Is an automatic that bad?

[Gibson486]

I am looking into a used car. The only problem is that most are stick shift. Now tell me, I do not know how to drive stick shift, but does an automatic hurt performance that bad? Or do people tend to over exxagerate a little. Is it worth the time and effrot to learn to drive stick? I would say yes, but teh thing is, I am going to college in a year, and lots of colleges do not allow freshamn to have cars on campus, so I guess that time effort is not worth it if I am only going to drive teh car for a year. Also, what car do you suggest at around $6500? I was thinking Acura Integra, but at that price, they have around 115,00 miles. So, what do you think? No back wheel drive cars, they stink in the snow. ANd no MAerican cars, I want to pay little on repiars as possible.

 

[Platypus]

Its a matter of preference really. Manual cars are better in my opinion because you have so much more control over your car. By downshifting, you save your breaks, and its less work on the car if the engine does the work. Learning a manual takes a bit of practice, buts its well worth it. There is nothing wrong with an automatic though.

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Yes Autos do suck..especially on smaller engined cars because they rob more power than a manual.

I have an auto Corolla...I wished it was a manual. And if your considereing a Integra then a manual is the way to go, makes it much more fun to drive.

 

[Pastore]

<< ANd no MAerican cars, I want to pay little on repiars as possible. >>


You must be confused, because you pay MORE for repairs on foreign cars... Granted, it is fractional on a Honda, but it is still more...

 

[The Stigenator]

well 3 speed auto's are really bad in performance. a 4 speed auto is much better.

shop around.. but for that price and american car will come thru easily. Otherwise your looking at a KIA, Hyundai etc etc.

By the way american cars (nice american cars) cost lesser to maintain than some japanese cars.

 

[Platypus]

Also, look into a used Volvo. They dont look that great, but they are fast, and they run forever.

 

[Gibson486]

I am looking into a nice small car or, if I can find one, a sports car. I had an automatic Eclipse, and acceleration did not seem that bad. Ofcrouse, my aunts automatic Altima did beat the sh!t out of it in a drag race.....

 

[Pacfanweb]

A few random car notes:

American cars do break down more, but are cheaper to fix.
Foreign cars break down less (some exceptions, obviously), but are generally more expensive to fix.

Foreign cars are more expensive to do regular maintenance on.

There is very little difference in the performance of otherwise identical automatic and stick cars. At least not enough to make up for having to shift gears in traffic. It's a personal preference.

Downshifting helps save your brakes, but wears your transmission. Depends on how you do it, but you're better off shifting into neutral and using your brakes. They're cheap.

If anyone still makes a 3 speed automatic, I don't know who it is. There are 4 and even 5 speed automatics now.

 

[geno]

Pacfanweb, I think Neon's come with a 3 spd, I'm not sure though. In the early 90s there were many 4 cyl engines that were mated to 3 spds, I'm sure they're still around somewhat

 

[frizzlefry]

I'll have to try and dig it up but I believe it was the 1995/6 pontiac firebird formula V8 in which they tested manual versus auto in Motor Trend. Automatic beat it by .3sec in 0-60.

 

[geno]

<< Automatic beat it by .3sec in 0-60 >>


How about in the 1/4? I think with the more well spaced gears it'd have better acceleration beyond 60MPH

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Automatics do not eat too much performance on cars with a reasonable amount of torque, but nearly any 4-cylinder economy car REALLY sucks with an automatic, whereas even the meekest Civic can be kinda fun to drive with a stick.

I think any head-to-head comparison like the one cited by frizzlefry is deceptive, as a manual transmission offers control over the car and fun that an automatic cannot approach - a stick offers MUCH more than slightly-improved performance (notwithstanding frizzlefry's article, nearly every test shows a stick to be somewhat quicker).

The &quot;time and energy&quot; needed to learn to drive stick is nominal. I bought a used car with a stick without knowing how to drive one and had it down perfectly in short order. With a little assistance you could have it down in an afternoon.

 

[LordMaul]

Damn, I was hoping to go into this thread defending the 2nd Amendment.

 

[aUt0eXebat]

i love standerds. i have one, but when i buy a new car i think it will be an auto, becuase i plan on living in the city, and sticks are a pain in the butt in cities

 

[StageLeft]

Manual vs auto: More power, cheaper on gas, cheaper transmission.

Don't get an auto. If you don't know how to drive a 5 speed: learn. If you're looking to buy a car lacking in power anyway (say 100 horses) an auto is absolutely the last thing you need sucking away what little power you already have.

If you're looking at a car that does 0-60 in 10 seconds you can find that the auto is pushing it well over 11. It isn't hard to learn how to drive a standard and you'll be glad you did. Don't you feel like less of a man knowing that you can't drive one?

 

[Pacfanweb]

<<as a manual transmission offers control over the car and fun that an automatic cannot approach >>
Like I said, it's a personal preference.


<<a stick offers MUCH more than slightly-improved performance (notwithstanding frizzlefry's article, nearly every test shows a stick to be somewhat quicker).>>

Quicker is worth...what? When you're talking about the performance improvement of a stick in, say, a Corolla vs auto Corolla, who cares? They're both slower than the earth, so what difference does it make? You're not buying a small car like that for its performance. If you're buying it for convenience, then you might as well get the ultimate convenience, an automatic trans.
Now when I was younger, I didn't mind shifting gears in stop and go traffic, but start doing it everyday, and you'll reconsider. A stick is certainly not more fun when you're sitting in rush hour traffic.

<<If you're looking at a car that does 0-60 in 10 seconds you can find that the auto is pushing it well over 11>>

Exactly my point. When you're that slow, what difference does it make? If you happen to race an identical car with a stick, that's the only time you'll see the difference. And if you're worried about how fast you can be with a 10 second 0-60 car, then you need to save up, 'cause you bought the wrong car for you.

<< Automatic beat it by .3sec in 0-60 >>


<<How about in the 1/4? I think with the more well spaced gears it'd have better acceleration beyond 60MPH >>

I've seen several Firebirds/Trans Ams at the strip, and the automatics were faster everytime. Ditto for the Camaros. You just can't get that stick car off the line as fast, it's harder to NOT spin the tires.

Edit: and don't let anyone tell you that sticks are a lot cheaper to fix when they break, either. On average, they are a little cheaper, but when you're talking 1400 bucks versus 1800 bucks, big deal.

 

[StageLeft]

OK, but a 5 speed is still going to be cheaper to buy than its automatic counterpart. If you're looking at a new car the average here is $1k or so, if used the difference would obviously be smaller - you also get better gas mileage though! Plus, although you don't buy a corolla for speed these things in my view are so slow anyway that the 5 speed gives one the illusion of more speed. You say that its so slow that it doesn't matter, but I say that its slow enough as it is and you need all the help you can get!

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

<< Quicker is worth...what? When you're talking about the performance improvement of a stick in, say, a Corolla vs auto Corolla, who cares? They're both slower than the earth, so what difference does it make? You're not buying a small car like that for its performance. If you're buying it for convenience, then you might as well get the ultimate convenience, an automatic trans. >>



Not sure how this turned into an argument. I simply disagree. As I said above, IMO a manual transmission is preferable regardless of the speed issue, because of its drastically-improved vehicle control, especially in inclement weather. I find it about a million times more fun as well, and so, even though I DO drive in traffic every day, I recently traded in my Accord V-6 EX for a 5-speed Maxima SE, because I HATED driving an automatic regularly.

As I said (and I have a hard time seeing how you could disagree if you had owned such cars), there is an enormous difference between driving an 85-hp econobox with a stick and one with an automatic. Regardless of the quantified difference in 0-60, the car with the stick will be much more fun and offer vastly better passing performance.

Admittedly if you are not a driving enthusiast, an automatic is, well, easier. Beyond that I see no real advantage to one.

 

[stanger]

depends on how your gonna drive it and where..... in the city the auto hands down because there is no clutch to keep pushing in at lights. if you want performance and drive aggressive then the manual is the way to go. you can get more power out of a manual being quicker off the line and shift points, but if you cant drive the manual then it not going to help ya much all depends on the driver but i never see too many 4 cyl power shift either

stanger

 

[Viperoni]

The only gripe I have with older cars (like mine) with auto's is that shift times are long.
If I put a shift kit in my tranny I could probaby shave a 1/2 second off my quarter mile time.
No kidding.

 

[Linh]

yes

 

[Dan]

As noted, your choice depends in large part on where you're driving. If you will be in heavy, stop and go traffic an automatic is the only way to go. As I get older I have come to prefer an automatic -- it's just easier on the knees.

However, even if you end up buying an automatic, you should still learn how to drive a stick. Trust me: there will come a time in your life you'll be glad you did.

 

[bigshot]

autos with a stall converter will almost always beat a manual in times (im talkign sports cars)
thats why cars usually runs 9 and 10 in 1/4 are always auto because A4 is faster (you dont have to qorry abotu gears just teh start)

 

[StageLeft]

I suppose that once CVT becomes mainstream we won't have to worry about this debate anymore. manual will still be more fun but CVT well made transmissions are both faster and better on gas than their standard counterparts. Grr, takes the fun out of it.

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

My Corolla has a freaking 3-speed auto without overdrive!! Most cars that are 4-speed have overdrive which becomes the 4th gear.

That is all, back to your regular discussion.