"car guys" driving automatics?

[HennaE30]

What is it with all these new "car guys" who drive automatics? They invest $10k+ in their car but dont swap in a manual. I would rather have a completely stock 5 speed car than a fully decked out automatic.. Am I the only one?.. Starting to worry me about where the car scene is going..

[Mr. Burns]

many of the new automatics\paddle shifts (in performance vehicles) fully outperform someone with a clutch and shifter.

[HennaE30]

many of the new automatics\paddle shifts (in performance vehicles) fully outperform someone with a clutch and shifter.

I understand that, im referring to guys in older cars... like pre-2008... Like i know a guy with a E46 whos a "car guy" drives an auto, another with an E90, another with a Celica, Camaros, Corvettes, i just dont get it..

[GAbOS]

The twin-clutch in my Mitsu in Sport-Auto is faster than me in Sport-Manual mode at the AutoX.

[Wh33lhop]

The twin-clutch in my Mitsu in Sport-Auto is faster than me in Sport-Manual mode at the AutoX.

I guess you're pulling the paddles at the wrong times

[varg]

Couldn't care less what other "car people" choose when it comes to transmissions. More stick shifts for me

[mrcheezle19]

Quikbmer on here has an incredibly clean auto AC Schnitzer rep car. I have no problem with it because ultimate cruise status. Sometimes not rowing gears is nice. Now if you are talking anything newerish with paddles. There are many arguments for them especially with new fancy dual clutches. Hell even the new mustang is nice with the auto and paddle shifters and that's a muscle car. If you mean directly 80's cars then yes I see what you're saying, but auto's still have their place. Having a manual doesn't take away your "car guy" status.

[KIRIEIW]

"car guys" driving automatics?

I never thought I'd own an auto, but I found a steal of a deal on my convertible and had to have it. Yes it's slow as hell, but if I was investing 10k+, a manual transmission would no doubt be on the list.

[mitchlikesbikes]

i basically got booted from my local BMW group on facebook because the admin had a big boner for SMG transmissions and REFUSED to accept that i liked manuals more. manuals might be slower on a track but they're so much more fun for daily driving.

[rcsoundn1]

I prefer a 5-spd and used to scoff at autos. Some people just can't do 5-spds. Now I don't realy care for what others prefer regarding the auto/5-spd debate.

[Andy Mechnic]

They each have their place. If I'm having fun and bangin gears, I prefer a manual. For the daily grind and driving in traffic or in town, manuals suck.

[g.ruff561]

I prefer 5 speed but drive an automatic. Bad knees after years of track, basketball and football. I am considering getting a 5 speed slick top alpine coupe, M42 or swap to drive on the weekend and parking the Mtech auto vert.

[James]

When you're buying old cars, the auto isn't really a deal breaker as I personally place greater value on other options/colors/condition etc. Transmissions can always be changed at a later date.

My e28 for example, a clean 2 owner car when I bought it 5(?) years ago, I was really bummed it wasn't a manual but guess what, after being euro swapped, suspension and basically completely gone through, that shits still auto.

I keep on saying I'm going to find a manual donor but it hasn't happened yet, but for the 90% of the driving I do on the plains its not a deal breaker and rather nice in the city.

[Kevinl]

Sigh I have a real problem with this The e90 forum is full of these guys they also will drop 10k on mods and cant do any work on there own car and whine that it doesn't go 300k without needing anything

I also think a lot of these guys cant really drive a manual or are not any good at it my dad fits this. Sure if you are timing with special equipment shift times some automatics can shift faster than me but driving or riding in the car you are not going to be like oh man that shift was 100 mili seconds slower than my auto

I owned a Pontiac G8 GT and I hated it the transmission was so slow to downshift or upshift in manual mode and I'm sorry I'm not going to do spirited driving around corners while the tranny is in 6th gear then up shifts 2nd and takes off faster than I want or the road will allow

I see the benefit of DCT transmissions although I think some of the experience of driving is lost with just two pedals

torque converter automatics can go to hell imo

[FLYNAVY]

while I don't think I could enjoy never having a manual to throw around, I do enjoy the DCT in my e92 M for those really monotonous drives to work at 3:30 AM, or in traffic, or whatever else. And if I am trying to max perform it, the thing definitely does upshift/downshift faster than I can ever do in my e30 M, though I don't think there is any practical application to that difference outside of maybe a track environment (it isn't significant). Regardless, I think you can be a "car guy" that is also practical, given his/her everyday environment or routine. I don't know that the experience is really lost, but I will say that hopping back and forth between the two every 3rd or 4th day, my muscle memory is always off and I forget which car I'm driving/what my feet and hands need to be doing sometimes if I'm not thinking about it....ie I will reach for the paddles in the e30, or push my clutch foot in in the e92, obviously both with no results.....which I think might be different for a auto vs manual comparison, vs paddles/DCT vs clutch/manual. You are still involved with a DCT (or I guess any paddle shifted trans regardless of type), it's just your hands vs your feet I guess.