Auto not a drivers car?

H

Hunter

Senior member
 notts/derby
I have seen quite a few posts on here that suggest that autos are not real drivers cars and manuals are the only car a true enthusiast would choose...i would suggest that this idea is dated and a load of cobblers.
In days gone by when autos where slow witted and cumbersome then this statement would have a degree of truth, but Autos with double clutches are definitely the way to go for a driver...dont give me that "change up or down when i want to" clap trap when if you configure an auto box to behave in the same way, and when sat in slow moving city traffic who wants the hassle of the constant clutch action? Why would makers of traditionally "drivers" cars offer there cars in auto only if they diddnt think there would be enough driver involvement. My last car had loads of driver involvement being over 400bhp with no traction control, no airbags and no auto, it was a sub 4 second 60mph and 190+ mph and yet i feel just as involved and certainly more in control on the limit in the 35IS.
Things have moved on and things like power steering used to be thought of as taking away from the driving experience, as did traction control, power vectoring etc etc. So the people that yap on about an Auto car not being for real drivers, i hope you are actually using a Caterham, TVR, Lotus elise, or such as your daily driver. If not join the real world, get behind the wheel of a DSG or PDK and see just how these innovations improve the driving experience and dont detract from it.
 
DCT/DSG/PDK etc etc i completely agree with you - the technology is superb.

I think traditional auto 'slush' boxes with torque converter are less of a driver's car as they are often dimwitted but anything with a sequential gearbox or dual clutch there's no denying the excitement of fast up/downshifts
 
Hunter said:
. So the people that yap on about an Auto car not being for real drivers, i hope you are actually using a Caterham, TVR, Lotus elise, or such as your daily driver.
Click to expand...

Oddly I used a TVR as my daily driver for 8 years, then I switched to a Lotus Elise for 3 years, then to motorbikes. Then I used the TVR again as a daily drive for 3 years. Still have the TVR though. Now I use the Z4C as a daily drive (although it's not really daily) along with a bike.

That said I have to agree in part (there is a difference between a true automatic gearbox with torque converters and belts and a proper sequential box); but the modern cars with paddle shifts and no clutch can give you a good feeling of fun and make traffic easier.

And I like having working heating and demisting.
 
Having spent an intensive 10 hours with probably the pinnacle of modern DCT transmissions a few months ago (F80 M3 competition pack) I'm afraid I'd have to disagree. https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=105692&hilit=dct

Maybe it takes a few days to 'gel' so to speak.
 
Maybe I've not had enough coffee this morning, but I'm not sure what the point of this post is? Are you trying to start an argument? :D

(FWIW I have the DCT in my 35i and I love it. Couldn't give a cobblers what opinion others form of me based on that - much more important things to be worrying about).
 
Who cares I drive an auto out of choice to cope with the traffic where I live. When I get the chance it is just as possible to have have fun in an auto as much as a manual
 
DCT is close to manual for driver involvement, not quite as enjoyable but close. It has some perks in that you don't lose boost during shifts and also shifts way faster than a human so it makes the car much faster than the manual version. Also as a side effect of keeping power between shifts it also makes some great noises when it lowers the engine ignition timing.

The slushbox is a different story though. I can see why it gets slated. It's as good as a slushbox can be but still not engaging at all.
 
djstan said:
Maybe I've not had enough coffee this morning, but I'm not sure what the point of this post is? Are you trying to start an argument? :D

(FWIW I have the DCT in my 35i and I love it. Couldn't give a cobblers what opinion others form of me based on that - much more important things to be worrying about).
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Is an opinion after seeing a number of posts... oh and if you don’t see the point if the post... why comment?
 
Only thing that spoils my enjoyment of my manual gearbox is it's notchiness.
Only other car with worse gearbox was my 1976 TR7.
Peugeot box was smooth.
It's just horrible when shifting first to second.
Would love to try the dct box.
A prospective owner needs to try both.
 
Love the archaic exentricities of my manual gear box. I am in no doubt it makes the car slower in a straight line than a dual clutch could. I just get far to much pleasure from a good run up and down the box with out any mistakes. It still requires practice skill and timing to get it right after 8 years of driving my Zed. :driving:
 
I never really got to grips with my E85 manual box. :(
Horrible / heavy gear change and a transmission that if you get the wind up wrong would send you off the line like Skippy the Kangaroo!
 
flybobbie said:
Only thing that spoils my enjoyment of my manual gearbox is it's notchiness.
Only other car with worse gearbox was my 1976 TR7.
Peugeot box was smooth.
It's just horrible when shifting first to second.
Would love to try the dct box.
A prospective owner needs to try both.
Click to expand...

Have you taken the CDV out? It transformed 1st -> 2nd changes in my last two 3-series.
If you've already done that then maybe a change of transmission fluid to some expensive Motul or Redline MTF?
 
Why do owners of autmatics constanly seek confirmation of the right choice with these kinds of topics/posts?

But I agree, if you think pressing down a clutch is a hassle, an automatic is the right choice for you.
 
R.E92 said:
flybobbie said:
Only thing that spoils my enjoyment of my manual gearbox is it's notchiness.
Only other car with worse gearbox was my 1976 TR7.
Peugeot box was smooth.
It's just horrible when shifting first to second.
Would love to try the dct box.
A prospective owner needs to try both.
Click to expand...

Have you taken the CDV out? It transformed 1st -> 2nd changes in my last two 3-series.
If you've already done that then maybe a change of transmission fluid to some expensive Motul or Redline MTF?
Click to expand...
Done everything, removed cdv, braided hose, new hydraulic fluid tried redline atf, now gone to a Fuchs gearbox oil, was going to try some expensive Honda stuff. The feel of the box hasn't changed in 50k miles, so it's not wear.
Unless the first owner gave it a hard life.
First thing i said to the BMW dealer on test drive was, i see it has a notchy gearbox.
If you have any sympathy towards mechanics it just doesn't feel right.
Yet later on was given a series 1 courtesy car and that gearbox was wonderful.
 
Auto v manual = Red v Blue = Blonde v Brunette = City v United = Butter v Margarine = Soft Yolk v Hard Yolk, you get the picture....

A totally personal choice, unique to you. There is no right or wrong.
 
Well my car is an auto, with a wood dash and trim and a whippy aerial.
We have already established that the auto is king :P
Wood trim is where the money is now...forget houses :rofl:
and what can I say about the whippy :D
 
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