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Thread ID: 95585	2008-12-11 01:13:00	Manual or Automatic	Roscoe (6288)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
727610	2008-12-11 01:13:00	Noticed an old Mercedes, no idea what model or year, that had a badge on the rear of the boot lid stating that it was an “automatic.” Obviously it was manufactured in the days when an automatic vehicle was not common. Manual cars are now in the minority, it seems. Perhaps manuals should now have a badge on the boot lid declaring, “manual”? I drive a manual and will continue to do so as long as they are still available. I think that one has more control over a manual than an automatic. I prefer to use the gears and the engine to brake the car. While I realise that you are able to select a lower gear, it seems that few automatic drivers do so, judging by the continual use of their brakes. I recall driving down Ngauranga Gorge in my cousin’s automatic. Rather than using the brakes almost continually, I selected the low gear and it coasted down quite nicely with no brake application necessary. I wonder, if motorists must drive an automatic, why drivers do not use the low gear when descending a steep hill. Surely it must be easier on your brakes and there would not be the possibility of the brakes becoming too hot to be effective? Or perhaps fading brakes are not a concern? :horrified Perhaps some drivers are not even aware that the brakes become hotter the longer they are applied continually and from what I have seen, following other vehicles downhill, their brakes must be very hot by the time they reach the bottom of the hill.:illogical What do you prefer? Manual or automatic and why? Do manuals have advantages over automatics? Do automatics have advantages over manuals (apart from not having to change gear)?	Roscoe (6288)
727611	2008-12-11 01:19:00	i tihnk that manual have more control, power and less on the gas. Auto is mostly now, in an auction even for used cars, v hard to get manual gears unless it's a Subaru or a sports car like a BMW M3 etc... I have been taught in a auto car by a professional instructor when I was young, never was taught to use the lower gears. Was told they use them for up hill. All the time we just used brakes. I did read thou in red lights traffic lights, it was easeir on the gas to keep it in D than to continually shift into N. Not sure if correct thou. My dad drove manual for over 50yrs and now has a auto car just cos he got the car from a auction. He prefers auto now. He just say it is easier in the city.	Nomad (952)
727612	2008-12-11 01:22:00	These days I prefer Automatic. Towing my camping trailer I can lock it down a gear or two for big downhills. I have driven trucks with up to 24 gears so very familiar with Manual gearboxes, some higher end trucks are going auto and semi auto these days ie Mercedes plus others, but these days with Auckland traffic Auto definitely.	Bantu (52)
727613	2008-12-11 01:31:00	The reason why they don't use the manual selection in the automatic transmission is because they have NO idea of how to drive them in the first place . The misguided theory that a driver/owner has is that you manually UPSHIFT to get more power . Fully anal and totally retentive! Unless specifically designed otherwise, all automatic units start in the lowest gear and shift up as they are designed, and (more lately) as the ECM programming library reads and compensates for the conditions at hand . Included in that info is the air density and altitude (BMAP or BARO sensors) air flow into the intake (MAF sensor), temperature of the air charge (IAT), throttle position (TPS), coolant temperature (CTS), cam position (CMP), crankshaft position (CMP), after spark ionization (PIS or PIC), unburned oxygen in the exhaust (O2S and HO2S), transmission temperature (EBCM-values), engine load (ELS), even the battery temperature and the weight of the cargo is computed into the shift quality and timing . BUT . . here's the caveat: the transmission is designed for ENGINE BRAKING by pulling down to a lower gear to let the engine's compression slow the descent of the vehicle, thus saving the brakes for when they are and should be needed and used . If there was no provision for using the transmission as a brake, then there'd be no reason to install (typically, anyway) BANDS in the unit, nor would there be any quadrant positions for same . People do NOT read the owner's manuals at all .	SurferJoe46 (51)
727614	2008-12-11 01:51:00	Auto is mostly now, in an auction even for used cars, v hard to get manual gears I did read thou in red lights traffic lights, it was easeir on the gas to keep it in D than to continually shift into N. Not sure if correct thou. Really? You all must look at different cars than me, I haven't noticed a lack of manuals. I prefer manual but I have to say Autos are probably more sensible in Auckland. I killed the clutch on my last Akld car, all that stop, idle, move 3 feet, stop, idle etc etc. Either you take it out of gear and then back in or ride it, either way its extra wear and tear. Husband likes autos, although we don't currently own one. One thing you can't do in an auto (properly) is take off in a lo gear with the engine screaming making a big impression..........:D	pctek (84)
727615	2008-12-11 01:51:00	PS: Fading brakes are MORE pronounced now as the bean counters are thinning down the metal and unsuspended weight consumed in the vehicle, and rotors and drums (if they even have drums any more) are heavy . Rotors are thin and they are less than decent heat-sinks any more, so using the transmission as a brake is logical and thrifty . Just match the RPM (with a throttle blip) to the road speed in a manual transmission downshift if you don't like tearing up the clutch prematurely! One good thing with driving on an island (NZ) is that you don't get to any high velocities there like we do here . It's not a stretch to see cars and trucks doing 160kph here on the freeways . Most of the legal limits are around 120kph . Couple that to the large distances traveled in the US (200km+) for a one-way commute to work, and you can see that US drivers are murder on their cars, not to mention the brakes . The farthest I was (un) fortunately required to travel one way was about 140KM one way to work 5-days a week . Retired now, I still find myself going a long way to things . My wife has 482,803 KM on her 2002 Astro Van and I have about the same on my 1989 Amigo, and about 177,027 KM on my 1986 Chevy K5 Blazer . The Astro and the Amigo have original transmissions, the Blazer has had one rebuilt by me and so far is holding up well and I really punish my vehicles all the time . Brakes? We get about two and a-half brake jobs on the front to one brake job on the rears of our vehicles, and that varies in mileage . Use the downshift to save the brakes, it won't hurt . :p	SurferJoe46 (51)
727616	2008-12-11 01:56:00	With the amount of cars these days that have disc brakes, I don't think it's as much of a problem as it used to be. Unless you're dealing with a seriously overloaded car. Modern autos also tend to be better as far as sipping petrol is concerned. I think in a lot of ways they're actually better cars than manuals. I still prefer having the control of a manual, but it's nice only having to use one arm and one leg to drive.	Thebananamonkey (7741)
727617	2008-12-11 02:07:00	Maunal all the way for me. I can't stand autos, unless they are powerful with a nice tiptronic gear box, like a Diamante or Legnum. (They have Porshe developed gearboxes.) Drove a Volvo S60, that was OK too. Manual is more fun to drive, you have more control over what's going on, easier to regulate speed without having to use the brakes, and you get more out of an engine. I would agree though, if you spend a lot of time stuck in traffic an auto is handy.	wratterus (105)
727618	2008-12-11 02:08:00	Really? You all must look at different cars than me, I haven't noticed a lack of manuals. I prefer manual but I have to say Autos are probably more sensible in Auckland. I killed the clutch on my last Akld car, all that stop, idle, move 3 feet, stop, idle etc etc. Either you take it out of gear and then back in or ride it, either way its extra wear and tear. Husband likes autos, although we don't currently own one. One thing you can't do in an auto (properly) is take off in a lo gear with the engine screaming making a big impression..........:D Not sure but can ou rev up in N and then shift it in .. that scream .. I been to Turners mostly auto's. These are the preimum car auctions $8k and up. Mostly are auto's, 4door hatchbacks japanese, all EU are auto's too other than the few ... Even SUV and Vans for that matter.	Nomad (952)
727619	2008-12-11 02:12:00	My parents hunted high and low for a manual Estima, finally found one, manual, 4wd, supercharged. Don't know of any other the same. Its such a cool van, and the economy/speed difference between that an an auto Estima is mindboggling. Surprisingly good off road too.	wratterus (105)
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