"car guys" driving automatics?

[TurboJake]

I'll just say it again, as I said it in the last time auto vs manual was brought up in a thread titled "The manual is dying" or something like that. Automatics have their place.

I'm a car guy and I drive an automatic sometimes. Why? Because it's better that way.

[UlrichFennec]

I personally don't see the problem with driving an automatic and still referring to yourself as a car guy. I don't know how to drive a standard, but I really wanna learn and I'm either going to get a swap in my vert or get another E30 that I can hoon in. I rather like my ZF 4hp22 and it pulls enough to get me onto the highway. If I floor it and want to get moving, it'll try its ass off and move my car. It's even better since I recently flushed and changed the ATF. No slipping out of gear. Makes for a nice, relaxing drive with the top down at night with my friends.

I just don't see the point in having a manual in my vert. It's heavy. It's going to be slow either way. It's my classic cruiser and DD, and in shitty Colorado traffic, I'd rather not deal with a third pedal. That's not to say I don't want to learn stick, because I genuinely do. I wanna go to race tracks in something that isn't a slushbox and learn the intricacies of advanced driving and learn more techniques.

I've been told it's not hard, and I'm inclined to believe that. Yet, the whole "if you don't drive a stick, you're not an enthusiast" crap is just childish. If you have a passion for cars, you're an enthusiast. Doesn't matter what tranny or car you have or like.

[JinormusJ]

Most people who can't deal with a manual transmission in traffic have trouble with it because they don't know how to do it properly. You don't accelerate and stop with traffic, you let a gap form, idle along and minimize your starting and stopping. Watch how truck drivers do it sometime.

I agree with this man

There is no significantly greater effort in driving a manual vs an automatic in traffic; you are just performing different tasks to achieve a similar desired result. So sick and tired of hearing this tried and true excuse to cover up for the simple fact that someone is lazy and/or values comfort and can't be bothered to drive a manual. Just tell it like it is man..

Oh shoot, Car in front of you is stopped?

"Better press the clutch in and safely coast to a stop"
or
"Better press the brakes to come to a stop"

Gotta go again?

"Well, I'm already in first; better release the clutch and press the gas to go"
or
"Well, it's an automatic; better release the brake and press the gas to go"


Wow, crazy harder, I know

[Massimo]

I agree with this man

There is no significantly greater effort in driving a manual vs an automatic in traffic; you are just performing different tasks to achieve a similar desired result. So sick and tired of hearing this tried and true excuse to cover up for the simple fact that someone is lazy and/or values comfort and can't be bothered to drive a manual. Just tell it like it is man..

Oh shoot, Car in front of you is stopped?

"Better press the clutch in and safely coast to a stop"
or
"Better press the brakes to come to a stop"

Gotta go again?

"Well, I'm already in first; better release the clutch and press the gas to go"
or
"Well, it's an automatic; better release the brake and press the gas to go"


Wow, crazy harder, I know

I don't know how you drive an automatic but I only drive an auto with my right foot.

I believe in a manual you use a left foot. You argument is invalid, and this is coming from someone who comes from a place where everything is fucked up.

Either you are to young to and have not been driving long enough for you to understand, or your drive to work is surprisingly fluid.

Non the less autos have improved immensely over the last few years, I would like to see more manufacturers come out with there own SMG's in there sports model I think that is a great mix between auto and manual. If the current Toyota 86 came with something like a SMG I would be all over it.

[agent]

I don't know how you drive an automatic but I only drive an auto with my right foot.

I believe in a manual you use a left foot. You argument is invalid, and this is coming from someone who comes from a place where everything is fucked up.

Either you are to young to and have not been driving long enough for you to understand, or your drive to work is surprisingly fluid.

Or he's a really old man who drives automatics with both, resting his left on the pedal so his brake lights NEVER go out...?

[ELVA164]

I left-foot brake in automatics to keep myself a bit less bored...

[Exodus_2pt0]

Let me know how two footing your automatic works out for you in an emergency situation.... Not referring to the above, I understand in stop and go things don't happen quite so fast.

[eur04lif3]

I daily an automatic FRS. Took a while to get used to, kept kicking my left leg every time i stopped.

Given the amount of traffic I endure, the automatic was a must. Also, the paddle shifts allow me to select any gear i want when i do some sprinted driving. Not to mention it also has a rev match for down shifting.(best feature by far)

It all comes down to the application. I did not enjoy driving my e30 for 45min in traffic. The auto lets me relax.

[UlrichFennec]

I daily an automatic FRS.

I've actually been rather curious about those FRS/BR-Z/GT-86s. A lot of people seem to think that it's not good enough and it would be miles better with a little more power. I think it's pretty nice to see another new car that isn't a FWD econobox from yota. How's the car feel?

[eur04lif3]

I've actually been rather curious about those FRS/BR-Z/GT-86s. A lot of people seem to think that it's not good enough and it would be miles better with a little more power. I think it's pretty nice to see another new car that isn't a FWD econobox from yota. How's the car feel?

Sorry for thread jack, but maybe someone else cares to know too.

The 86 is a great platform. Perfect ride height, weight balance and power is plenty in my opinion. People that compain about the lack of power are comparing it to heavier v6 coupes such as 370z/350z...etc. That's not what the car is about.

The center of gravity on this car with the boxer platform is an 0.6 inch higher than the Lexus LFA. Steering feel is amazing too.

If you compare the stats of e30M and an FRS, you'll be surprised of the similarities!

In my opinion it feels very much like an e30. One could even call is the Japanese e30.

[ELVA164]

This thread was on my mind on the way home from the gym tonight, and something else came to mind. Driving a manual is a much more emotional experience. For example, it feels real good when you're on a roll at shifting smoothly, rev matching well, and the car lets you know so. On the other hand, it's super obvious when you release the clutch too fast, or lug a bit too much from a stop...gives you the drive to improve. Makes the car feel more alive I think.

[e30rapidic]

our X5 has 8 gears, I don't want to shift that much

[JinormusJ]

"car guys" driving automatics?

I don't know how you drive an automatic but I only drive an auto with my right foot.

I believe in a manual you use a left foot. You argument is invalid, and this is coming from someone who comes from a place where everything is fucked up

Please elaborate where I inferred that one should brake with their left foot in an automatic? Or are you purposely ignorant to my argument at hand for the sake of trolling?

Either you are to young to and have not been driving long enough for you to understand, or your drive to work is surprisingly fluid.

Dont patronize me
I live in California; Nothing here is fluid

Just saying; a lot of guys that "prefer" automatics use sorry excuses to cover up for the fact they can't be bothered learning how to properly work a manual transmission. Some of my best-"car guy"-friends have auto ZHPs and SMG M3s, but most of them have one thing in common: they wish they had manuals.

I have nothing against "car-guys" driving or preferring automatics. I have something against them saying they're better than manuals or are "easier" to drive never having even touched a manual transmission themselves

[rturbo 930]

Automatics are definitely easier to drive. And I'm saying that as a manual-only guy. I love stick shifts, but if I had to deal with LA traffic every day, I'd have an auto. Letting the clutch in and out every 5 seconds is a PITA, and it doesn't take long, at least for me, before my leg/knee starts getting tired/sore. Sure, I could leave space in front of me, but around here, that means "Hey, you should pull in front of me."

"Well, I'm already in first; better release the clutch and press the gas to go"
or
"Well, it's an automatic; better release the brake and press the gas to go"


Wow, crazy harder, I know

Not really. The clutch pedal is not an on/off switch like the brake pedal is in an auto. It may seem like nothing if you're used to doing it, but, especially in stop and go traffic, a stick shift takes quite a bit more effort. Again, if I spent a lot of time in stop and go traffic, I would absolutely have an auto.

[GillesBigCowboy]

clutch in my vert presses down easy, so it is a good commuter... clutch in the 318is takes more effort, but my wife only complains a little.... I like to glide a lot while commuting but I guess you could do that in an automatic, but doesn't seem natural.

For me, I think it is mostly about Control - any automatic I have ever driven has had a mind of its own, and if I want to accelerate through a corner at or near the limit, I can't have the tranny deciding when to shift. Ever. And the slippage..

I am sure I could enjoy some paddle shifters and left foot braking if the manual mode NEVER messed with my control, never shifted unless asked, allowed me to coast when I wanted, etc..

I would still miss the satisfaction of smoothly matching revs, the oneness I feel with the car, and the mechanical sympathy that naturally develops from driving a stick shift smoothly.