How auto gearboxes went from zero to hero

[konfab]

Tell that to the manufacturers. When we were shopping all the auto models were R10k more expensive than the exact same one in manual. It could be different now but at the time I guess they were taking advantage of the demand.


Yes you are. This is an anecdote. Might have just been him being unlucky and it could have well been a manual gearbox.

You have just contradicted yourself.
If my manual gearbox breaks, it will be cheaper to fix as it has less parts is less complex than an auto gearbox. This is why automatics always cost more.

 

[Rouxenator]

This is why automatics always cost more.

As I pointed out before it depends on what kind of driving you will be doing. If you are going to spend time every day creeping forward in traffic then you will wear out the clutch, something that does not happen to a torque converter. This is a downfall for dual clutch and manual transmissions, and lets face it, the majority of people will see heavy traffic regularly.

 

[SauRoNZA]

You have just contradicted yourself.
If my manual gearbox breaks, it will be cheaper to fix as it has less parts is less complex than an auto gearbox. This is why automatics always cost more.

And that cost difference is still not enough to justify the pain and suffering of using a manual if it doesn’t suit the kind of driving you will be doing.

Ultimately you get what you pay for.

At the end of the day gearboxes as a whole are not dodgy items that fail regularly so shouldn’t even be a consideration as a whole when it comes to choosing a car based on cost of repair.

Cambelt vs camchain as well as turbo or 4WD over 2WD over RWD would be much higher on my list of issues to ponder before I think of gearboxes as a concern. And even those shouldn’t really bother you.

 

[supersunbird]

What sucks about automatic is when watching game in Kruger, you have to go through all the rigmarole of an automatics start up each time you stop and turn the engine off*

*obviously not an issue if the vehicles has stop/start tech

 

[spiff]

Who in this day and age still drives a manual ?

I do - I enjoy both.

my bmw is manual - which I use for work.

the merc is auto - which is a pleasure to drive specially in sport mode with manual shift

 

[Rouxenator]

While I do advocate autos I have to admit I am enjoying the investment I made on my manual. Feather light clutch, smooth shifting, flicking between gears at will, 1, 2, 4, 6. It's fun for a car I bought as something to play with.

 

[R4ziel]

I still drive a manual Polo because I'm too poor to afford these fancy Automatic things you all speak of, but I drive in traffic everywhere I go so an automatic would be amazing

 

[Rouxenator]

You can get cheap autos, I paid R100k for mine in 2014 and they seem to go the distance if this one is anything to go by.

 

[SauRoNZA]

What sucks about automatic is when watching game in Kruger, you have to go through all the rigmarole of an automatics start up each time you stop and turn the engine off*

*obviously not an issue if the vehicles has stop/start tech

Heh?

The benefit with auto and a game drive is that you can take your feet off the pedals and have a perfectly paced drive through the area.

 

[Ockie]

Soooo..you like stick (shift) then...

/runs

Of course my darling. Just wrapping my fingers around the shaft makes me giddy. :crylaugh:

 

[supersunbird]

Heh?

The benefit with auto and a game drive is that you can take your feet off the pedals and have a perfectly paced drive through the area.

Till you stop and switch the vehicle off for a while looking at the whatever, then you have to move the lever all the way to the front, step on the brake, start, move the lever to drive and then go.

Vs Step on clutch, start, step on accelerator and drive away (vehicle would already be in 1st).

 

[supersunbird]

You can get cheap autos, I paid R100k for mine in 2014 and they seem to go the distance if this one is anything to go by.

The cheapest newish (2016 or newer) automatic on autotrader is a 2016 Honda Brio Amaze Sedan 1.2 at R105 000. It then jumps R10 000 for the next 2 and another R10 000 for the 4th.

While you can get a lot of newish (2016 or newer) manuals for under R100 000 (and I'm excluding the Datsuns and Tatas).

Obviously you can go older, but if I buy a car its for the long term and would buy 1 or 2 year old used most likely.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Till you stop and switch the vehicle off for a while looking at the whatever, then you have to move the lever all the way to the front, step on the brake, start, move the lever to drive and then go.

Vs Step on clutch, start, step on accelerator and drive away (vehicle would already be in 1st).

Jeez would hardly consider that a drama at all.

It’s normal day to day stuff for anyone who drives one and hardly takes a second longer.

Besides I’m sure you can start most in Neutral anyway. Doesn’t have to be in Park that’s only if you want to take the key out.

 

[Baise]

Jeez would hardly consider that a drama at all.

It’s normal day to day stuff for anyone who drives one and hardly takes a second longer.

Besides I’m sure you can start most in Neutral anyway. Doesn’t have to be in Park that’s only if you want to take the key out.

Correct. P and N are next to each other and you dont need to press a button if it's one of those shifters - click up to neutral, start, click down to Drive and off you go. Easier than falling off a chair. To have to continuously feather a clutch while game viewing .. now that's tedious.

 

[Craig_]

Till you stop and switch the vehicle off for a while looking at the whatever, then you have to move the lever all the way to the front, step on the brake, start, move the lever to drive and then go.

Vs Step on clutch, start, step on accelerator and drive away (vehicle would already be in 1st).

DSG starts in neutral, so you would move to neutral, switch off, then just start again with foot on brake and move lever one down.

 

[faniebraai]

Jeez would hardly consider that a drama at all.

It’s normal day to day stuff for anyone who drives one and hardly takes a second longer.

Besides I’m sure you can start most in Neutral anyway. Doesn’t have to be in Park that’s only if you want to take the key out.

Nah, it needs to be in park... but still, hardly the issue ssb is making it seem. unless he game drives like:
1 sien bok
2 stop
3 sit af
4 neem fototjie
5 start
6 ry 5 meter
7 go back to 1

 

[justplain]

Sad thing is some cars should have manual options, let the customer decide. The Golf GTI for example will no longer have a manual option in ZA.
In terms of outright performance and efficiency, ""auto/pdk/dsg"" are better than manuals.
Sometimes though, YOU as the driver want that interaction and the ability to do the shifting using your left foot and the gear lever. It's often a personal thing..
I've had 3 manuals and now a 3'er with the 8sp ZF. (I have the paddles on the wheel and those are sure fun!)
In daily traffic the auto is fantastic, you dont think about stalling, no stiff leg from pushing in the clutch, no 1st 2nd 1st 2nd 1st 2nd etc.
I dont miss the manual gearbox in my car. When I drive a car with a manual I'm reminded of the fun factor...it's great. When I go back to my auto, it's a joy to sit and let the car do the work.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Nah, it needs to be in park... but still, hardly the issue ssb is making it seem. unless he game drives like:
1 sien bok
2 stop
3 sit af
4 neem fototjie
5 start
6 ry 5 meter
7 go back to 1

Ja the poor starter would probably see its gat before anything else.

Almost sure mine can start in neutral. Will check when I drive again.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Sometimes though, YOU as the driver want that interaction and the ability to do the shifting using your left foot and the gear lever. It's often a personal thing..

I used to think this but after switching I haven’t missed the clutch pedal even once.

Maybe on a lesser/slower car it might make it feel faster than it really is and that’s why people want it.

Drove a manual RS4 and it was a terrible experience with regards to the gearbox and the first thing I would change if I were to look at one.

I've had 3 manuals and now a 3'er with the 8sp ZF. (I have the paddles on the wheel and those are sure fun!)
In daily traffic the auto is fantastic, you dont think about stalling, no stiff leg from pushing in the clutch, no 1st 2nd 1st 2nd 1st 2nd etc.
I dont miss the manual gearbox in my car. When I drive a car with a manual I'm reminded of the fun factor...it's great. When I go back to my auto, it's a joy to sit and let the car do the work.

Recently drove a Masters V8 at Killarney which is obviously manual and although corner planning is a bit easier as you simply put it in the relevant gear and it helps with your braking points etc even in that scenario I think it’s unnecessary and I could probably have focused more on my driving and holding onto the wheel if it was just full automatic.

But then a V8 like that would get a torque converter gearbox which isn’t quite the same and then I would rather just do manual.

So for me it pretty much comes down to...

1. Dual Clutch
2. CVT
3. Manual
4. Tiptronic/Torque Converter.

Assuming of course ratios are the same. Often with the same car and manual vs automatic it’s actually the ratios that make the automatic a poor choice and not strictly the gearbox.

Ultimately also why I bought a GTI over a Type-R or ST.

Volvo C30 almost got me though.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Correct. P and N are next to each other and you dont need to press a button if it's one of those shifters - click up to neutral, start, click down to Drive and off you go. Easier than falling off a chair. To have to continuously feather a clutch while game viewing .. now that's tedious.

DSG starts in neutral, so you would move to neutral, switch off, then just start again with foot on brake and move lever one down.

Good stuff.

I wasn’t delusional then.