Why do people buy manuals these days ?

iolanthe07

I hate these automatic clutch semi-automatics; they are jerky and unpredictable. Give me a smooth torque converter proper automatic gearbox; you may use a tad more fuel, but they are relaxing and effortless to drive. After living for 5 years in the US, I would never go back to a manual. Driving is stressful enough without bothering about which gear you're in.

epz_2

I don't actively buy autos but tend to get big cars which have them fitted a standard.

The best way I can think about autos is a bit like satnav, its just one less thing to be thinking about. Its a shame because I have really good clutch control and quite like manuals but they are a godsend in stop-start driving.

Gloomendoom

iolanthe07 wrote: »

I hate these automatic clutch semi-automatics; they are jerky and unpredictable.

Why are they referred to as 'semi' automatics? All the ones I have driven have changed gears by themselves.

Give me a smooth torque converter proper automatic gearbox; you may use a tad more fuel, but they are relaxing and effortless to drive. After living for 5 years in the US, I would never go back to a manual. Driving is stressful enough without bothering about which gear you're in.

I couldn't agree more. The smoothness of a traditional torque converter auto is worth the small extra fuel penalty.

jase1

> I couldn't agree more. The smoothness of a traditional torque converter auto is worth the small extra fuel penalty.

Said on a money saving website.

Wash your mouth out!

Imp

I've driven two automatics - I have a 1960s car with a very torquy 2.5l engine and three speed automatic gearbox. It normally starts in second gear and from 5mph to 120mph it drives in top gear, unless you get kickdown. Because it has so much low down torque, it is completely smooth and effortless to drive.

The other auto I drove was a test drive of a 1 litre car with a 3 speed gearbox. It was horrid, with really jerky changes both up and down.

So in my experience, big torquy engine - autos are great. Small engined cars, they are horrid.

Gloomendoom

Imp wrote: »

Small engined cars, they are horrid.

Enough said!

vikingaero

jase1 wrote: »

> I couldn't agree more. The smoothness of a traditional torque converter auto is worth the small extra fuel penalty.

Said on a money saving website.

Wash your mouth out!

James Ruppert, who writes about secondhand cars in Autocar Magazine interviewed a friendly garage in Sussex which specialised in automatic transmission repairs.

The owner of the firm said that any semi-auto (clutchless manual), DSG, 6/7/8 speed was a failure waiting to happen after the warranty. The only exceptions to this was Korean and Japanese autos. He said the only autobox worth buying for reliability are the 4/5 speed torque converters.

jeferey

I can't hypermile very well in an Auto - not the same control or options available.

molly22

Strider590 wrote: »

Manual gears demand the driver pays more attention to driving, this can only be a good thing.....

i disagree - i find i can concentrate much more on the road situation when i dont have to keep changing gear, proved by having an auto when abroad last year. much easier.
:rotfl:

Shimrod

molly22 wrote: »

i find i can concentrate much more on the road situation when i dont have to keep changing gear, proved by having an auto when abroad last year. much easier.
:rotfl:

I agree. I drive a manual at home, and have no desire to change - however, when abroad and driving on the wrong side of the road, having an automatic means one less thing to worry about - especially as the gear stick will be on the wrong side!!

Having said that, the last automatic car I drove was a Toyota Corolla in Canada - the gearbox was horrid - it seemed to spend time hunting for right gear on steep hills.