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[unclelicklug]

....
If the torque converter could give you a decent range of ratio you wouldn't need any gears at all in the auto' box, actually it can just handle a relatively small ratio spread, and also allows slippage so the outlet shaft can be stationary for starting and stopping... .....

'Yank Tanks' of the 50s use to often just have 2 speed autos 

as did vauxhalls cresta and viscount

Beat me to it - should have stayed up later!

Good topic this.

If the economy thing didn't apply I don't think there's much doubt that autos are the best.
We're not far away from autos being better than manual for this as well - certainly for top end models where some money can be spent on multi ratios, good controls.
And there's still the option to over ride the auto box if you want that.

But there's still a lot of satisfaction in driving manual on the right day..

[pembsomega]

Day to day driving it's personal choice, as a 'drivers' choice manual wins every time, with an auto box you will always loose some control over your macine, yes f1 cars and wrc cars have flappy paddles, but they only shift on the drivers command, totally different from a normal auto.

You won't find an auto on Any rally / hillclimb / sport / salon racer.

There is a reason.

[Entwood]

Day to day driving it's personal choice, as a 'drivers' choice manual wins every time, with an auto box you will always loose some control over your macine, yes f1 cars and wrc cars have flappy paddles, but they only shift on the drivers command, totally different from a normal auto.

You won't find an auto on Any rally / hillclimb / sport / salon racer.

There is a reason.

You won't find a rally / hillclimb / sport / salon racer cruising down the motorway

There is a reason




horses for courses as they say .. 

[jonnycool]

i personally prefer autos anyway. the bugatti veyron has the semi auto

I watched a programme on the Veyron the other day, it's actually a manual box which has 2 clutches working side by side to seamlessly change ratios in the blink of an eye by matching the shaft speeds of adjacent ratios, if that makes any sense! (I'm no expert)

As opposed to a full automatic with torque converters, that is 

[Webby the Bear]

this is normal cars tho. the bugatti veyron has an auto. a lot more advanced than the standard car of course.

[Webby the Bear]

thanks m8. this box that has dual clutch changes gears at 1, 3 and 5 and the other clutch does the rest... you (as in the driver) drives it like a normal auto if he wants tho, right?

[pembsomega]

Day to day driving it's personal choice, as a 'drivers' choice manual wins every time, with an auto box you will always loose some control over your macine, yes f1 cars and wrc cars have flappy paddles, but they only shift on the drivers command, totally different from a normal auto.

You won't find an auto on Any rally / hillclimb / sport / salon racer.

There is a reason.

You won't find a rally / hillclimb / sport / salon racer cruising down the motorway

There is a reason




horses for courses as they say .. 

That's why I said day to day driving it's a personal choice, but anyone that claims to enjoy driving for drivings sake, or likes to push on in twistys can't have an an auto, or they are hypocrites! 

Every auto I've driven has been 100% acceptable for normal driving, but a complete nightmare for hooning it, and I don't mean blasting down a dual carrige way I mean down the lanes...... Pembrokeshire b roads are something specail

[aaronjb]

Day to day driving it's personal choice, as a 'drivers' choice manual wins every time, with an auto box you will always loose some control over your macine, yes f1 cars and wrc cars have flappy paddles, but they only shift on the drivers command, totally different from a normal auto.

You won't find an auto on Any rally / hillclimb / sport / salon racer.

There is a reason.

A few seasons ago didn't F1 experiment with boxes that automatically changed down a set number of gears as soon as the driver started braking into each corner? I'm not sure if that was a 'I'd like 2nd' or 'Change into the best appropriate gear' choice, though.. Probably the former so it is still kinda under the drivers control, he just wasn't pushing the buttons for each change.

[Andy B]

i personally prefer autos anyway. the bugatti veyron has the semi auto

I watched a programme on the Veyron the other day, it's actually a manual box which has 2 clutches working side by side to seamlessly change ratios in the blink of an eye by matching the shaft speeds of adjacent ratios, if that makes any sense! (I'm no expert)

As opposed to a full automatic with torque converters, that is 

ie VW's DSG     

[pembsomega]

Day to day driving it's personal choice, as a 'drivers' choice manual wins every time, with an aYuto box you will always loose some control over your macine, yes f1 cars and wrc cars have flappy paddles, but they only shift on the drivers command, totally different from a normal auto.

You won't find an auto on Any rally / hillclimb / sport / salon racer.

There is a reason.

A few seasons ago didn't F1 experiment with boxes that automatically changed down a set number of gears as soon as the driver started braking into each corner? I'm not sure if that was a 'I'd like 2nd' or 'Change into the best appropriate gear' choice, though.. Probably the former so it is still kinda under the drivers control, he just wasn't pushing the buttons for each change.

Yes it was the former, the car knew that each time the down shift was pulled it had to go down to a certain gear for that courner, if for some reason the lap was fluffed and extra down shifts where required then the system was over ridden and would not bf reset until the start if the next lap.

That's how it worked for renault anyway, cousin worked for them.......

[Webby the Bear]

ok this is a bit complicated 4 me hahaha lmao

so we're agreed that if you have a normal car its got to be a manual; if you have a supercar or any car with the vw c something d gearbox it has to be the auto??? hehehehehehehehe 

[Entwood]

Well .. I have an auto and its great.. not a problem at all .. however .. when the "red mist" rises and I want to have a play ..... select 2nd gear and sports mode ON.

2 gears now .. 0 - 50 ish and 50 - 80 ish .. more than enough power, traction and stupidity for "hoofing" it around any country lanes  (it ain't a country lane if you can get over 80 !!).. only one downside .... don't look at the instant fuel consumption while doing this .. your wallet will burst into tears ..

IMHO the handling is as good as the manual under those conditions .. plus you keep 2 hands on the wheel ..

[Broomies Mate]

If we were all to be honest;

Missing a gear change.  We've all done it, it's more likely when the heart is racing, adrenaline is pumping and you want to be in 'that' lane, when you are in 'this' lane.

I'm an advocate for Manual Gearboxes.  I'm still young (or at least remember being young), and you cant begin to compare a Manual and Auto on tight twisty roads...... BUT, one missed gear-change, and the Manual advantage is not only removed, but thrown into another universe.  You cant mis a gear with an Auto!

[Webby the Bear]

and to extract the most from a manual changes have to be spot on

[geoffr70]

The omega needs to be automatic anyway, as you're constantly using your left arm to hit the climate control and get it to do what you want!

I might be right, I might be wrong, but, I associate comfort and prestige with auto boxes, not manuals. Why iron your shirt when someone can do it for you? Why change gear when someone (or something) can do it for you!?!?