Transmisson

[lethalAE86typeR]

stick vs. auto. i know one person who says automatic is way better than stick( in a drag race). who thinks this is wrong?

 

[SS69]

well to me it really doenst matter. i can drive an automatic the same as a standard and wine the gears almost as much as a standard.

 

[Firebird]

In terms of drag racing most if not all professional racers will willingly and freely admit that automatics are better. Why? Less chance of screwing up. Automatics produce just about the same run no matter what. You'll never miss a shift, never grind gears, etc.

Many offroaders also favour automatics as they are far easier to handle and do not wear out a clutch plate either. And they also allow you to keep both hands on the steering wheel all the time, which is very important for both drag racing and offroading.

 

[TsLeng]

F1 drivers use automatics too.

 

[Fenrir51]

Highway driving i would use a stick, city driving id use an auto.

 

[retsmah]

Originally posted by TsLeng
F1 drivers use automatics too.

The wussies

Personally I don't like driving an automatic at all, not because it's slower (or faster), I just don't enjoy driving nearly as much without a manual. A real manual, I can't say for sure, but I don't think I'd like an SMG or any other similar transmission.

 

[codered_59]

you guys are referring to auto as semi-auto.....in which shifting is required........or are you referrrin to the full auto where no shifting is required?

 

[MazKid]

Originally posted by SS69
well to me it really doenst matter. i can drive an automatic the same as a standard and wine the gears almost as much as a standard.

...And then you have the joy of buying a new transmission! Yay!

The term "Automatic" when used with "Transmission" is supposed to illustrate that you don't need to shift it, and that you shouldn't shift it. If you are going from 1st to 2nd to drive in an automatic, you are causing unneeded stress to the transmission, and it can and most likely will lead to failure, especially if you floor it in 1st and keep it floored and shift it. 1st and 2nd(sometimes called L1 and L2 or L and S, etc) are there for adverse driving conditions, and those conditions don't include trying to look like a hip guy while driving an automatic.

My 323 is an auto, and quite frankly since I'm a sort of a newbie driver, I don't need or like distractions, so for right now a stick is not for me, though I would like to get one.

Theoretically, sticks are better due to improved mileage, the ability to better stay in the power band, and the fact that many sticks wiegh a great deal less than automatics.

And sticks are a lot of fun if you are the spirited driver such as me. But I don't mind driving an auto, I don't go on highways often so in a stick I'd be shifting a lot. Might as well let that good Mazda engineering shift for me.

 

[360rider]

Originally posted by Fenrir51
Highway driving i would use a stick, city driving id use an auto.

bumper to bumper city driving does a number on your clutch.

 

[TsLeng]

Originally posted by 360rider
bumper to bumper city driving does a number on your clutch.

And leg muscles too.

 

[Fugiot]

Automatics are much slower than their manual counterparts unless they're designed to be raced. An automatic BMW M5 would probably be just a smidge slower than the manual version but an auto Toyota Echo would be MUCH slower than a manual version. It really depends on what the tranny was intended for.

 

[Glut]

Autos have a torque converter that basically cuts down on the available torque, and since (power = torque * rpm * fudge factor (tm)) it cuts the power of the vehicle. Some vehicles suffer more than others.

In drag racing there are two schools of thought. The first is less mistakes (auto) the second is more power (manual). I suppose it's a case of swings and round abouts.

in F1 the transmissions are no strictly auto, but rather clutchless (which actually means in most cases that the clutch is engaged automatically). So they're not true autos.

A more real world example:
The 'selespeed' tranny in an alfa is a clutchless manual, but many autos allow you to select a gear, thus drive it as if it were a manual. The greatest difference being the torque convertor.

I'm fairly sure that's right, anyway...

 

[Fugiot]

well, techically, a lot of cars can be used clutchless. I don't know how many or what types, but my se-r slides right into gear without the clutch if the rpms match. It's definitely not good for racing(much slower) but it's easier to use when driving normally.

 

[VIPFREAK]

I just hate automatics they're so damn boring... Then when I have to go from my stick to an auto I thnk the brake is actually the clutch.

Nick

 

[retsmah]

Originally posted by Fugiot
well, techically, a lot of cars can be used clutchless.

Usually clutchless doesn't actually mean there is no clutch, just that it's controlled by the computer.

 

[Glut]

Originally posted by Fugiot
[BIt's definitely not good for racing(much slower) but it's easier to use when driving normally. [/B]

It is good for racing. If you match revs correctly you don't need the clutch. You can change slightly faster because you don't need to depress the clutch first. for instance in V8 supercars (using Aussie racing series, because it's what I'm familiar with) The clutch is there, but no one uses it except in the pits.
In Aussie racing cars (a gokart like series) There simply isn't a clutch pedal (it's been replaced with a brake pedal for left foot braking), you are expected to change gears without it. Instead there's a clutch lever for use in pits.
Of course, it's made easier with straight cut gears and dog-boxes.

 

[Kyle2k]

So, I have been thinking on getting a toyota Supra, would auto be ok for racing or is manual an absolute must?

 

[ShobThaBob]

Depending on the year, getting an manual supra could be very difficult. Depends on what kind of racing too.

 

[Gil]

Originally posted by lethalAE86typeR
stick vs. auto. i know one person who says automatic is way better than stick( in a drag race). who thinks this is wrong?

That is dependent on many things. V-8 Racers have been using autos for decades. Most "rails" are also auto's. In fact the rails are usually 2-speed Power-glides.
B & M has been making shifters, torque converters and shift kits for racing autos for decades.

For little engines. Manual is usually quicker in a drag race. That is due to the fact that smaller engines have so little torque to spare to a torque converter in an auto.
However, the driver must be quite skillfull with a manual in order to be fast.