Standard or Automatic?

[Mongrel4u]

True, look at police cars, they are all autos. When you are chasing somebody, the last thing the driver needs to remember is what gear the trans is in

I believe auto trans cars are safer too. Theres too much happening on the road for a driver today to think about shifting gears.

But I like to see motorcycles get ban from the roads too. Both are not going to happen.

If you know how to drive stick, remember which gear you are in or actually shifting gears are a non issue...they become instinct

 

[rød grød med fløde på]

If you know how to drive stick, remember which gear you are in or actually shifting gears are a non issue...they become instinct

Very often I don't remember what gear I'm in, it takes a momentary glance at the stick. I've also driven some cars where they are much closer together than usual and you could go into third when you want first if you weren't careful.
One car I drove took some effort to force into reverse, they aren't all as smooth as they should be.

The only time I miss a standard is when I'm seriously stuck in mud or snow, but that's very rare.

 

[fuji]

People who say "I've driven both for 30 years", etc., are missing the point.

Automatics get smarter every year. There is no comparasin between an automatic of 30 years ago, or even 15 years ago, and one today. Everything is computerized and the computers are getting a LOT smarter.

Even a lot of what you think of as "standard" these days is actually an automatic in disguise, with the controls just there to make you feel like it's more familiar.

 

[Diode]

With the new Gas Mileage Regs from the States...Gears will become a thing of the past.
The advanced CVT will be the "average' man's tranny in the future.



Please note Tranny does not mean LADY BOY!.....Creeps.

 

[Mongrel4u]

Very often I don't remember what gear I'm in, it takes a momentary glance at the stick.

Well I dunno.... that stuff has never happened to me.

You should be able to tell what gear your in just by the feel of the car

 

[Mongrel4u]

Even a lot of what you think of as "standard" these days is actually an automatic in disguise, with the controls just there to make you feel like it's more familiar.

Like what? and thats not counting those silly flappy paddle gear boxes... 95% of them are gimicky garbage.

 

[Never Compromised]

Is that why your car is automatic then Anon?

for me,everyday card automatic all the way , for a fun car, standard.

He does not have a car. He has a wind up toy.

 

[Mongrel4u]

People who say "I've driven both for 30 years", etc., are missing the point.

Automatics get smarter every year. There is no comparasin between an automatic of 30 years ago, or even 15 years ago, and one today. Everything is computerized and the computers are getting a LOT smarter.

No matter how smart they get an Automatic will never beat a manual in the hands of an experienced driver in extreme conditions (weather, aggressive driving) an Automatic transmission cant see or think ahead.


Manual is just plain ol fun to drive... even a "cool" automatic like say...an E55 starts to get boring kinda fast.

 

[Never Compromised]

I passed my license test in a standard, and I have owned them. But in Toronto traffic, especially during rush hour, I'm a fan of the automatic.

I just don't see the point of a standard in a family sedan.

 

[bigdik]

I passed my license test in a standard, and I have owned them. But in Toronto traffic, especially during rush hour, I'm a fan of the automatic.

I just don't see the point of a standard in a family sedan.

And that's why a lot of cars today are only available as automatics, I mean really, who wants to go through the gears in their Caravan, but.......

Any car capable of any kind of "Performance" is more malleable in the hands of a skilled driver with a standard transmission. Small, underpowered cars are capable of better performance with a standard transmission. And most importantly......

It's a lot more fun to drive a car with a standard transmission.

Those of you who find a standard too difficult or stressful in traffic or parking lots should not be driving one. Ever.

 

[Mongrel4u]

I just don't see the point of a standard in a family sedan.

What if it was an M5?

 

[bigdik]

People who say "I've driven both for 30 years", etc., are missing the point.

Automatics get smarter every year. There is no comparasin between an automatic of 30 years ago, or even 15 years ago, and one today. Everything is computerized and the computers are getting a LOT smarter.

Even a lot of what you think of as "standard" these days is actually an automatic in disguise, with the controls just there to make you feel like it's more familiar.

A standard has a clutch. An automatic does not. How, pray tell do you disguise that?

 

[bigdik]

What if it was an M5?

Exactly. I have a 323i. It's a sedan. I take my kids in it. That makes it my "family sedan". I wouldn't want it if it had an automatic.

 

[bigdik]

Very often I don't remember what gear I'm in, it takes a momentary glance at the stick. I've also driven some cars where they are much closer together than usual and you could go into third when you want first if you weren't careful.
One car I drove took some effort to force into reverse, they aren't all as smooth as they should be.

The only time I miss a standard is when I'm seriously stuck in mud or snow, but that's very rare.

Get off the road!

 

[S.C. Joe]

My "fun" car that stays around my home has a manual valve body in the auto trans. It will not shift until its shifted-no mater the speed or rpms of the motor.

Have a good trans guy who was able to soften up the shifts for the street. Its really for race cars.

So with that trans its like a manual but does not get as good gas mileage as one. Its the only draw back to them. Which is why you never see them in any new cars from the factory.

Oh you can over rev the motor too if you don't shift. My ignition has a rev limiter but thats getting of the subject.

 

[Mongrel4u]

A standard has a clutch. An automatic does not.

Well it actually does.. its engaged "automatically"; but that in and of itself is not what makes it "automatic"

sorry, did I confuse?

 

[bigdik]

Well it actually does.. its engaged "automatically"; but that in and of itself is not what makes it "automatic"

sorry, did I confuse?

No, but I misspoke. A standard has a manually operated (pedal) clutch. An automatic does not.

 

[Mongrel4u]

The operative word here is 'skilled' and we can discuss the skill of most of the drivers on Canadian roads 'til the cows come home, but why if MT is so good for the skilled drivers are F1, Lemans, Rally, and Drag racer all going to AT in a large way?

First off, please dont mention drag racing in the same breath as F1, Rally or Lemans.

Secondly, you are very confused if you think those sequential gearboxes used in F1, Lemans, Rally are "automatics" because they are NOT.

Lastly, drag racers arent "going" automatic..they've always been about automatics; big American muscle. They are running massive power to the ground and only need to go in a straight line on dry roads... you dont need anymore than auto to go straight on dry track; plus I wouldnt use drag racers as a good example of what good driving is all about anyways...this is not to say that if you drag you cant drive but there really isnt much to it

 

[hunter001]

It's a lot more fun to drive a car with a standard transmission.

I know a few people that don't like standards because of the wear and tear it take on their knees with a stiff clutch. I am not sure how much fun that is.

 

[Mongrel4u]

I don't know. Press a button on your F1 Mercedes at the starting grid and your car takes off like a bat out of hell. All you do is steer, sort of. No MT here.

you pick the gears it doesnt pick it for you... neutral, gear up, gear down blow the engine up; its up to you ...... it shifts in like the hundredths of a second.

Automatic transmissions cant/dont do this.

Heres a little more reading for you

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/sequential-gearbox.htm