Is an automatic that bad?

[Noriaki]

A 4 or 5 speed auto w/ shift kit can shift ok. But still not that great.

You lose quite a bit of power becuase the auto has to let the gears slip a bit to get into place. The slippage is a major dump in performance.

A shift kit can eliminate most of that, but then it's fairly hard on the tranny.

 

[JohnnyKnoxville]

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





If you want to get better gas mileage,get a stick shift.The reason they are more popular in Europe than they are here is because gas costs 5$/gallon

 

[Emulex]

automatics are VERY expensive to repair when they go... And they do go..


so unless you know the owner drove the car well, and changed the fluids regularily, i'd avoid a used car with an auto.

 

[flabbergasted]

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



*Waving hands in the air frantically* I know who makes a 3 speed automatic still!! The Dodge Neon has a 3 speed automatic.

 

[Whisper]

As far as I know, automatic transmissions are not THAT much more expensive than manual transmissions. Manual transmissions also seem to &quot;go&quot; more often than do autos, so that makes up for the price difference in repairs.

Manuals are cheaper to buy, but their resale value is also less than their auto counterparts. If you aren't an overly aggressive driver, or if you plan on being in traffic for long periods of time on a frequent basis, I'd say go automatic. I have a stick shift, and even though I love driving it, dealing with clutch slippage after an hour and a half of bumper-to-bumper traffic isn't even MY idea of fun.

You can have just as much fun in an auto as you can in a manual; it just depends on what your personal preference is, and what suits your driving style best. Though realize that if you're learning manual on the car that you buy, you should be ready to replace the clutch fairly soon after purchase...because you'll be wearing it down in no time (happens to us all).

 

[hydrobum]

don't forget the wrangler makes A3 speeds too!

 

[bigredguy]

i have a an auto and most of the time i wish it were standard, the only time i don't is late at night when i get super lazy behind the wheel.

 

[zimu]

if you're a driving fan, like more control and really &quot;feeling&quot; the car, go for the manual. the automatic is better for convenience, price to a certain degree i would think, and for getting from A-Z. I'm totally a manual fan, i like knowing the car 100% and the only way you can do that is in a Manual... you just have so much more control over acceleration, engine speeds that you desire, braking etc.

 

[cavingjan]

I have an auto subaru imprezza and I'm glad I got it in an auto. Of course my car has seen more mud and water and logging roads than most SUVs. For me I can just use my left leg to hold myself into the seat without worrying about bouncing around. Subaru also uses different sensors for their AWD system in the auto than the stick. It supposedly responds faster. Not sure how much that is true. I just prefer not to have to deal with a stick in rush hour traffic. One less thing to deal with at 6AM.

Yes Autos can be more expensive to fix when they break but clutches seem to go fast in the subarus and its easier to bodge something together with an auto than a stick shift when practicing for Junkyard Wars. (I just had to toss that it)

 

[Pacfanweb]

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



<<*Waving hands in the air frantically* I know who makes a 3 speed automatic still!! The Dodge Neon has a 3 speed automatic.>>

Ok, you got me there. Let me change that to &quot;if anyone makes a REAL car with a 3 speed....&quot;


<<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.>>

No argument here, just that like I said, it's a personal preference.


As far as ultimate speed goes, the modified auto is superior to a modified stick. Look at all your fastest accelerating, modified cars and they'll all have either autos or clutchless sticks.(best of both worlds)

As far as what we're advising this fellow to do, well, as you can see, opinions on which trans to get are like _________. Everyone has one.

 

[slag]

I really like the automatic transmission in my Pontiac GTP. Its silky smooth, shifts good (shifts great with performance shift ON), and hasn't given me a bit of trouble.

On a side note, did you know that GM makes nearly all the automatic transmissions for BMW and Getrag makes the manuals?

Joe

 

[ElFenix]

autos are better for turbo'd cars...


screw that, i want a semiautomatic. its a manual with a solenoid operated clutch that shifts in 1/1000th of a second instead of 1/10th of a second like a manual. used in ferraris and F1 cars. i think also CART but i'm not sure.

 

[67gt500]

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


............ this is just not the case at all. You are painting a large picture with a very specific brush.

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

............ this is also not accurate. A c4 3 speed tranny can do some pretty trick things.


Some of the people here who have no car knowledge should not be commenting and making asinine statements which are flat wrong.


And gibson, import will always be inferior to domestic.

Just my .03 cents.

 

[Atlantean]

Automatics suck. It takes away from the performance of the car because you cannot control the amount of rpm's.

 

[Gibson486]

is it true that air conditioners sap power from the engine?

 

[Gibson486]

is it true that the air conditioner can sap the power out of the engine?

 

[spamboy]

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



They are only fast if you have a new one and it a Turbo model. The rest are s.l.o.w.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

<< is it true that the air conditioner can sap the power out of the engine? >>



Most definitely. The device itself adds considerable weight (this is largely why many of your high-end sports cars are not equipped with A/C), and, when turned on, it eats power via the accessory belt. This is VERY noticeable with nearly any 4-cylinder car - I used to own an Integra GS-R (one of the most powerful normally-aspirated 4s), and turning on the A/C stole a significant amount of power.

 

[NIelkc]

lol, THat is funny what you just &quot;I used to have a Acura GSR, one of the most powerfull NA 4bangers around&quot;. Wrong chief, lets see where should I start.

Type-r (Yeh I know a Teggy, but still not a GSR)
Celica GT-S
Nissan Spec-V
New Nissan Altima
Ford Zx2 S/R
2.5 RS
Focus SVT
And there are a few others that are faster but I can not think of them (No those up top are not inorder)
Ones that are equal to your car are
Ford Zx2 base
Civic SI
Cav Z24
GSR
Tiburon
Older Altima
etc... See to me Vtec is a joke, I mean you have to Rev so freaking high just to feel anything. But anyways, not really trying to flame ya

But yeh on the person asking about Auto or Stick, if you can get a stick go with it, but Auto's are better for Drag Racing No, not to Beat people, but so you can be more consistent on your runs, and not Break-Out. But then again any good Stick driver can already do that. Now if you get a auto and want it to go fast, you will have to do some mods. As in put a chip in, maybe a better Torque Convertor, and some other stuff, if you put the chip and Torque Convertor in you will be able to smoke some Sticks

 

[Emulex]

at around 700-800hp an automatic, built for speed, ie: 2 speed. will outrun a stick. Of course this automatic isn't streetable. Its meant for balls out acceleration only. With a 3500-4000 rpm stall converter on it, you'll be smoking the tires every time you want to move..

Otherwise get a stick. The powertrain loss figures for a stick are about 10% less. (10% more power to the wheels with a stick)..


On the other hand, if you spend lots of time in bumper to bumper traffic, a stick will suck much ass... Don't even consider it.

Learn to drive a stick, its worth it. Better gas mileage, clutches are about a $500 job. An automatic, it can only be rebuilt, we just spend $2000 for one on our taurus sho (automatic).

I picked up a lightly used 5 speed for my 90 vw corrado. The total was $1200 for clutch kit, used tranny, and R&amp;R (labor).

Its something to learn, like riding bikes, fixing puters. Learn to drive a stick, you'll thank yourself later on in life, when you might be forced to drive a friend home who's drunk or if you want to get into racing.

A couple of things about sticks:
1. You can push start your car if the battery goes dead.
2. You can bring your car to a complete stop if your brakes fail.

 

[BoberFett]

Why do I feel like Modus should be in here defending automatics?

 

[Soybomb]

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

Wait a minute, you've got enough skills and knowledge that you think american cars are going to cost you more on repairs, and you don't know how an auto compares to a stick...

 

[Emulex]

And we all like chicks who know how to drive a stick.....


and if they don't know how, good reason to teach them

 

[yata]

The fact that it's fun to drive. The cons is when you're lady friend tells you it's getting hot in here, but I digress. One hand one the wheel, the other on shift, and race the nearest parking lot.

 

[Crashedout]

I would argue the traffic point is moot. The first month I had to put up with a stick in stop and go it sucked, but now it is part of my driving and I don't notice, even in the two hour jams we can get here in dc. I will never go to auto again, come to the dark side.... the control is sooo much better. If you love driving and cars, get a stick. If you think driving is only to get you from a -> b then get the auto and stay outta my way on the s-curves.