0-60 Manual v Automatic

Kick down is lowest possible gear iirc, on all automatics.

There may be some caveats on 1st gear, like the threshold speed is lower so it doesn't spend excessive time changing down to be changing back up against shortly.

Autos are good with a decent engine. They probably feel pretty good in the 3.0i+

I just wish the Alpina had come with an auto/switchtronic, it's odd that almost all their cars are auto, except the rare manual 3.4S B3, yet iirc, ALL Roadsters are manual. That engine with an auto would be fantastic in the Alpina Roadster imo... shame... :(

Dave
 
EdButler said:
Surely a well-ish driven manual will be FAR faster off lights due to being able to 'load up' the flywheel somewhat before launch though? Although having never driven a decent Auto i wouldn't know... I do seem to recall holding an auto at revs, with the brakes on is a big nono!

Do any auto owners have a 1/4 mile time? Thats the ultimate benchmark really. My Manual on a good day (still/cool) got a 13.97 @ 99.5 with 2.05sec (iirc) reaction.
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You've hit the nail on the head with these questions Ed! :)
 
An old style auto can be faster than an equivalent manual gearbox in a Mercedes, for the mark 1 SLK 350 official MB zero to 60 figures from brochure are as follows:
Manual 5.6 seconds (6 speed)
Auto 5.5 seconds (7 speed)
This could be because MB make great auto boxes and not such good manual ones (although the SLK manual gearbox is recognised as being one of their best) ?
 
This is an interesting discussion. Totally agree on 2 points, firstly, auto shifts are quicker and kickdown better tuned to the peak torque. Secondly, the choice of auto vs manual is down to personal preference. I prefer a manual. Between giving up my last company car (Volvo V50 D5) and finding the right Zed I rented different cars. Among some more mundane rides, a VW Scirroco 2.0Tsi DSG and an Merc E220d manual for a week long French road trip. The Scirroco I picked the DSG to see what it was like to live with. I wished it was a manual, but it was a good lesson to learn. The E-class makes perfect sense as an auto. Its an effortless distance cruiser and the auto suits it ver well.

However, being a Z4 discussion, what I learnt was, for a drivers car I had to have an auto Z4.

In a real world manual vs auto drag race there are a number of other factors that come into play. Such as engine condition and overall diameter of the tyres. I've just had an inspection 1 service and the resulting improvement is +2mpg on my usual commute to work. This must also translate into improved power. Any given car whether on 17" or 19" rims will accelerate differently. The larger diameter rubbers have the effect of slowing the acceleration.

As "Z4coupebeaver" correctly pointed out, the nut behind the wheel is the biggest variable in real world driving. I chased a friend who races an Aston Vantage track variant in some Cup or other. (Lucky lucky b******!!) He was in a 2.0tdi Golf MkV and I had to work quite hard to keep up with him in my Z4 2.5Si.
 
The auto will redline before changing, if in either sports mode or even under foot to the floor acceleration. 0-45% accelerator depression = normal acceleration, 45%+ = a single change down, floor until click is a double sequential changedown.

FWIW, I would've said that point to point on a twisty road my 330ci Auto is faster than my 3.0l manual Z4 (with RFTs) It's simply more planted, rolls less and I concentrate on driving while always being in the correct gear without having to thrash the engine.

When overtaking something on that same road the Z is by far the quicker car, easier to get into the required power band and faster to spool.
 
F1ADAM said:
It is a commonly known (someone will no doubt contradicts this) that an automatic gearbox takes some of the power from the engine and applies it to the torque converter. Therefore logic would suggest that an automatic model of the same car with the same size engine (such as the Z4 with a 3.0 litre engine) 'should' be slower.

However, the auto should be more attuned to where the peak and power range drops off through each gear change, its faster than a human's reflex and the auto also has the kickdown feature.

Based on the above, my question then is this:

With a typical road driver behind the wheel (not professional), which of the cars in a straight road fight would reach 0-60 first? The manual or the auto?
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In my humble opinion it all depends on the drivers reaction, this would be key for the one to be first. I am sure you agree. From a mechanical point I have to agree with the others that the manual (needs to be a good driver) would be first. Technically speaking the automatic is so good that to beat the automatic the driver has to be real good. My 2 cents :)
 
The DCT gearbox in the E89 really is the way forward, however, I tried the Porsche equivalent Doppelkupplung (PDK) 7 speed box in a Carrera S yesterday and it's better still, no lag when changing from reverse into drive and really, really fierce changing when your foot is on the floor :driving:
Other bonus is of course driving in heavy traffic.

You have to drive one for a couple of weeks to get used to them properly and I would never use a manual again which I have been doing since 1965
 
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