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I would only ever have an Auto now, there's no turning back, like electric start vs. starting handles.
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Had both genders in my time. Currently drive a manual. Have access to an auto.
Yes there is satisfaction in using a lovely sweet shifting manual in a spirited bout of driving where possible.
However there is pleasure and relaxation in driving an effortless car with a nice auto and over assisted steering.
In town? yup autos win every time. On a twisty road, a nice gearbox is fun, but if its a nasty obstructive sloppy feeling stick in a coil of snakes, an auto will do just as well.
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A good manual box with a good clutch is no hardship driven on open road but in town traffic it is not contest with a good automatic box. The auto box on our C5 2.2 HDI is smooth changing (none of the jerkiness that has been reported on this car) and, of course, has the option of tiptronic changes if you wish, which are also smooth changing and fast.
The only downside to a lot of auto boxes is that they are only four speed, so the car spends a lot of time in second and third gear (at least it does in the C5), which does not help fuel consumption. Does anyone know of a car with a good five speed box. I did take a test drive in a Mondeo TDCi, has anyone an opinion of this five speed example.
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Does anyone know of a car with a good five speed box.
My Vectra (Jan 2004) has a 5 speed auto box.
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?>> >> Does anyone know of a car with a good fivespeed box. My Vectra (Jan 2004) has a 5 speed auto box.
Is it good though? Who is the manufactuer and have their been any reports of problems with it?
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>> My Vectra (Jan 2004) has a 5 speed auto box. >> Is it good though? Who is the manufactuer and have their been any reports of problems with it?
It's the "tiptronic" type (or as Vauxhall call it, active select, where you can switch from auto to manual sequential mode. I find it very smooth, both in auto and manual modes.
I'm guessing it's made by the same people that have been making auto gearboxes for Vauxhall for a number of years now - which on the whole have v.good write ups about them and their reliability. Could well be made by Aisan-Warner.
Aprilia seems quite clued up on gearboxes fitted to Vauxhalls. Is he around to provide a comment or two?
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Volvo do a 5-spd auto in petrol and diesel
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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In town? yup autos win every time. On a twisty road, a nice gearbox is fun, but if its a nasty obstructive sloppy feeling stick in a coil of snakes, an auto will do just as well.
Exactly, it amuses me how many people will accuse automatic boxes of robbing the enjoyment from driving, then admit to driving some of the most fun-free vehicles ever to escape a car-crusher.
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Within the next ten years or so you won't even get the option of a manual gearbox on most cars.
Modern electronic autos are just as efficient, economical and controllable as a manual. They are also much more mechanically sympathetic. Basically, the only benefit of a manual 'box nowadays is left leg exercise.
Kevin...
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I'm not going to say manuals are better than autos because it's all personal preference but I hope in my lifetime we can still drive manuals. For me, it's more fun, especially having that degree of control. Nothing better than a windy, (not breezy but one with bends in!) fast road, the ability to double declutch without going into a hedge, and one, suitably easily frightened passenger - (usually Mum!)
I can see why many people prefer autos and no doubt when I grow up and have a family, the town car will be an auto but there will always be a manual in the drive. Even if I have to buy a "Classic - 2012 Ford Mondeo"!!!
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Adam
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double declutch
Why? why on earth do you need to double declutch, a blip of throttle with a heel and toe on the down shift maybe, but why double declutch? not been required since they put a crash gearbox on the AEC bus!
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My Dad taught me and since then I have always used it. When approaching a hazard or bend at anything over 40, changing to 3rd can be a little jerky. However, if you're doing 50, neutral, revs, 3rd...seamless :-)
I have been told that before the synchromesh was invented, this had to be done with every gear - up AND down!
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Adam
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My first wheels were a 1934 Austin 10 with no syncromesh. Perfectly synthesised double declutching was de rigeuer if the resulting noise resembling something out of a Clydebank shipbuilding yard was not to frighten small dogs and bring on attacks of the vapours in elderly ladies.
Subsequently I acquired an Austin A90 with a column change so sloppy that I used to joke if you could find the right gear you should qualify for a prize. I never could get third, it was that pull back and up motion that defeated me, so it always second into top. Then a Victor with a 3 speed column change -- that was OK, until......
Later I discovered automatics with the thought that this was such a ****** obvious idea why weren't all cars like this. And so the years wore on, and on and on, rentals, company cars, owned ones, all auto until a year ago when for reasons not necessary to go into here I acquired a manual. I am STILL double declutching!
Growlette gets really teed off when I take her car (auto) and leave mine behind. Now I just have to find a reason to get rid of my manual. Really I hate it. Mind you I'd never have an automatic motorbike. Maybe I should discuss this with my therapist.
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Not too sure if I'd dismiss auto's for bikes, Growler. I would like to try one. Tests I've read on the larger scooters like the Bergman have always given a thumbs up to the gearbox.
I think manual gearchanging on two wheels would be a bit like in a car - you think you'd miss it till it's gone, then you'd wonder why you ever put up with it.
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Mr Shaw: a scooter isn't a BIKE. Scooters are for fairies and chaps who don't like showing up with their Armani suits all wet at their cubicle at Goldman Sachs but still want to prattle on about how much they're doing for the Kyoto agreement, traffic congestion etc befor crooking their delicate little pinkies over glasses of Highland Spring mineral water as they address their organic salad before poncing off the to the health club.
They wouldn't know a real motorbike if they fell over one.
I have ridden the early 70's Honda 750 auto, that was a dog. Cars fine, bikes no.
:-)
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Agreed on scoots, Growler, I was just using them as an example of how the technology has moved on. Honda also did a 400 auto which never set the world on fire, but I bet they could make a good go of it today, especially with modern electronics to play with.
Although it wouldn't be the same on a Harley, I suppose.
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>>Nothing better than a windy, (not breezy but one with bends in!) fast road, the ability>>
Then you'll find a winding road - or even twisty one - more interesting...:-)
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Listen...Pal - is this "let's find holes in Adam's posts" day? Don't forget - you don't live too far from me at all :-)!!!
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Adam
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Within the next ten years or so you won't even get the option of a manual gearbox on most cars.
A year or two back, I read something somewhere by a car designer (maybe Citroen) about how he'd love to be able to design a car knowing it would never need to be fitted with a third pedal, cos it would give more freedom to fit the footwell in around all the other bits.
Sounded sensible, but I can't see it catching on unless manufacturers stopped overcharging for auto gearboxes.
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