Getting used to and driving an automatic.

Feek · 24-10-2006, 17:49

I've always driven a manual, only every now and then have I had cause to drive an automatic and I've never been a great fan when I have.

Since friday I've been driving our FD's old BMW 525i as he's got a new car and this one is due to go off to auction. The feekmobile is awaiting an alternator so I asked if I could borrow the beamoir.

It's automatic.

I don't have a foot problem, I don't keep pecking at a non-existant clutch but I really can't get used to it. I think it's trust, I'm so used to controlling the gears manually that I cant accept the car doing it. Today on the way home I put it into tiptronic mode and just tried changing gear as and when I'd do it normally and it felt a lot better but I'm still not really happy with it.

Before I drove it, I was seriously considering putting in an offer for it but I've lost all interest. Sure, it's a nice car, it's a big car so ideal for the family but it does drink fuel and I just don't like the bloody gearbox.

I'm sure that in time I'd adjust and be happy with it but it just feels like I'm not in control.

It makes me so glad I'm not an american as I understand something like 90% of all their cars are automatics.

Jasper · 24-10-2006, 18:45

i know what you mean. the first automatic i drove was a ford galaxy. i'd only driven hatches up until then, so it was a massive change in more than one respect!

i can totally empathise with you on the trust thing...i see changing gear as an integral part of driving...it'd be so boring if you didnt have that!

i don't know about the figures, but it's an awfully large percentage of american cars that are autos.

Will · 24-10-2006, 18:54

3rded - Automatics just don't light my fire at all.. yes they are great for lazy driving if you have a powerful torquey engine - but in essence it's so much nicer being in control of the clutch and gears. For a start you can slip the clutch if you have to - whereas you can't on an automatic. You have more control over your engine. FACT. And it can be driven harder more safely as you're more in control.

Feek it just proves you're not ready to be old

Piggymon · 24-10-2006, 19:16

Depends on the car really, when I was looking at FTOs there was no way in hell I was getting a Tip version, that car needed abusing and to abuse properly you need a manual

The BMW however I wasn't bothered about, we've ended up with an Auto and I actually prefer driving it ... it's the lazy car

Garp · 24-10-2006, 22:22

I can't stand the auto gearbox on my Corsa, but I'm sure thats as much down to its gear ratios as anything else.

There are times when its nice. Driving gets to be effortless for urban driving where you'd be forever making gear changes, however I often argue with my car about when it chooses to make gear changes when out on the roads oftentimes seemingly cutting out when its part-way through its power band.

Feek · 25-10-2006, 08:25

I drove it all the way to work today using the manual up/down shift thing and it was better but I still didn't feel in control.

I'm sure that it is changing gear at the right time, I'm sure it's doing it for the right reasons to give me the power I want when I need it but I just don't like it. If the car were manual I'd be putting the kids on eBay to buy it, but no. It's not happening.

I also don't think it's good for safety, one becomes complacent and lazy. Yuck.

However.
I love the fact that the car has 'reversing' sensors on the front!

Garp · 25-10-2006, 09:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feek

I also don't think it's good for safety, one becomes complacent and lazy. Yuck.

I don't find that myself to be honest, if anything I'm more attentive to whats going on and react faster than ever I did as a manual driver. No faffing about with gears, just react with full concentration on the road and the other cars.

Burble · 25-10-2006, 09:08

I'm not a huge fan of auto boxes unless there is a nice torquey engine under the bonnet - the torque convertor robs too much grunt and also hurts the fuel economy.

When in the US I've little choice but to drive an auto. This week I have a Dodge something-or-other with the worst auto box I've ever driven!

I may slag off auto's, but my next car will have DSG which is pretty much auto with a few bells and whistles.

leowyatt · 25-10-2006, 09:21

I've only ever driven autos when driving in the states and have to say the Honda & Mazda I drove were great, they were responsive, though that was probably down to the engine.

However the latest car we had which was a Dodge Calibur was dreadful the car had as much power as a moped and changed gears stupidly. I would seriously consider an auto in my next car.

Fayshun · 25-10-2006, 10:10

I hired a Dodge Stratus 3.0l when I was in the states last. First and only automatic I have driven. Took some getting used to and it was the first time I'd driven on the wrong side of the road too.

In 2 weeks I managed to put 3000+ miles on it

I loved that car, even though I got caught speeding in it, 85 on a clear, dry, straight, flat, empty interstate

Had the fat sheriff clocked me 10 mins earlier he'dve clocked me at 100

</OT nostalgic ramble>

24-10-2006, 17:49	#1
Feek ex SAS Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: JO01ou Posts: 10,062	Getting used to and driving an automatic. I've always driven a manual, only every now and then have I had cause to drive an automatic and I've never been a great fan when I have. Since friday I've been driving our FD's old BMW 525i as he's got a new car and this one is due to go off to auction. The feekmobile is awaiting an alternator so I asked if I could borrow the beamoir. It's automatic. I don't have a foot problem, I don't keep pecking at a non-existant clutch but I really can't get used to it. I think it's trust, I'm so used to controlling the gears manually that I cant accept the car doing it. Today on the way home I put it into tiptronic mode and just tried changing gear as and when I'd do it normally and it felt a lot better but I'm still not really happy with it. Before I drove it, I was seriously considering putting in an offer for it but I've lost all interest. Sure, it's a nice car, it's a big car so ideal for the family but it does drink fuel and I just don't like the bloody gearbox. I'm sure that in time I'd adjust and be happy with it but it just feels like I'm not in control. It makes me so glad I'm not an american as I understand something like 90% of all their cars are automatics. __________________

24-10-2006, 18:54	#3
Will BBx woz 'ere :P Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 2,147,487,208	3rded - Automatics just don't light my fire at all.. yes they are great for lazy driving if you have a powerful torquey engine - but in essence it's so much nicer being in control of the clutch and gears. For a start you can slip the clutch if you have to - whereas you can't on an automatic. You have more control over your engine. FACT. And it can be driven harder more safely as you're more in control. Feek it just proves you're not ready to be old __________________ *No No!*

24-10-2006, 19:16	#4
Piggymon Lara Croft Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: PigmoPad - Braintree Essex Posts: 8,604	Depends on the car really, when I was looking at FTOs there was no way in hell I was getting a Tip version, that car needed abusing and to abuse properly you need a manual The BMW however I wasn't bothered about, we've ended up with an Auto and I actually prefer driving it ... it's the lazy car __________________ BF% 28/08/08 - 21%

24-10-2006, 22:22	#5
Garp Preparing more tumbleweed Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Hawaii Posts: 6,038	I can't stand the auto gearbox on my Corsa, but I'm sure thats as much down to its gear ratios as anything else. There are times when its nice. Driving gets to be effortless for urban driving where you'd be forever making gear changes, however I often argue with my car about when it chooses to make gear changes when out on the roads oftentimes seemingly cutting out when its part-way through its power band. __________________ Mal: Define "interesting"? Wash: "Oh, God, oh, God, we're all gonna die"?

25-10-2006, 08:25	#6
Feek ex SAS Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: JO01ou Posts: 10,062	I drove it all the way to work today using the manual up/down shift thing and it was better but I still didn't feel in control. I'm sure that it is changing gear at the right time, I'm sure it's doing it for the right reasons to give me the power I want when I need it but I just don't like it. If the car were manual I'd be putting the kids on eBay to buy it, but no. It's not happening. I also don't think it's good for safety, one becomes complacent and lazy. Yuck. However. I love the fact that the car has 'reversing' sensors on the front! __________________

24-10-2006, 18:45	#2
Jasper Simple & Red Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 535	i know what you mean. the first automatic i drove was a ford galaxy. i'd only driven hatches up until then, so it was a massive change in more than one respect! i can totally empathise with you on the trust thing...i see changing gear as an integral part of driving...it'd be so boring if you didnt have that! i don't know about the figures, but it's an awfully large percentage of american cars that are autos.

25-10-2006, 09:08	#8
Burble Rocket Fuel Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 7,826	I'm not a huge fan of auto boxes unless there is a nice torquey engine under the bonnet - the torque convertor robs too much grunt and also hurts the fuel economy. When in the US I've little choice but to drive an auto. This week I have a Dodge something-or-other with the worst auto box I've ever driven! I may slag off auto's, but my next car will have DSG which is pretty much auto with a few bells and whistles.

25-10-2006, 09:21	#9
leowyatt Chef extraordinaire Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Infinite Loop Posts: 11,143	I've only ever driven autos when driving in the states and have to say the Honda & Mazda I drove were great, they were responsive, though that was probably down to the engine. However the latest car we had which was a Dodge Calibur was dreadful the car had as much power as a moped and changed gears stupidly. I would seriously consider an auto in my next car. __________________ "Dr Sheldon Cooper FTW!"

25-10-2006, 10:10	#10
Fayshun Rocket Fuel Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Adrift in the Orca Posts: 6,845	I hired a Dodge Stratus 3.0l when I was in the states last. First and only automatic I have driven. Took some getting used to and it was the first time I'd driven on the wrong side of the road too. In 2 weeks I managed to put 3000+ miles on it I loved that car, even though I got caught speeding in it, 85 on a clear, dry, straight, flat, empty interstate Had the fat sheriff clocked me 10 mins earlier he'dve clocked me at 100 </OT nostalgic ramble> __________________ We must move forward not backward, upwards not forward, and always twirling, twirling, twirling...

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