Automatic to manual Can it be done

Iceweasel

Ultrasonic wrote: »

What are some examples to make the case then?

The current BMW 3 series diesels.

The autos have an 8-speed box the manual only 6-speed

Across the range the autos return at least 4 mpg more than the manuals.

Take the 335d as an example.

The manual urban figure is 45.6 - the auto 52.3

the extra urban manual quotes the same 67.3 for both.

And for the J Clarkson types the auto is faster to 60mph with an identical top speed.

You can find similar figures for M-Benz models and Audi.

Admittedly these cars are at the cutting edge of technology, but there's no reason for smaller cheaper vehicles not to achieve the same.

Richard53

Two cars in my household, both Fords, both Tdci diesels, figures for local driving:

Mondeo estate manual 42 mpg
Focus hatchback auto 35 mpg

Looks like Ford didn't get the memo.

Jakg

Iceweasel wrote: »

Take the 335d as an example.

The manual urban figure is 45.6 - the auto 52.3

the extra urban manual quotes the same 67.3 for both.

The EU NEDC test (which determines advertised MPG figures) specifies a gear for manual cars at specific road speed (e.g. "accelerate to 40 MPH in 2nd"), even though its not necessarily the best gear for that speed / car.

Automatics are free to chose whichever gear they want.

This is a large parts of why an automatic appears more economical in the EU tests.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_European_Driving_Cycle#Test_procedure

almillar

The tide is turning here. Autos used to be big heavy slow slushboxes, but some of them have got better over the years. I had the privilege of driving a 2012 BMW 520d at the weekend, with an 8 speed auto. Even in 'comfort' mode, the speed of gearchange was ridiculously fast. In Sport mode, driving 'fast', it's less smooth but even faster. I refuse to believe anyone can change that fast in a manual gearbox (there's some economy - time spent out of gear is fuel wasted). It's also got 'Eco Pro' which does such useful and patronising things as putting a symbol on the screen telling you to lift your foot off the accelerator if you push it too hard, and it also tells you to get out of 'manual' mode and leave it in drive, so that the computer can do the gears for you (because it is more intelligent than you, puny human).
Of course, plenty of autos out there are slow uneconomical slushboxes, but better ones are here, and more are coming.
All that said, I'll take my manual petrol any day, thanks!

Herzlos

Iceweasel wrote: »

The current BMW 3 series diesels.

The autos have an 8-speed box the manual only 6-speed

Across the range the autos return at least 4 mpg more than the manuals.

Take the 335d as an example.

The manual urban figure is 45.6 - the auto 52.3

the extra urban manual quotes the same 67.3 for both.

And for the J Clarkson types the auto is faster to 60mph with an identical top speed.

You can find similar figures for M-Benz models and Audi.

Admittedly these cars are at the cutting edge of technology, but there's no reason for smaller cheaper vehicles not to achieve the same.

You're talking about very new cars though, and autos have only recently caught up with manuals as far as fuel consumption is concerned. Maybe in another decade manuals will be distant memories but for anyone buying a car that's more than about 3 years old there are less reasons to go auto.

iolanthe07

How can an otherwise identical automatic be more economical than a manual? The gearbox is heavier if nothing else isn't it?

The Mitsubishi Mirage CVT auto uses less fuel and has lower emissions than its manual counterpart.

tberry6686

Going from an auto license to a manual one is just a matter of practice and doing the test again in a manual car (I did this about 15 years ago).

As far as the auto versus manual debate goes, I can't understand why more people drive manuals than auto's these days especially when doing most of their driving in town.

Having said that, a lot does depend on the gearbox itself - there are a few really poor auto boxes around even in new cars. I drive a couple of older auto's (12 and 13 year old ones and the changes are silky smooth and quicker than I can change a manual by a long way. One of my cars was off the road due to an accident and I was given a 6 month old peugot with a porsche made auto box as a curtesy car (only a year ago so new car really) That gearbox was the worst thing it has ever been my misfortune to use, gearchanges took an age making overtaking virtually impossible - I was very happy to hand that back and get my own auto back from the bodyshop.

InsideInsurance

If you have a Full Auto license, do you need to get another provisional one for driving a manual or does the Auto license include the right to be a learner in a manual car?

Do you need to resit the theory test if it was a few years ago since you passed?

Was just wondering, always had a manual license

tberry6686

My auto license was also a provisional for manuals. I believe you do have to redo the theory test but I could be wrong on that.