Why choose to drive manual? :)

Johnmcl7

DUTR wrote: »

Indeed and it's back in line with the topic raised by the OP.
It does seem the replies have turned the thread into an auto vs manual debate. In reality there is no debate or justification to have, the few moments of changing gear is hardly involving one self with the driving experience. In fact thinking about my own car, not only are the gears automatic, so are the headlights, wipers, braking, handbrake, distance to the car in front, radio volume, cabin temperature , screen demist and those are the things that quickly spring to mind

I've never been a fan of autos but have to admit that the car I recently bought is the first one that feels like it should have an auto box as as it has auto headlights, wipers, climate control, keyless entry/start etc.

I don't think there's any denying that autos have improved but I think we're still quite some way them replacing manuals entirely. My current car isn't available in an auto (2010 Mazda6 2.5) and the previous (Octavia VRS Mk II) did have the highly rated DSG option but there were far fewer of them and they commanded a higher price. Although even if they were more readily available for a similar price I'd have still gone with a manual, the DSG box seems very clever but it's a very complex system that can be difficult and expensive to repair which I wouldn't want on a car without the manufacturer's warranty and traction control system was not great in snow or mud without being able to slip the clutch.

John

DUTR

Johnmcl7 wrote: »

I've never been a fan of autos but have to admit that the car I recently bought is the first one that feels like it should have an auto box as as it has auto headlights, wipers, climate control, keyless entry/start etc.

I don't think there's any denying that autos have improved but I think we're still quite some way them replacing manuals entirely. My current car isn't available in an auto (2010 Mazda6 2.5) and the previous (Octavia VRS Mk II) did have the highly rated DSG option but there were far fewer of them and they commanded a higher price. Although even if they were more readily available for a similar price I'd have still gone with a manual, the DSG box seems very clever but it's a very complex system that can be difficult and expensive to repair which I wouldn't want on a car without the manufacturer's warranty and traction control system was not great in snow or mud without being able to slip the clutch.

John

Traction ctrl should be switched off in the snow, as that is when you want wheel spin and the ability to rev high.

Limey

Driven a few modern autos (Skoda, Volvo and Merc) as hire cars and they were great as general wafty cruisers, my favourite all rounder probably being the Octavia.

Still prefer manual, most likely because it's what I'm used to and it's much more fun when barrelling into a hairpin at 80 odd to hammer on the brakes, heel and toe while block changing down from 4th to 2nd and throwing the car round the bend. On track of course.

In an ideal world I might have an auto for general bimbling and a manual track car but that's not really feasible.

InsideInsurance

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

More fun / engaging to drive.
More control of very low-speed manoeuvring( parking etc. ).
More control over the amount of engine braking in tricky conditions.
A whole lot more control in snow and ice.
You can't bump-start an auto if you find yourself stranded with a flat battery.

The last one may be true, too technical for me.

Engine braking is certainly wrong, I can choose any of my 7 gears to do engine braking, only if I am about to destroy the engine will it override my choice. Alternatively I can set the cruise control and it will maintain the speed for me, both up and down including doing gear shifts if needs be

How you think they are more controllable at low speed I've no idea.

Engaging to drive? Is there that much difference between using your left hand and leg to change a gear -v- using your right hand to upshift? Good autos can shift much faster than you ever can and certainly some of us enjoy acceleration

Add to that they can be more economical than manuals when being driven more sensibly


Before this car, RWD with torque convertor 7 speed box, I had always had manuals and was against autos despite having never personally driven one though I had been driven in the occasional one.

Having how had one I doubt I would go back, it is just as fun to drive when you want it to be (of cause a big engine also helps there) and can make town driving a breeze when you arent wanting fun.

Johnmcl7

DUTR wrote: »

Traction ctrl should be switched off in the snow, as that is when you want wheel spin and the ability to rev high.

I find the traction control useful in the snow as it balances the speed between the wheels stopping one wheel slipping when the other has some traction. The electronic brake assist is often tied in with the main traction control which I also find useful and wouldn't want disabled. It's just I prefer not to have to rely on the traction control system entirely.

John

DUTR

Johnmcl7 wrote: »

I find the traction control useful in the snow as it balances the speed between the wheels stopping one wheel slipping when the other has some traction. The electronic brake assist is often tied in with the main traction control which I also find useful and wouldn't want disabled. It's just I prefer not to have to rely on the traction control system entirely.

John

I remember reading in the handbook for my previous car , it mentioned that the ESP should be off in occasions where wheel slip is desired.
I didn't fully understand what it meant until a few winters ago, my car was 'stuck' outside my detached garage on frozen snow (now ice) what was wierd to me, was that I could just change up through the gear box as the maximum the engine would rev to was around 2000rpm, after a while I tried with the ESP off and I could then scramble my way to get some traction, also as the access is very narrow (mirrors folded in or they will be scratched) the car would slide towards the powered wheel, so in wintery conditions it was 'best' not to have it on until you got onto the main carriageway.
Otherwise like you say it's on all the time.

BillJones

londonTiger wrote: »

is that the car with launch control but if you use the launch control you void your warranty?

I think, when I was looking at them, that the salesman told me that I had 6 uses, ever, before the warranty was viod.

By contrast, when I asked about launch control in the 911, I was told that after about 20 times in a row the car may dial back revs on the next few until it cooled down.

I used it an awful lot in that car, with never so much as a word of complaint from the management system.

Johnmcl7

DUTR wrote: »

I remember reading in the handbook for my previous car , it mentioned that the ESP should be off in occasions where wheel slip is desired.
I didn't fully understand what it meant until a few winters ago, my car was 'stuck' outside my detached garage on frozen snow (now ice) what was wierd to me, was that I could just change up through the gear box as the maximum the engine would rev to was around 2000rpm, after a while I tried with the ESP off and I could then scramble my way to get some traction, also as the access is very narrow (mirrors folded in or they will be scratched) the car would slide towards the powered wheel, so in wintery conditions it was 'best' not to have it on until you got onto the main carriageway.
Otherwise like you say it's on all the time.

I assume then it varies depending on the traction control implementation, the ones I've used have been fairly hands off in that the wheel is allowed to spin slightly but not too much rather than restrictive systems that cut power too quickly.

John

Gloomendoom

BillJones wrote: »

I used it an awful lot in that car, with never so much as a word of complaint from the management system.

Your wife?

Iceweasel

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

I've driven both, give me a manual any day.

More fun / engaging to drive.
More control of very low-speed manoeuvring ( parking etc. ).
More control over the amount of engine braking in tricky conditions.
A whole lot more control in snow and ice.
You can't bump-start an auto if you find yourself stranded with a flat battery.

That said, an auto is very easy to drive around town, but for fast open-road driving I'll take a manual please. The more gears to play with the better

( How I long to drive one of these ! )

Do Lamborghini still offer manual boxes? I thought they had stopped offering them as an option.

Ferrari certainly don't make any cars at all now with a manual box.