steptronic/manumatic vs manual/stick

[plum]

alrite guys.....i was wondering whats the difference between manual and steptronic.....i know that manual is faster..dunno why.....and that steptronic is only working with 4 gears...rather than 5...but regardless...what makes manual faster.....steptronic is a computer shifting is it not? so i mean its like a perfect shift....and i heard steptronic limits you to 5000 rpm....but apart from these are their any other deciding factors that make manual better? please dont just post sticks rule steptronics suck....i already know it hehe =) thanks

[GundamExpo]

Uhh, I believe its tiptronic. Mechanicaly they are difference the tiptronic is essentialy an automatic transmission. Manual isnt faster if the operator lacks skill.

Why get a manual? Because you have more control over your motor, and heal-toe shifting.

[dblair]

The automatic in the 5th gen has two gates. One works like all automatics the other requires you to shift. In the manual mode for example if you're in third gear it will stay there until you shit to 4th or 2nd or until you slow down to 1-2 mph when it will go to 1st.

The automatic cars are rated at 5hp less than the manual but they still rev to 7 grand plus. The reason they're slower (besides the 5hp) is that you fall out of VTEC when you shift. With the 5 speed you can keep it in VTEC through the gears. I think an automatic with a VTEC controler would do much better, but still be a bit slower.

[rubix777]

automatic transmission are also cost more for repairs and are a lot heavier than manual. But it evens out in the long run because you can drive more miles with an auto before changing tranny than manual.

Also, during shifting, automatic automatically downshifts for you sometimes when you don't want it to, perhaps entering and exiting a turn. When I enter turns, I usually leave it in 3rd and pull through the whole turn. The autos that I've driven will downshift to 2nd when you step on it, and it shifts back to 3rd exiting the turn.

With auto, you can't easily use engine braking without first shifting it into 2D or each respective gear you want. Shifting it into each one of those gears frequently wastes mileage and isn't good.

So what if you can drive using just one leg and one hand. The other two limbs are just sitting there limp. Why not use them to control the car as well as in manual.

Looks cooler too. The car rolls back before you go forward. In auto, popping it into N then into D causes a rough transition as opposed to manual.

[Prelewd]

Originally Posted by rubix777

Looks cooler too. The car rolls back before you go forward. In auto, popping it into N then into D causes a rough transition as opposed to manual.

Looks cooler when you don't let it roll back...

There used to be a guy that drove an auto-civic at my old HS. He was a real hardass.. Figured out how to make the car sound like he was driving a manual. We knew.. and laughed.

[dblair]

The upshift-downshit on its own is what's addressed by the 5th gen automatic. It stays in the gear you put it in regardless of speed. So it does work better than a regular automatic when you're trying to have fun. It's still not as much fun as the 5 speed and its still slower... it's really nice on the freeway in rush hour traffic though.

As far as durability goes Hondas go 150,000 plus miles on a clutch. Unless you don't know what your doing synchros last even longer(200,000 plus miles on my CRX). The real savings (for me at least) with a manual results from the ease of working on them. I can easily do a clutch job on my Accord but anything beyond pulling the automatic transmission out of my Prelude and taking it somewhere to have it worked on is out of the question.

[rubix777]

if it doesn't roll back they'll think it's an auto. When the brakes release the car goes forward. otherwise you can use the e-brake method to avoid rolling back

[Prelewd]

Originally Posted by rubix777

if it doesn't roll back they'll think it's an auto. When the brakes release the car goes forward. otherwise you can use the e-brake method to avoid rolling back

I don't care if they think my car is an auto.. do you? Just drive your car.

[plum]

so what makes the new paddle systems they are using so much more effective....sposed to be better or on par with the bessst manual shifting ppl out there......like even pontiac on their grand prix can say the new paddle sysmem car is like faster than bmws and all i forget which bmw model they said...