Manual v/or Automatic transmission

onwards&upwards

noclaf wrote: »

I've always driven manual from.a 'driver satisfaction' perspective but I drive less than 5k a year so while it's occasionally annoying to use in heavy traffic its not an issue...if.I was doing daily long drives then auto would likely be the preference as manual can be tiresome. I've considered going auto for my next car but not sure there is much point for short stop start journeys and maybe an incorrect assumption but I get the impression auto boxes tend to have more issues on used cars..I could be wrong.

I had to take an automatic insignia on a long drive earlier this year. Felt like the left side of my body had gone to sleep.

knightstyle

We have had automatics for years as my DW has a dodgy left leg and we love them especially now modern ones are as or more economical than manual ones, why would anyone want an old manual?
DD borrows our auto Cmax occasionally and for her next car wants an auto.
Interestingly when we lived in France it wasn't easy finding secondhand autos, they all prefer manual ones.

alembicbassman

I don't mind either. My car history is an eclectic mix of both types.

I tend to find the standard old fashioned auto boxes that use a torque converter are the most reliable, but they do produce a higher CO2 level.

I've owned the auto boxes that use a hydraulic system to operate a clutch (Ford Durashift) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Durashift

I didn't like these because the shifting is not as smooth as a torque converter type and they are very expensive to repair.

I've never owned a CVT equipped car, but Nissan have had problems with these recently.

If you want an auto car take the CO2 hit and buy the tried and trusted torque converter type.

My old 2003 Astra G auto box worked faultlessly for 15 years and had a useful winter setting for driving in snow.

noclaf

onwards&upwards wrote: »

I had to take an automatic insignia on a long drive earlier this year. Felt like the left side of my body had gone to sleep.

About the same as when I get out of my focus after a long drive..lower back really takes a hit. I think it's the cars and their respective seats more than anything.

Comfort is definately high on the agenda for my next car!

Mutton_Geoff

I was tainted by those old sloppy Borg Warner 3 speed boxes with a slush box (torque converter) but recently aquired a sporty German car with a 7 speed PDK semi automatic gearbox. Combined with it's electronic control, it's a very clever box of tricks and makes driving a lot easier.


I'd seriously consider other types of automatic on my next purchase.

UncleZen

i recently read an honest john article that said the vag dsg clutch/box was the worst in the universe.

personally, im manual now, but will be auto next time round, as I get older and lazier.

Clive_Woody

UncleZen wrote: »

i recently read an honest john article that said the vag dsg clutch/box was the worst in the universe.

I've got one of those in my Octavia vRS and certainly have no complaints so far (had it a couple of years). The car has various modes (Comfort, Normal, ECO and Sport...I think), which influences gear changes, amongst other things. I do also have flappy paddles on my steering wheel if I feel inclined to change up or down myself, but I don't think I have bothered more than a couple of times.

The only other autos I have driven was my wife's old Nissan Sunny, that had 3 gears, and was a very placid car to drive, and a Rover 25 that was possibly the worst car I have ever driven.

I got an auto because my left knee is knackered from my rugby playing days, but certainly don;t see it as a compromise.

chelseablue

Im on my 4th car since I started driving, first was a manual but the last 3 have been automatic

Will be getting auto again when current car dies, mainly drive round town so cant be bothered keep changing gear

I've got a 2006 Nissan Note at the moment, not sure what type of auto that would be?

iolanthe07

I would never go back to a manual; autos are just so much less hassle in traffic and on congested motorways. I prefer the seamless drive of a torque converter box to the wretched jerky automated manuals fitted to some small European cars. I am quite happy to pay for the extra fuel and higher VED, neither of which amounts to very much.

pinkteapot

Hubby now has an automatic - got a new Skoda Superb with a DSG gearbox a couple of years ago. It's amazing and I'm really jealous. We live in a hilly area so constant gear-changing. The Skoda handles it all superbly and he vary rarely has to over-ride it (he got the steering wheel paddles to do manual gear adjustments and they've barely been used!).

Now feels like pointless hard work that I have to change gear all the time in my own car. :rotfl:

EDIT: Just seen the comment above re VAG DSG gearboxes and I'm really surprised. We'd read good reviews before we got the car and have been completely won over to autos by it. I was really anti them as I thought automatic gearboxes were still awful. As I said, handles the terrain here beautifully and Sport mode does the job when we need to overtake a tourist.