Opinion On Automatic to Manual

SallyDucati

I changed to an auto last year, having driven manuals for 30 years.  Mainly due to realising how much the commute/congestion gear change etc. was annoying me after going back to the office!  

I will never ever go back to owning a manual again.

[Deleted User]

The best autos are electric cars. Smooth as silk as there’s only one gear and obviously supremely economical. It makes even driving on congestion a pleasure. 

motorguy

We moved to autos in 2019.  Wouldnt go back now.

Very smooth and takes the pain out of commuting / sitting in traffic.

lemondrops69

Petriix said:

Single gear EV all the way. Gearboxes are so last century. 

I wouldnt be too sure...........

https://press.zf.com/press/en/releases/release_10181.html 

Petriix

lemondrops69 said:

Petriix said:

Single gear EV all the way. Gearboxes are so last century. 

I wouldnt be too sure...........

https://press.zf.com/press/en/releases/release_10181.html 

Seems to be fixing a nonexistent problem. Might make sense if you want to drive really fast often, but the aerodynamic losses at higher speeds are vastly more significant than the small efficiency gains from running at lower revs. The additional complexity and weight would likely negate any savings. 

Mgman1965

Agree, but do as another poster said avoid the automated manuals.

MIL went out and bought a Toyota Aygo automatic which is a automated manual.

Driven it a few times and it's dire.

From cold its jerky, slow to change and frankly, feels almost dangerously out of control.  Not so bad when warmed up. though.

Mutton_Geoff

I thought this post was about how to disarm aeroplane doors as you approach the parking stand 

chrisw

I've switched to automatic after always driving manuals and I'm less keen. Although I appreciate the convenience, I find I'm often disagreeing with the car's choice of gear.

in a manual, I can anticipate what I, and the traffic around me, will be doing but obviously the car can't do this and I frequently find myself in the wrong gear such as when going for a gap in the traffic. Yes, it only takes a fraction of a second to correct itself but it still bugs me.

motorguy

Petriix said:

lemondrops69 said:

Petriix said:

Single gear EV all the way. Gearboxes are so last century. 

I wouldnt be too sure...........

https://press.zf.com/press/en/releases/release_10181.html 

Seems to be fixing a nonexistent problem. Might make sense if you want to drive really fast often, but the aerodynamic losses at higher speeds are vastly more significant than the small efficiency gains from running at lower revs. The additional complexity and weight would likely negate any savings. 

That assumes though that people will only want to drive an EV to eke out as economical a journey as possible.

Thats not going to be the case for many.  Already we're starting to see "fun" and interesting EVs coming on to the market and that will expand.  The MINI Cooper E has the fun of a Cooper S dialled in, theres the new Cupra Born which is the first real stab at a hot hatch EV, i think i heard VW are planning a GTI version of the ID3 (GTX?).  

ZF know their market and know their gearboxes (it is their thing after all!).  Theres an 8 speed ZF8 in our ICE car and frankly the gear changes are seamless in it and you'd be unaware of them other than for the change in engine tone.

motorguy

chrisw said:

I've switched to automatic after always driving manuals and I'm less keen. Although I appreciate the convenience, I find I'm often disagreeing with the car's choice of gear.

in a manual, I can anticipate what I, and the traffic around me, will be doing but obviously the car can't do this and I frequently find myself in the wrong gear such as when going for a gap in the traffic. Yes, it only takes a fraction of a second to correct itself but it still bugs me.

It does vary by car and age of car is also an influence.

I've the older ZF6 in my 2006 car and its a million miles away from their later ZF8 in my other petrol car.  The former feels dim witted by comparison.

BUT, if you think its not normal then i'd definitely get the gearbox looked at - it could benefit from an oil change service (many are "sealed for life" but still benefit greatly from an oil change) and also the gearbox can be reset and relearn your driving style, which again can help them greatly.