What is your guys opinions. Do you like a Automative or a Manual. What do you guys think is better for stuff like Drag racing, spinning out, doing donuts, and what funner. What do you guys think.

so funny cause this is a automotive enthusiest site so ur gonna see alot of manny tranny's out there:D

i'm gonna stick with stick... nothing wrong with an auto if your inf traffic.. it's nice and all but even the sports shift like on the new preludes just doesn't cut it for me ...

I defintely like Manuals more.

I've only driven a few Autos, but I feel like i have no control over the car!

With a Manual you can feel everything, and you also get the fun of racing styles.. like double clutching, or skipping gears, etc....

But its saddening that Autos are slowly taking over, its seems harder to find Manuals nowdays, almost every car i see at school is an Auto, the ones with the blow-off valves just sound funny. The even more saddening thing is, over here in New Zealand. Something like 98% of the Japanese imports coming in are Automatic!!!!!

For the un-inlightened
Japanense Import = Used car from Japan, that quite often has a wound back speedometer. (Most cars in NZ are now Jap imports)

Sarujin

Logicaly I voted for for MT so the result didn't shocked me neighter but I have to say as I get both to drive (my father has an AT), downtown the AT is fabulous to just cruise around on the other hand if you want to drive more sporty it gets on your nervs that you have always to calculate the reaction time of the AT (especialy in a chase/race).

not to sound like an idiot but what is meant by double clutching how do you do it

I think manual is much better.

and automitic, it is when you are 40 + years old. (if you are not Racer... :D)

it is my opinion, I just have that kind of feelin' that with autiomitic, I don't have full control of my car.

I go for the stick, I *HATE* slushboxes. I have no control, and it is not nearly as fun as a stick. Also, they are slower in a straight line, slower around a track, get worse gas mileage, cost more to fix, and are more expensive to buy in the first place.

Double clutch: (My understanding) Push clutch in. Shift to neutral. Let clutch out. Rev the engine. Push clutch in, engage gear, continue as normally. Used mainly when going up hills, in order to get higher revs and a little more power.

I use 2x clutching if down shifting into first, the sychronos will catch and if u 2x cluth it wont.

The only bad thing about autos is the lack of control, in a stick, you can make it do what you want when you want, and when you're racing, these is nothing worse than having to shift to neutral in an auto, to rev your engine:smoka:

I like auto for just driving around.
But manual is for everything else.
Kinda obvious isnt it :)

don't get me wrong i enjoy a nice auto now and again where i can put one foot out the window, and fall asleep but i would rather but in full control of the car at all times...

sticks are more fun, as well as faster on road courses, but autos are faster on the strip. the torque multiplication of the converter when its slipping is great, and they are more consistent, u never miss a shft, and the shift are quicker.

An auto CAN, CAN be better. To be better, it needs a high-stall torque converter with a very viscous fluid to keep it almost totally locked up. This would make for fast times, but it would also make it less-than-civil. It would make it a bear to drive on the street, while a stick has no tradeoffs. So from the factory (and a fair bit after), a stick will accelerate better.

well an auto is good for road head :eek: :eek:
no shifting just sucking...

For anything competitive (racing,drifting,draging...) Id'e say manual hands down. Its a lot more fun to. Kinda a bitch to learn though.

Stick shift all the way. I despise automatics, with a passion. they are slow, the make your gas milage worse, and you have no control over the car.
i think my signiture says it all for me :)

a very nice quote in your sig man ...
that's a great way to explain it..
i just like stick cause i control the car not just the steering..
although it is nice to sit back and relax with an auto now and again ..
although both of my cars are stick.. course both of my cars only come in stick.. cause well there is no way anyone would want an auto si or s2k.. and if you do then ...:flipa: :flipa:

i like that sig

what do you guyz think about the auto-stick
or sport tronic, or tiptronic and all that ... ???

Don't like em. Most of them are automatics that will upshift at redline anyway. They still use torque converters, and are not much fun, IMO. The new fancy ones (re, Ferrari), are much better. They don't have torque converters, and hence, are almost the same as manuals. They can actually be quicker than a pure manual. But they're not as much fun as a manual:(

This is an old thread but its still true that a Manual is a much better drivers transmission. Autos are when anything more then a brake and the gas are confusing.

I prefer manual, but either is fine. In all honesty I would have a manual in my cars and auto in my trucks, autos are better for pulling.

Originally posted by YogsVR4
This is an old thread but its still true that a Manual is a much better drivers transmission. Autos are when anything more then a brake and the gas are confusing.

Huh? Brake? Gas?? I'm confused. :D

yeah i could deal with one of the new systems in the ferraris, and i like when they put cool shifters in the car, like ferrari and porsche, and lexus, who have shift buttons on the wheel.. gotta love it..

Originally posted by THE4TH
yeah i could deal with one of the new systems in the ferraris, and i like when they put cool shifters in the car, like ferrari and porsche, and lexus, who have shift buttons on the wheel.. gotta love it..

Yeah, I would kill to have a sequential. It’s till a manual; just the computer controls the clutch. For road course racing there is nothing better, they might try developing one for drag racing.

Originally posted by Polygon
I prefer manual, but either is fine. In all honesty I would have a manual in my cars and auto in my trucks, autos are better for pulling.

Ah, theres the torque converter in action. Great for pulling and torque, but shit for fun.

you guys hear about this new system by audi...
has no shifting whatsoever..
it's like the autoshift bike or something, no gears...
i saw a commercial, i just don't feel like looking it up ..

Ah, the CVT (continuosly variable transmission). Ever seen a snowmobile transmission: thats it, just a little more complicated. In reality, it is superior to a manual transmission. For fuel economy, it can hold the same revs forever (at its most efficient rpm). FOr acceleration, it can keep the engine at redline. These could also be programmed, allowing a person to specify the engine doesn't go below, say, 6000rpm, but stays below 7000rpm, but can only be above 6800rpm for 25 seconds at a time, before going to 6000rpm for 40 seconds, and so on, thereby tailoring the transmission to any racetrack, or any driving style.

If you don't know how a snowmachine works, heres how: two pulleys are connected by a belt (in cars, it is metal). Each pulley can vary its size (think of the pulley as widening as it goes up). Then the sides can be pulled apart or pushed together, forcing the belt to ride lower or higher along the pulley walls. This is how the gear ratio is varied. It is hard to explain, so sorry if you are a little lost.

thanx chris...
i've seen pics of it and i understand the pulley bit...
i just wasn't sure if it was good or not..
i think it's a great idea but a lot of things are good ideas till ya do them ya know...

okay....

I prefer a stick but I've been 'stuck' with an auto for 4 yrs (BMW). The auto is nice for traffic but I sure do miss shifting. I'd take a car with less power (ford focus zx3) just to drive a stick! Plus, I need a gas sipper instead of something that gets 16mpg in city/freeway driving I do.:(

yeah i hear ya on that one.. i mean in like an auto.. it's a nice break from the clutch sometimes.. but that's only when i am borrowing someone else's car.. :D

Audi isnt the only one with cvt... i think the older civic hx has it too. I dont think anyone ever answered what double clutching is either... to double clutch you shift into nutral, let the clutch out, rev the engine to the right rpm. shift into gear, and let the clutch out. I guess truck drivers do it a lot.... i just double clutch when i want a smooth downshift. As for auto and manuals, i definitly choose manuals. Autos suck, no fun at all, no engine slowing, and you pay more for it. But i guess if your lazy, and boring, you could get an auto.

well i have to give it to auto on the traffic...
but even then ya can't cut people off as good as a manual...lol

Yeah, truckers (and crappy cars) use double clutching to get RPM's for getting up hills.
And that torque converter just kills you for accelerating and response, I just hate it.

yeah i'm not a big fan of the tq converter either.. but then again as far as the world goes.. americans are lazy.. so leave it to them to drive autos..

what exactly does the torque converter do? Some kid told me it like stalls the engagement a little bit so it revs up more and you start faster. Seems like thatd kill reaction times unless you were good. This kid wasnt too smart though, so i wouldnt be suprised if he was wrong. Someone want to clarify?

i have no technical info on them whatsoever..
but i'm sure someone around af does..
try the motorhead forum

Originally posted by THE4TH
yeah i'm not a big fan of the tq converter either.. but then again as far as the world goes.. americans are lazy.. so leave it to them to drive autos..


im an american both my cars are manual the truck i have does not even have a hydraulic clutch with the BEST tranny ever build you have not shifted a tranny until you have shifted a muncie

don't get me wrong i'm an american too and i like american cars a much as the next guy... but overall americans in general are lazy compared to other countries... everything in america is geared to be easier and comvenient.. again, don't get me wrong i like it.. but try living in port magee; kerry, Ireland..
you'll see what i mean about lazy..

then i misunderstude what you had posted here something else i dont understand and it also makes me laugh is i go to some other forums and there is always someone wining they had an automatic and i say believe it or not you can get one with a manual tranny

Torque converter: looks like a donut. IT is filled with highly viscous fluid. There are 2 fans in it, one from the engine, and one going out to the tranny. The engine fan spins, which in turn forces the liquid to spin also, turning the tranny's fan. This lowers response time, increases torque/lowers horsepower, increases civility (it is smooth), and makes it possible for the automatic to work. You see, the torque converter takes up the slip the clutches would have to do otherwise.

Hey wussup! I've been browsing around this place and now I've signed up. Just a quick question:

I'm hoping I can purchase a car soon when I get my license... and I've been driving a car with AT - and that's all I know currently.

How hard is it to learn how to drive MT? I mean, I want to learn how because I somewhat an AT ~ but I'm not sure cuz I live in San Francisco and there are lots of stop signs and lights (on every block). And cars with those E-Shift and Sporttronic, etc tranmissions, are they anything like MT?

Thanks! ^_^

its not too hard at all. with a little practice youll be good. a manual might get irritating in a lot of stop and go, but id still drive one.

the best way to learn how to drive a stick is to get into one and drive.. take someone know knows and get in one...
and make yourself drive.. get into some traffic.. try some hills.. just keep doin it till ya get it.. all sticks drive a little diff.. but once you get the hang of it .. you can switch like nothing..

yeah each one is a little different...my brother just got a permit and has been driving a 92 civic with a worn clutch, then he all thinks he can drive my car :eek: and peels, stalls, and bucks it when he tries. at first youll mess up a lot, but you'll get it in no time. a thing i was wondering about sport shift is if its bad to rev in nuetral and press the button or whatever to shift into first... is that alright, or is it bad like doing tranny drops in an auto?

there would be no reason for that .. just keep it in first and keep the cluth in and rev it from there.. then when ya wanna take off.. careful for wheel spin.. dump the clutch.. it's not th best thing for it... but it's not even anywhere close to a neutral launch in an auto..

ahh i didnt know the sport shifts have a clutch. makes sense now

what do you call a luxurious car with 20 inch rims ?

ghetto...

Why do ppl do neutral shifts with autos? Just put it in D, hit the brakes, floor it, release the brakes. Its hard on it, but it also loads the torque converter. So, you can go faster:devil:

Depends on what you are using the car for. Stick is much more fun to drive everyday. On a car you are going race, well drag race at least, I would go automatic. They are more consistant and hold up much better to high hp and torque.

Auto...? Hmm.. what's that? Let me see, oh I remember, a bumber car.:grinyes:

Manual all the way for me. Manual is a lot more fun to drive, you get a lot more control and you can do just about anything. Auto is a bunch of guess work.

All due respect...:loser:

An auto CAN, CAN be better. To be better, it needs a high-stall torque converter with a very viscous fluid to keep it almost totally locked up. This would make for fast times, but it would also make it less-than-civil. It would make it a bear to drive on the street, while a stick has no tradeoffs. So from the factory (and a fair bit after), a stick will accelerate better.

Actually, it would deppend on the stick... take the recently retired Camaro. Its V8 was designed han in hand with the automatic... but the stick was more notchy than most. Even the enthusiast magazines recommended the stick. After driving one, I must agree... it's a very notchy, truck style shifter.

It really depends on the application. If I am driving a cruiser....I like and automatic. But when it comes to performance or towing, manuals trannys are a definite first choice.

I have 2 Camaros, both have autos (I got a killer deal on both of these) and my pickup also has an auto, though I wished it had a manual because it is just a work horse.

Hey guys Im going to be buying a manual soon for the first time and I have some questions regarding manual that I hope u guys can answer so I can be a good driver.

Now, I'm parked in a driveway and I want to start up and get on the road.. So I make sure the parking break is engaged, push the clutch in, and set the car into neutral (if it isnt already), and start the engine. Then I let go of the clutch and let the car warm up. Now, I push the clutch in again and remove the parking break and shift into reverse to get out of my driveway -- this is the part where I am sort of confused. Alot of people say to learn where the clutch engages when letting go of it, my question is when to feed it some gas, do you feed it some gas before the clutch engages or after the clutch engages? and does reverse have an rpm requirement?

And I guess if you fed the car some gas before the clutch engages that would make it sort of "jump" wouldn't it? so that would make it dangerous when pulling out of the driveway, so I'm not exactly sure what to do here.

And let's also say that I come to a red light. I push the clutch in and push the break in till I come to a full stop, then I shift into neutral and let go of the clutch. The light turns green. I push the clutch, shift into first and let go of the break, and again I have myself with the question of when to feed it some gas (before or after the clutch engages).

Here's another situation, let's say I come up to an intersection where I only need to stop for 3 or 4 seconds and I'm already in 2nd gear. I push the clutch in and break, back to neutral and do the same thing as I said above with the red light.. My question here is can't I just push the clutch in and break and downshift into first gear from 2nd and continue on? Or can I even skip pressing the clutch when breaking and just downshift into first when I come to a full stop? And what if I just keep the car in first, can I just use the break normally and not touch the clutch?

Thanks in advance!

Someone reply please :(

Here's another situation, let's say I come up to an intersection where I only need to stop for 3 or 4 seconds and I'm already in 2nd gear. I push the clutch in and break, back to neutral and do the same thing as I said above with the red light.. My question here is can't I just push the clutch in and break and downshift into first gear from 2nd and continue on? Or can I even skip pressing the clutch when breaking and just downshift into first when I come to a full stop? And what if I just keep the car in first, can I just use the break normally and not touch the clutch?

Thanks in advance![/QUOTE]


I normally drive an auto but I will try to help. I think you'll find that if you let up the clutch before you give it gas, you'll stall it. Give it a little gas before you let up on the clutch. How much depends on the car you're driving and whether you're on a hill. It will definately take some getting used to but it will come with a little patience.

I think that sort of answers your second question too, if you come to a stop while in gear (even first) you will probably stall your engine unless you have a very high idle.

Another advantage to having a stick is you can downshift to aid in braking. Say you're doing 50 MPH or so and you know you need to stop soon, you can downshift to say 3rd and you will decellerate. This saves wear on your brakes.

Sticking with the stick

Stick is just better. Clutchless "stick" is still automatic. It even shifts gear if you rev too hard, so your engine would not blow.
I personaly double clutch when downshifting, or going up hill and need to downshift. On a straight road when you are going on nutral and your RPMs fall to 1000, I usally rev it up a bit (maybe 3000) and then put it in gear. Smoother.

yeah you need to give it a little gas before letting out clutch. it wont jult if you do it smooth, it just takes practice, not to much and letting the clutch out slowly is what you want to do. and yes always push in the clutch when changing gears, whether its up or down. What i think you mean by feeling the clutch ingage is when you are letting it out at a certian point is when the car starts going a little, do not just let go when this starts to happen, lett it out slowly once you feel it start to pull

more control with a manual..especially in my evo and my 84 3.18i it makes the world of difference over an auto.

I am big time in the minority here with a strong vote for auto, for any type of car. :uhoh:

I hate automatics

only in a truck. ohv low torque band

mind you its bad there but its like not a big difference.

In terms of a car, an automatic makes it basically a non car

you cannot apply the engine to situation. just gas til it goes.


slow unreliable. I drive hours a day so it makes a big difference to me.

I would rather have a geo metro manual than a 350z auto. I would kill it around town.