Simviation Forum - Standard Or Automatic

Sep 15^th, 2010 at 9:34pm

skoker Offline
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Standard Or Automatic? Why do you like it?

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Reply #1 - Sep 15^th, 2010 at 10:14pm

Boikat Offline
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I can drive both, but it depends on the vehicle and engine. I find the small cars with four cylinder engines equiped with standard transmissions ammusing. They sound like mice with intestinal gas when someone tries to get down with them. On the other hand, a large 6 or 8 cylinder and a standard is a blast.

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Reply #2 - Sep 15^th, 2010 at 11:19pm

U4EA Ex Member

I drive a 2000 Chevy Blazer equipped with a 5-speed manual tranny. Love it!!! Lots of original stuff on it's 260,000 mile self, like the clutch and tranny!!!

An automatic most likely wouldn't have made it this far. Besides, dashing through the snow in 4WD with a manual transmission gives ya sooooooo much more control! Cool

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Reply #3 - Sep 15^th, 2010 at 11:31pm

patchz Offline
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As stated, it depends on the veh/engine. My Z28 is a six speed manual, by choice.

Dave, I have to disagree. Having hunted for years in a 4wd Chevy with a four speed, I found when you got 'slightly' stuck and needed to rock it to get out, an auto would have been better. It is much easier to shift quickly from drive to reverse and vice versa with an auto, than from first or second to reverse and vice versa with a manual. Of course the main purpose of a four wheel drive, is to get you deep enough in the woods to need a winch to get unstuck. Roll Eyes

Mine had an 8k Warn and I always carried two snatch blocks and chain to attach to trees. You can't always winch straight, hence two blocks. And yes, I have been stuck with the frame on the ground. Without the snatch blocks, I would still be there.

Another factor to consider, is repair cost. Generally speaking, automatics are much more expensive to repair.

If God intended aircraft engines to have horizontally opposed engines, Pratt and Whitney would have made them that way.

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Reply #4 - Sep 16^th, 2010 at 9:55am

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You missed an option out, Steptronic. I use it all the time, saves the brakes on my Bavarian Panzer. Automatic is good for the increasing traffic jams though.

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Reply #5 - Sep 16^th, 2010 at 10:18am

Hagar Offline
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Automatic every time. It takes all the stress & exertion out of driving for me. Surprising how much physical effort is involved in continually changing gear, especially in town or heavy traffic. I got my first auto about 15 years ago & had one ever since. Sheer bliss. Cool

I would never willingly go back to manual. All that gear changing might suit the boy racers among us but I never understood the attraction of it myself. Tongue

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Reply #6 - Sep 16^th, 2010 at 10:58am

machineman9 Offline
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I drive manual. I don't think I'd particularly enjoy driving an automatic.

Well, maybe today it would be alright, my shoulders absolutely kill and shifting gears is going to prove rather painful later. Sad

I'd much rather have a working semi-automatic gearbox though Grin

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Reply #7 - Sep 16^th, 2010 at 11:41am

eno Offline
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I prefer a manual box ......... However it depends on the vehicle.
Buses and coaches are nicer to drive and ride on with either an automatic or pre select gearbox..... much smoother for the passengers ...... and not so much work for the driver.

As for trucks Manual or EPS (electronic power shift)or its more modern equivilent. Loads more flexibility in the ratios in a nice split 16 gear box also loads more potential for getting the wrong gear and making an ass of yourself Cheesy

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Reply #8 - Sep 16^th, 2010 at 1:22pm

Steve M Offline
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Automatic for me. It allows for more multitasking at the wheel. Donut in one hand, coffee in the other, cellphone on the dash and girlfriend next to my side, all while fiddling with the cd player and GPS.
Cool

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Reply #9 - Sep 16^th, 2010 at 3:57pm

Crash Ex Member

Manual in both cars. Because I decide when it's time to shift gears and not some dumb gizmo. My father has a Citroen C4 Grande Picasso. With an automatic gearbox. He loves it, I would rip it out and burn it. Luckily the thing also provides the option to drive it with a semi automatic (Formula 1 style flippers behind the steering wheel), so when I drive (which is rare) I can still change gears myself.

Carlo Wink

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Reply #10 - Sep 16^th, 2010 at 6:10pm

DaveSims Offline
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I am in the both category. For my daily driver (truck), I prefer automatic, can't beat it in traffic. For the fun car (lacking right now, hoping to get a newer Mustang eventually), definitely a standard, it wouldn't be right with an automatic.

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Reply #11 - Sep 16^th, 2010 at 7:17pm

Craig. Offline
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If I were tearing round welsh mountain roads often I'd have a manual. For the driving I do in town, I stick with auto. I have to say the tiptronic gearboxes i have tried have been dire. You end up flicking the paddles like its an f1 car downshifting through 6 gears, only to get 1 gear. they are to picky.

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Reply #12 - Sep 16^th, 2010 at 8:13pm

Apex Offline
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Drove a stick for 12 years long ago, it was kinda neat and sporty at the time, but after about 11 years I got tired of shifting and clutching. Automatic since, and OK with it. I guess these days with city traffic I'd rather keep both hands on the wheel.

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Reply #13 - Sep 17^th, 2010 at 4:06am

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For daily driving I keep to automatics only for my trucks, don't like constantly shifting in traffic Lips Sealed

Have no problems driving most manuals though be it trucks, tractors, etc. Only thing I will never buy in an automatic is an ATV.

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Reply #14 - Sep 17^th, 2010 at 5:09am

Hagar Offline
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I find it interesting to see that many Americans claim to prefer manual. I was always led to believe that the majority of cars in the US are automatics. Statistics seem to bear that out. http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=758867

I know from experience that it's virtually impossible to hire a car in the US with a manual transmission. (That's what converted me to Auto during my first visit.) I suppose you could get one if you really wanted one.

PS. Manual transmission is still the most popular in the UK by a large percentage.

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Reply #15 - Sep 17^th, 2010 at 12:39pm

C Offline
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Hagar wrote on Sep 17^th, 2010 at 5:09am:

PS. Manual transmission is still the most popular in the UK by a large percentage.

Which is a shame considering the excessive numbers of incompetent drivers on Britain's roads who'd benefit from not having to change gear!

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Reply #16 - Sep 17^th, 2010 at 3:52pm

patchz Offline
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Hagar wrote on Sep 17^th, 2010 at 5:09am:

I find it interesting to see that many Americans claim to prefer manual. I was always led to believe that the majority of cars in the US are automatics. Statistics seem to bear that out. http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=758867

I know from experience that it's virtually impossible to hire a car in the US with a manual transmission. (That's what converted me to Auto during my first visit.) I suppose you could get one if you really wanted one.

PS. Manual transmission is still the most popular in the UK by a large percentage.

You are correct Doug, the majority are autos. But sports car and many hot rod nuts prefer standard. And in larger cities, there are some standards available in rentals.

If God intended aircraft engines to have horizontally opposed engines, Pratt and Whitney would have made them that way.

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Reply #17 - Sep 18^th, 2010 at 8:43am

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Hagar wrote on Sep 17^th, 2010 at 5:09am:

I find it interesting to see that many Americans claim to prefer manual. I was always led to believe that the majority of cars in the US are automatics. Statistics seem to bear that out. http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=758867

Did you know that the Auto transmission is an option on most cars made here?

Since most Americans prefer one, they charge extra for it.

I prefer standard in small sporty cars, automatics in everything else.

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Reply #18 - Sep 18^th, 2010 at 9:43am

Hagar Offline
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ShaneG wrote on Sep 18^th, 2010 at 8:43am:

Hagar wrote on Sep 17^th, 2010 at 5:09am:

I find it interesting to see that many Americans claim to prefer manual. I was always led to believe that the majority of cars in the US are automatics. Statistics seem to bear that out. http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=758867

Did you know that the Auto transmission is an option on most cars made here?

Since most Americans prefer one, they charge extra for it.

It's just the same here but not for the same reason. An Auto costs considerably more than a standard which puts it out of the price range of many people looking at buying a new car. Same goes for company & hire cars. I suspect this is the main reason that manual transmission is popular here. Most British drivers have probably never even tried an Automatic so are hardly qualified to give an opinion on which they prefer. Wink

Automatics have always had a bad reputation in this country. I think this originated years ago when they were unreliable & expensive to maintain.

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Reply #19 - Sep 19^th, 2010 at 6:38pm

garryrussell Offline
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A few people I've known have developed a fault in an automatic and the price of rebuilding the box has meant it's written off

however on guy who is a mechanic used to buy automatics cheaply in that state and convert them to manual for much less cost and he made a fair bit out of that.

Never heard them called standard..just manual

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Reply #20 - Sep 20^th, 2010 at 5:12pm

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Manual without a doubt. I decide when to up and downshift. You can't "heel-toe" in an auto. Plus I just get bored and tired in an auto. Wink

Thats not to say there aren't some very good auto's out there, such as VW/Audi's DSG.

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Reply #21 - Sep 20^th, 2010 at 6:44pm

C Offline
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gtirob01 wrote on Sep 20^th, 2010 at 5:12pm:

VW/Audi's DSG.

VW/Audi/Skoda's DSG... Wink

(and Seat's I suppose!)

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Reply #22 - Sep 26^th, 2010 at 10:44pm

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I can drive a manual, but I'm not comfortable driving it. Keep thinking that I'll stall it in the middle of an intersection. My car is a select shift automatic. I like not having to worry about shifting unless I want to.

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Reply #23 - Oct 10^th, 2010 at 10:38am

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C wrote on Sep 20^th, 2010 at 6:44pm:

gtirob01 wrote on Sep 20^th, 2010 at 5:12pm:

VW/Audi's DSG.

VW/Audi/Skoda's DSG... Wink

(and Seat's I suppose!)

We could umbrella further and go with VWAG.

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Reply #24 - Dec 8^th, 2010 at 12:22pm

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With a 4.6 V8 under my right foot, its gotta be auto Grin

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