Automatic/Manual, Which is Faster?

[StickSh1ft]

I'm agreeing with most people here, I drive manual in real life and I overwhelmingly prefer manual transmissions (if you couldn't tell by my username...) and can't stand to see any sports cars, Lambos, Ferarris, Vettes, even Mustangs in automatic (Or Semi-auto, anything without a clutch is an AUTO in my book). As for which is faster in the game, Manual with a controller is far superior to automatic, simply because you can downshift when you want to, making cornering and braking way easier.

With a wheel with a clutch and shifter, though, it's a different story. It is still superior in that you can change gears whenever you want and you don't have to use GT5's retarded gear changing system. But if you're not really good at shifting you can't really shift fast as the game does if it's on automatic or if you use the paddles on your wheel. I can almost consistently shift as fast as the game does, this is most noticeable in slower cars where it takes forever to shift from 1st to 2nd. Bottom line, manual is better.

 

[Goshin2568]

Manual

 

[flooderqb19]

Any advice on how to learn to use manual and what gears to be in for each corner?

 

[porkchop87]

Any advice on how to learn to use manual and what gears to be in for each corner?

Practice, just go out on the track with a moderately-paced car and run a few laps with a manual transmission. There's no magical number for taking corners, but you will soon learn that the 2nd gear is your best friend.

Learn to listen to the revs, this will give you an indication when you should shift... watching the RPMs is okay, but it's more important to learn to shift from feeling and sound than watching gauges as your eyes need to be doing more important things (like looking at the road)

It also depends if you're using a controller or steering wheel too.. after a few days, you'll pick it up and you'll never want to use auto again. It may be frustrating in the beginning but just be patient with it...

 

[RustyNut]

Uhh no, manuals are more often than not quicker in the 1/4 mile than autos, close gear ratios more than make up for the extra 1/4 of a second it takes to shift. Autos usually can't launch for crap either, that's why you see a lot of 1/4 mile cars with stall convertors.

 

[flooderqb19]

Thanks coreyvf

 

[Backslide9]

Manual ---

To RustyNut - 1/4 and 1/8 mile racing depends on the type of racing. Street based cars auto is more common simply because it is about consistency more than top speed.
Stall convertors are used in place of the ability to dump the clutch of a manual at a desired RPM as the stall factor allows the motor to reach a desired RPM before fully engaging the convertor. Autos allow the engine/driveline can be preloaded against the line lock/brakes, allowing for easier consistency off the line at the lights. So actually, autos launch very, very well compared to most manuals and driver abilities.
Clutches wear and slip, humans are error prone, racing is expensive (Lenco's trannies run many thousands of dollars) so it's an accepted "cheat".

 

[stormbringer]

It technically should be faster, since in most cases the Automatic shifts a few hundred RPM early, and with the manual you can usually shift a few hundred RPM into redline. You also have more control, downshifting and all.

not technically true at all. Its not faster because u can redline it.

im gonna repost one of my older posts

A huge benefit of manual is you can change your gears at whatever rpm u want to. If you look at your cars stats, it will give you peak torque @ rpm.
This is where one should change gears for optimal performance. (beyond that rpm your engines output is reduced)

Auto will just always change gears at the tip of the red line.

in manual mode, you can stretch your gears when cornering, but in a straight line its inefficient to let your gears go into the red zone. (beyond peak torque @ rpm)

 

[Jmac279]

not technically true at all. Its not faster because u can redline it.

im gonna repost one of my older posts

A huge benefit of manual is you can change your gears at whatever rpm u want to. If you look at your cars stats, it will give you peak torque @ rpm.
This is where one should change gears for optimal performance. (beyond that rpm your engines output is reduced)

Auto will just always change gears at the tip of the red line.

in manual mode, you can stretch your gears when cornering, but in a straight line its inefficient to let your gears go into the red zone. (beyond peak torque @ rpm)

So incredibly incorrect ... One should always maximize power for optimum performance, which generally means peak power should ideally be in the middle of your shift points (assuming a symmetrical power curve) ...

See my extremely old post here - https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=62668&page=2#post1622050

Acceleration = Force/Mass

Force is greatest in a given gear at peak torque.
Force is greatest at a given speed at peak power.

Once you get out of first gear, the only thing that matters to acceleration performance is power.

 

[Hig-GT]

Manual I found very easy to switch to. You just have the occassions where you bounce off of the limiter because you forgot for a second, but other than that manual is great to drive with, especially with a wheel + paddle shifters.

The only time I don't like driving manual is when you are in a relatively quiet car whilst racing in a pack, usually in the slower races and there is a couple of you and you can't hear the car at all, I've hit the limiter / short shifted so many times now its silly.

Other than that, manual all the way (especially for the nurburgring, makes such a difference in some corners)

 

[zk523]

Manuals are good for many reasons outside of racing.

-better mpg
-better control over the car in general
*less corrective braking needed
*more control in snow/ice
-manuals last longer than automatica, clutches are cheap trannies are not
-more fun/interesting and more involved to drive, making you pay attention to the road more and in turn making you into a better driver, unlike the typical lazy non-skilled auto driver
-real men drive a stick

At what point does the difference in 0-60 times between manuals and automatics become so great that you make the switch? .5 seconds? 1 second? Or is it a matter of preference that you will never give up, despite how advanced the tech is on the other side of the equation?

Uhh no, manuals are more often than not quicker in the 1/4 mile than autos, close gear ratios more than make up for the extra 1/4 of a second it takes to shift. Autos usually can't launch for crap either, that's why you see a lot of 1/4 mile cars with stall convertors.

I dont think you can just generalize like that...it really depends on the car. For my car, if you look on dragtimes.com, you'll notice that most of the top times are ATs:

http://www.dragtimes.com/results.ph...0000&stock=&dyno=&resultsperpage=10&carmake=5

 

[ShortAznGuy]

Manual forever. I only drive automatic when I'm driving a Prius or a go-kart because it's mandatory.

In real-life, I drive both.

 

[philipmotorz]

Manual transmission all the way, it makes a massaive difference to my lap times.

 

[stormbringer]

So incredibly incorrect ... One should always maximize power for optimum performance, which generally means peak power should ideally be in the middle of your shift points (assuming a symmetrical power curve) ...

See my extremely old post here - https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=62668&page=2#post1622050

Acceleration = Force/Mass

Force is greatest in a given gear at peak torque.
Force is greatest at a given speed at peak power.

Once you get out of first gear, the only thing that matters to acceleration performance is power.

i completely agree with u. was hasty there. Personally, i think of this concept in torque, not hp.

It cant be denied that in any particular gear the Peak torque @ RPM will always be where the car will have the greatest acceleration force.

yes, i agree, maximizing power is where one should upshift (after taking gear ratios into account) not because its where the engine has the most accelerating power, but because your engine is still producing torque which will be higher than the torque produced by the next gear at upshift. (which i think is what maximizing power implies)

its still true that beyond peak torque, your cars rate of acceleration is actually diminishing (in that particular gear ofcourse)

So yes, i take back my words that Peak torque @ RPM is the best point to change gears, since you will lose some initial torque when changing to the next gear.

 

[RustyNut]

At what point does the difference in 0-60 times between manuals and automatics become so great that you make the switch? .5 seconds? 1 second? Or is it a matter of preference that you will never give up, despite how advanced the tech is on the other side of the equation?



I dont think you can just generalize like that...it really depends on the car. For my car, if you look on dragtimes.com, you'll notice that most of the top times are ATs:

http://www.dragtimes.com/results.ph...0000&stock=&dyno=&resultsperpage=10&carmake=5

I don't care about 1/4 mile racing, or racing in general honsetly. I drive an '02 wrx and just drive it spirited around the city and mountains. The only time I race is from stoplight to stoplight and my car just eats most cars in this form of racing. Auto is just not enjoyable for me, I can butt rape a mustang from one light to the other if I do my part, but if I don't he'll eat my lunch. It's a challenge, it's not just smash the throttle and left off the brake type of thing. I hardly ever streeet race anyway, manual is just flat out better performing when not driving in a straight line, can't argue this, and that's when I enjoy driving most. I'll take a curvy mountain road over a 1/4 mile dragstrip anyday. I can take just about any car off the line anyway, be it auto or not.

 

[brazz75]

I have always used manual gears ever since ps1 days even on the F1 games, i use the shoulder buttons R2 L2 as i dont have a wheel but does anyone use the triangle and X buttons to change gear ?

 

[SS_1182]

Manual, with race info off. Don't even have to think about it anymore.

 

[maciej908]

I'm agreeing with most people here, I drive manual in real life and I overwhelmingly prefer manual transmissions (if you couldn't tell by my username...) and can't stand to see any sports cars, Lambos, Ferarris, Vettes, even Mustangs in automatic (Or Semi-auto, anything without a clutch is an AUTO in my book). As for which is faster in .

Seriously you're not telling me that dual-clutch gearbox is slower than manual you would reach out with your hand to reach the stick and i'd be in another gear by then... new transmissions from ferrari especially change gears quicker than you can blink and less chance of you buring the clutch as it is engaged before you change gear...

i use manual in game tho... paddles

 

[RustyNut]

I have always used manual gears ever since ps1 days even on the F1 games, i use the shoulder buttons R2 L2 as i dont have a wheel but does anyone use the triangle and X buttons to change gear ?

Yeah I do, I recently switched from the old GT scheme of X throttle, [] brake, shoulder buttons to shift to shoulder buttons throttle and brake and [] and X to shift. Took my a few days to get used to it but I find it to be a better setup, much easier to control throttle and brake than before.

 

[benda18]

Unless I'm paying 100% attention 100% of the time in GT then I'm bouncing off the rev limiter and totally forgetting to shift. I've never understood it because IRL I've owned (and loved) standard transmission cars and motorcycles and have no problem. I finally gave up on manual shifting in GT4 because it was ruining the experience.

 

[PaulC327]

I use manual in real life as well as GT5. I like manual because you can use it as sort of a poor man's limited slip dif. In cars like the Shelby Cobra that are extremely greasy, I keep it in a higher gear to limit the torque output through the turns. Manual also helps you bleed a little speed in turns via downshifting when you come in a little too hot.

 

[reesyboy]

Manual in GT5
Manual in Real Life

Auto's hold and change gears when you don't want.. Autos are only any good for driving in traffic jams

 

[Wedge598]

Anyone here actually use manual gears? are they easy to get used to? are they really faster given you can optimise a gear change but you can miss gear changes every now and then too? or are we all still (me included) using automatic gears

For me it's been the same for every racing game for the past 12 years:

Steering wheel and pedals controller
Manual transmission
No aids of any kind
Cockpit view only

That said, if you are using a dual shock controller I would probably give you a pass if you wanted use automatic transmission. Personally I would never play a driving simulator with a controller but that's just my M.O.

 

[invader67]

Seriously you're not telling me that dual-clutch gearbox is slower than manual you would reach out with your hand to reach the stick and i'd be in another gear by then... new transmissions from ferrari especially change gears quicker than you can blink and less chance of you buring the clutch as it is engaged before you change gear...

i use manual in game tho... paddles

No disrespect, but if you've driven a real sportscar with a manual transmission in anger this discussion is totally irrelevant. You either get it, or you don't.

 

[turbogeit]

Started about 8 years ago with GT3 and a controller. At that time, I used AT.
When I bought a steering wheel. First I was much faster than with the controller (I'm not used to controllers, not being from the gaming generation).
But when I didn't progress anymore, I learned manual shifting in the game.
It took me half an hour and once again, I was much faster.

Now, I can't imagine any more to play AT. I don't feel comfortable with cars without gears in the game (karts, electric cars)

 

[1241Penguin]

I choose manual. Occasionally, when you redline your car a little bit, it gives you a slight increase in acceleration. Another reason why I choose manual is because I like drifting 👍

 

[Bobtehblob]

Manual all the way for me. On my DS3 I've remapped the controls so R2 is accelerate, L2 brake, R1 shift up, L1 shift down. Which ends up working extremely well, not only can you control the throttle a lot easier it also feels a lot more comfortable in my hands imo.

 

[Mac K]

Started playing using Manual yesterday, a whole new experience.

 

[Kaaosherra]

Manual just for the fun? Definitely yes.

For speed? Yes. You can rev higher, and depending on the car, this can give a noticeable boost in acceleration.

Almost everything in GT is designed so that the more control you take, the faster you can go. Skid recovery force might be the only exception to this philosophy.

 

[zk523]

I don't care about 1/4 mile racing, or racing in general honsetly. I drive an '02 wrx and just drive it spirited around the city and mountains. The only time I race is from stoplight to stoplight and my car just eats most cars in this form of racing. Auto is just not enjoyable for me, I can butt rape a mustang from one light to the other if I do my part, but if I don't he'll eat my lunch. It's a challenge, it's not just smash the throttle and left off the brake type of thing. I hardly ever streeet race anyway, manual is just flat out better performing when not driving in a straight line, can't argue this, and that's when I enjoy driving most. I'll take a curvy mountain road over a 1/4 mile dragstrip anyday. I can take just about any car off the line anyway, be it auto or not.

I've driven plenty of manuals (but never owned one) and I can see why people like the direct feel and control it provides but I bet many of you don't have the kind of traffic that we do in Southern California.

I was talking to someone from W. Virginia once and they were telling me that their "rush hour" was only an hour long. Here, it pretty much goes from 2:30 pm - 7:00 pm...