ;D
was on German A2 ;D

150mph is about right ;)
(http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/11/web/275000-275999/275300_31.jpg)