is there any possible way to use an auto tranny to beat friends who use manual tranny?

  • Thread starter Thread starter RZQSPEED
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As far as I know, no. If your friends are quite adept at racing, there's no way to beat them if you use an automatic transmission. Because they can maximize the car's powerband while you can't. If you want an example beside the Alpine VGT, use a Plymouth HEMI Cuda and drive it around a track with lots of varieties of corners and straights (Grand Valley Speedway for example). Try driving around those in both Manual and Auto and you'll see what I mean. The Cuda is also a great way to train yourself in maximizing the engine's powerband so that you'll always have peak acceleration in every gear.
 
Again... reiterate...

The powerband issue is a problem in CERTAIN CARS.
Some cars more than others, but only certain cars are very problematic this way.

I mentioned this earlier in the thread...
Alpine VGT, the Mini Coopers, Autozam, Cappucinos, Copens.
And some others, yes.

But there are lots of cars where this isn't an issue at all, or isn't a big issue.

The other time AT comes a problem is like @ryzno said:
ryzno
AT is not always the best, as said before depending on the power curve.
My only problem with it is unlike a real AT, you can't get it to down shift when you want it to.
Click to expand...

This is a BIG problem on hills, particularly in lower power cars.
Example: Fiat 500 '68 on Cote D'azur.

But again... how many cars need to shift down going up the hill at Cote D'azur?? :odd:


Another issue:
If you're really bad at shifting... you're going to be faster in AT. :rolleyes:

Not saying you shouldn't try shifting and practice, and get better at it. 💡

Just saying that in a nicely geared car, poor shifting is worse than AT. ^^ :dopey:

Also... if you manually shift but drive from sloppy corner to sloppy corner, you're going to be slower than someone who drives well, knows the lines, and corners properly using AT.


Edit:
Another time MT comes in handy is in light, floaty, spinny road cars.
Sometimes keeping it in a higher gear will stabilize the car.
But obviously if you're in a race car with loads of downforce, this probably doesn't come up.
 
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Have been trying Manual shifting off and on with varying degrees of success, but must be making some progress as I Golded the seasonal around London with GT40 LE on second lap.
I started using the HUD but found it distracting, so now change by ear, enjoying it, it takes me back to my rallying days.
 
Having owned every GT from the original to current, I have only just attempted to use MT for the first time on the new F40 seasonal. The F40 was one of the type of cars I would avoid, every corner is an adventure (and not in a fun way). In the original GT I remember the fully customised MR2 turbo being much the same. With the F40 after quite a few expletives I managed a 1m29.7 for gold (default tuning, 183 top speed, TC and ABS @ 1 and automatic gearbox) and ran a mile. I watched a few laps by the leaders and decided to give it a go. After a couple of 'sighters' (MT, TC 0, ABS1)managed 4 consecutive laps between 29.4 and 29.7. One hour later two laps 28.4 and 28.3 with a final 29.2 after my enthusiasm outweighed my talent and fluffed the final chicane. I now actually want more , the weekend in between the GP I will be going MT all the way, it gives you so much more
 
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