"car guys" driving automatics?

[HennaE30]

"car guys" driving automatics?

while we were on the topic of driving stick in traffic, talking about semis and such..... Lets say traffic is crawling. i let one and a half car lengths open in front of me, i pull the clutch a bit, not giving it gas, then once i start rolling pretty good, pop it in neutral and coast untill i brake to a stop, left foot on the dead pedal. Is this the 'right' way as far as stress on the clutch goes? or is there a better way?


--Mike

I drive similar to this, I'd have to imagine that it is pretty easy on the clutch. Your not riding the clutch, so it's minimal wear on the throw out bearing, and your not spinning the motor up with the clutch engaged so it's not slipping. That was always how I saw it, and therefore why I drive like that.

[James Crivellone]

To each his own when it comes to transmissions.. especially when the car is somewhat sport oriented.

The new BMW 8 Speed ZF Automatic can shift faster than older BMW SMG.. it is truly amazing how GOOD that transmission is.

SMG was somewhat clunky, although I thought it was damn good on the E46 M3 on a track..not that great on the street, although the E60 7 Speed SMG was pretty damn good all around (minus operating costs)

The DCT boxes in modern BMW's, Porsche PDK, VW DSG, etc are amazing transmissions.. they shift fast as hell, at the limit on a track, or nice and smooth on surface streets.

I used to be 100% manual transmission only, and while 90% of my vehicles are stick (with the exception of my land rover, which I love having in an automatic) I still enjoy driving the newer stuff.

Heck while my M5 was at the dealer I was given a F30 328i, N20 Turbo, 8 Speed ZF (as I mentioned above). Fantastic car to drive, lots of power, tons of low end torque, transmission did everything I asked, quick downshifts for a corner, and toss it up to 8th gear when cruising on the freeway.

However, with all that being said, my E60 M5 is a 6-Speed, and while its not as optimized for the V10, I still prefer it over the maintenance costs of maintaining that SMG system

[Northern]

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..

I feel like this is mostly a VW and ricer/stance scene thing, I mean the same people with 30+ stickers on their car with plastidip sprayed everywhere who pretend to be car enthusiasts. I don't know any local BMW guys that have autos, or any of the more serious autox crew.

I may subconsciously write off people who have autos and say they're car enthusiasts, but that's probably because I just don't get it.

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

This argument comes up a lot, but I still don't understand why. I don't care if it is faster. If all I cared about was how fast my car is, I probably would've bought a C5 vette, STi, evo, etc.

I don't need to justify why I like shifting my own gears, I just do.

[HennaE30]

I don't need to justify why I like shifting my own gears, I just do.

Couldn'tve said it better myself.. I dont care about the whats gonna save me 3 tenths of a second on a lap. I care about how much more fun Im having in those extra 3 tenths of a second. If all i cared about was having the fastest car around I definitely wouldn'tve gotten an E30.

[mrsleeve]

Anyone ever think that maybe some of the slush box driving "car guys" might have families, more specifically WIVES....... You know they might use the car as well and cant or refuse to learn to drive a stick. Not every family can afford or justify a 3rd car for casual fun use only.

[roguetoaster]

Anyone ever think that maybe some of the slush box driving "car guys" might have families, more specifically WIVES....... You know they might use the car as well and cant or refuse to learn to drive a stick. Not every family can afford or justify a 3rd car for casual fun use only.

If she can't be bothered or is unwilling to learn how to use a manual transmission do you really want her having a hand in raising your children? Is it really that much of a chore as my Mom drove manuals as did her mother before her as did many of your parents.

[Kevinl]

If she cant drive a stick its not my problem "my wife can" I'm not going to change what i want for someone who is too lazy or refuses to figure it out

She doesn't have to be a "car girl" to know how to drive a stick everybody should know how just like parallel parking

[mrsleeve]

My wife, can and she can very well, much better than most people I see out there driving a manual. She just plain refuses to, and you will all learn at some point happy wife happy life..... We just cant justify another "fun only" kinda car hence our fleet of slush boxes,

[Kevinl]

Mrsleeve keeps his balls in his wifes purse

[ajhostetter]

Mrsleeve keeps his balls in his wifes purse

Let me guess, you're 17 and single?

[Kevinl]

32 married with a kid

Happy wife happy life is an excuse for men who cant stand up and just say yes dear

Also I'm not saying if you only have one car and it is shared it needs to be a manual because thats what you want but if you have multiple cars she obviously can't drive them all at the same time so for her not to allow you to have a manual if you want is asinine.

[ajhostetter]

I don't know. I believe it comes down to choosing battles...my wife can sorta drive stick, but hates it. Since she drives "her" car 90% of the time, I'm not going to fight it.

[Kevinl]

I don't know. I believe it comes down to choosing battles...my wife can sorta drive stick, but hates it. Since she drives "her" car 90% of the time, I'm not going to fight it.

Your e30 is a manual correct?

[JasonC]

I feel like I'm reading a thread that's in the P&R section...

[rturbo 930]

I don't know. I believe it comes down to choosing battles...my wife can sorta drive stick, but hates it. Since she drives "her" car 90% of the time, I'm not going to fight it.

So his car should be an auto because she doesn't want to drive stick, despite being able to? And she has her own car?

I'm gonna have to agree with the guy that said she has his balls in her purse.