16 replies to this topic

[coopertaz]

gearboxes don't dictate the driver there are dickeds in both, i think a main issue is the type of driving we now do in the  UK mainly on congested roads slowly moving about in stop start traffic so people opt. for automatics, i did when regularly commuting. Although most manufacturers only offered the larger engined vehicles in auto believe this was something to do with lowering their carbon footprint!! which seems total B++++ on the face of it. newer cars in general make drivers less aware with so many auto systems, my new car has rain sensing wipers and auto lights (that you cant override) and electric handbrake that automatically applies when you turn off the push button ignition.

[Cooperman]

Auto's used to take a lot of power and thus increased fuel consumption and reduced performance. That's why they were only popular in larger cars where in auto form the performance was still adequate and economy was not an issue, especially with company cars.

I had a couple of XJ6's and a couple of Granadas in the 1970's and they were all autos and were fine for general driving.

Now the current auto boxes are fantastic. They don't absorb much power and are multi-mode, so they are auto or manual. My current BMW diesel has an 8-speed ZF gearbox with 3 modes including full manual using the selector lever or the paddles on the steering column. Zero to sixty is around 6 seconds and max speed is claimed at 145 mph. Driving around normally it gives up to 50 mpg.

With the traffic density in the UK and the propensity of very low speed limits, an auto is, IMHO, absolutely ideal.