Why do people buy manuals these days ?

goldspanners

Gloomendoom wrote: »

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

because the actual gearbox is not an automatic box, its a manual box with lots of fancy sensors and actuators doing the job of the driver at the right time (or what should be the right time).

atrixblue.-MFR-.

auto dislikes:

1. dont like that dull drab sound of it changing gear.

2. my left arm would miss doing something (but could think of ways top preoccupy it!;))

3.cant bump start when the bat is flat.

4.all auto's ive driven never really had any power.

5.dont buy a auto/triptronic bmw mini!! when they brake you'll need to remortgage!!:D

someone mentioned something about deisels and not getting them as a second hand dealer because of the probs with turbo's and common rails etc.

a diesel whether common rail or other the turbo will last longer than that of its petrol sisters looked after and serviced engines use of correct grade oil and no leaky pipes and no damage to intercoolers.

dpf do no justice to turbo's when the oil gets contaminated with diesel due to lack of regen. contamination on a turbos bearing causes the bearing to burn and slip and then you get a smoke factory of a car and £300-500 worse off. HENCE WHY ALL BUYING A DIESEL new or 10 year old SHOULD READ THEIR MANUALS CAREFULLY ABOUT DPF'S AND THE PRECAUTIONS YOU SHOULD TAKE.

and garages often tell you new turbo needed but their just the same as alternators theyre recons on older models plus you can have your original turbo reconned through many motor factors or specialists. BTN, BOSCH, will offer those services also. and cost less to have done compared to a recon-replace.

Gloomendoom

goldspanners wrote: »

because the actual gearbox is not an automatic box, its a manual box with lots of fancy sensors and actuators doing the job of the driver at the right time (or what should be the right time).

So how is that different from any other automatic gearbox? :huh:

The only difference I can see is that they use friction clutches instead of a torque converter. The gearbox itself is no different from a 'full' auto box that uses helical gears and solenoids to shift them.

smjxm09

Twin clutch boxes DSG etc, a nice drive once you've pulled away, probably the best to drive of the new breed of clutched auto's IMO, but complicated and expensive...life expectancy unknown, repair bills will be eye watering.

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

I have never driven a Volkswagen’s with its DSG gearbox but the motoring press say the Ford powershift is much better. There is not a hint of a gear change in my new Mondeo apart from the chance of engine speed when I look at the rev counter but with 6 gears the change in revs are quite small.


Compared to the torque converter gearbox on my old mark 3 Mondeo there is no comparison.

No idea about repair costs but touch wood this is the 5th automatic I have owned and so far I have never had a problem with the gearboxes.

Hintza

I am now a fully automatic convert.

I find I am much more chilled in an auto and my haul of speeding tickets is much reduced since I have driven auto boxes.

Also I think it is an age thing when I was in my 30's I would never have contemplated an auto (picked up my first by default)

By the way OP I thought this thread was about Haynes Manuals and didn't bother opening it at first :rotfl:

Lirin

Above. Can't jumpstart an auto (easily).

I have both, and tend to find the automatic more useful on longer journeys, but prefer the manual on smaller runs, or areas with a lot of lights/ junctions. The auto hums and haws over a particular hill near me, and can't decide which gear to be in.

I would probably prefer the manual better, as I have much more control over the car- the auto was a slight pain when it was very icy, as it kept trying to change modes.

Handy having an auto though as I can still drive it if I've broken an arm or leg!

The auto's very nice, but extremely quiet- there's no 'show' when you get speed, and it tends to be a little more boring than the manual, which has a nice roar. Too easy though to exceed the speed limit without any engine sound to warn.... While it has cruise control, I've only used it once.

I do like both, but would use for different styles of driving....

Imp

Gloomendoom wrote: »

So how is that different from any other automatic gearbox? :huh:

The only difference I can see is that they use friction clutches instead of a torque converter. The gearbox itself is no different from a 'full' auto box that uses helical gears and solenoids to shift them.

Aren't auto gearboxes epicyclic, whereas manual gear boxes aren't?

Gloomendoom

Imp wrote: »

Aren't auto gearboxes epicyclic, whereas manual gear boxes aren't?

Some are epicyclic, some use conventional helical gears.

To confuse the issue further, epicyclic gearboxes have been used in true semi autos. i.e. where the driver has to select (or pre select) the next gear manually but does not have to operate a clutch to do so.

Ebe_Scrooge

For me, the biggest advantage of a manual is the amount of control you have. Over the winter, when we had really bad ice and snow, my wife's automatic was useless, but we managed to get around in the other car which is manual. The biggest difference is being able to use gears to slow down, rather than brakes ( yes, I know you can do this with most automatics as well, but nowhere near as well ). For the same reason, I always feel happier knowing that, worst case scenario, if the brakes were to completely fail I'd have a fighting chance of stopping the car in a manual. I just feel I'm in more control overall in a manual.

Apart from that, I enjoy driving and an automatic takes away a large part of the pleasure.

I won't deny an auto is a godsend in heavy traffic, if you spend most of your time driving round town they can make a lot of sense.

LandyAndy

I have owned three autos ( a 1985 Vauxhall Senator, 1977 Daimler Van den Plas and a 1990 Jaguar 4.0 Sovereign). I enjoyed all of them and would have another auto without hesitation. I'm equally happy to drive manuals, though. I do think the majority of people who denigrate autos have never driven one (or, if they have, only for a short time/distance).