I like automatic transmissions

[beepbeep]

I confess, I kinda like automatic transmissions.

Being European, I barely drove cars with AT and have had looked down on them. Historically, many people around here considered AT's as bad, gas-guzzling things for lazy people who actually don't like driving.

Then I bought a VW Polo (It's like a smaller Golf, dunno if those are sold in US) equipped with AT just for driving around town and I LOVED IT. It was a revelation...no more sore left foot in traffic jams and it was the fastest thing out from a red light (when you never actually drive faster than 40mph). Just keep a left foot on a brake and right foot on accellerator and let go! Weeee!

It shifted funny so I did my own service, dropping down the pan, changing filters and so-called "lifetime fluid" and admiring the doodads inside. This was a Jatco 404E tranny. It finally developed a harsh 1-2 shift when cold (worn solenoid something) so I decided to trade up.

This time I bought a VW Golf MKIV with (according to Internet lore) much maligned 01M slushbox which I also serviced according to guide I found on Interwebs...it works even better than old one. I love it! (I'll just have a plain vanilla TC-equipped one, no fancy DSG/CVT things, thank you very much.)

I also downloaded a service manual to learn how the thing works and boy are they complicated things...brake bands, suns, planets, asteroids, moons, mazes with BB's, springs, solenoids, lot's of brass rings...fascinating really!

So there you go...

[Bill Douglas]

I had always driven manual Corollas then I bought my girlfriend a Corolla with auto. WOW, what a great car. I'd always given my cars lots of revs, believing that was what you had to do with these small engined Japons. But no, her Corolla heads flat out down the road pulling about 1,800 to 2,000rpm.

And as my young niece said in her infinite wisdom, an auto lets you concentrate on your driving, not on your shifting gears LOL.

[HardDrive]

I have a tiptronic in my 997, and I have no plans to go back.

[gacook]

I'm a "gotta be doing something" kinda guy...automatics bore me. Shifting keeps me more focused, not to mention it just makes driving more fun.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by gacook

I'm a "gotta be doing something" kinda guy...automatics bore me. Shifting keeps me more focused, not to mention it just makes driving more fun.

Yeah, it's like cruise control, after a couple of minutes I get real uncomfortable. Feels unnatural.

[beepbeep]

Sure, I have Audi S4 with 6-speed that is used on longer trips (and always feels it has one gear too many ) but around town, I really enjoy the smoothness of plain old slushomatic. DSG's are all herky-jerky in stop and go traffic and I never really liked CVT's.

I would really love to test some of those old Turboglide cars that supposedly didn't have any distinct steps. They must have had really bad efficiency though....

[porsche4life]

In my DD I am perfectly ok with a slush box. Still not sold on it in a toy car, but I'd give a 991 with DSG a of that's for sure.

[gacook]

I know what you mean by the 6-speed feeling like you have too many. My 350Z is a 6-speed, and in my town (it's small; we don't have any real "traffic" to speak of), most speed limits are 35. So, I rarely get above 3rd gear.

The only automatics I own are the minivan (that I pretty much never drive) and my Audi A8. I just picked up the Audi a couple weeks ago, and I like it (except for the fact that my window regulator just died a couple days ago...), but I keep finding myself reaching to downshift.

[Tobra]

The 6 speed in my Miata feels like it needs another cog. Either that or a less ridiculous rear end ratio. An automatic in an underpowered 4 cylinder car? No thanks

[sammyg2]

Right now my daughter's nissan sentra is getting it's third automatic transmission in 65,000 miles installed at the dealer.
I like conventional automatic transmissions, but that CVT crap needs to be shoved up some mentally challenged engineer's rear-end with no gear lube. Sideways.

The only saving grace is that nissan knows they're selling complete junk to the public and are replacing these transmissions free of charge regardless of warranty or mileage.
They know the public backlash would sink them if they didn't. The problem is, they're replacing junk with junk. I bet they're getting good at it though.

No one in my family will ever buy another nissan if I have anything to do with it.

[gacook]

I've never had a problem with nissans, and I've owned several. Though, I don't believe any were ever automatics...

[imcarthur]

Originally Posted by gacook

not to mention it just makes driving more fun.

Yes but . . . not on a mind-numbing freeway for hours & certainly not in an extended stop n go parking lot. For both an auto is best.

Ian

[Hugh R]

I don't know what is in my 08 Camry Hybrid, but it doesn't seem to shift, it just goes. In bumper-to-bumper LA traffic, its great. I drove the Targa back from TRE on Friday at rush hour up the 405 freeway and there was an accident. Over an hour of clutching in first gear to go about three miles kind of sucked.

[wdfifteen]

I like automatics for my DDs. I even have an automatic in my 4x4 pickup.
The worst application of an automatic transmission was an early 70s Toyota Corolla with a Powerglide clone. I don't know who couldn't foresee that putting a two speed automatic behind a 1200cc engine was a really, really bad idea.

[Dantilla]

Growing up, Mom & Dad had nothing but Chevys with slush boxes. Us kids shared a Caprice station wagon when we got to driving age. The ultimate in boring.

That's gotta be why I enjoy driving manual trannys so much.

[Scott Douglas]

I had a he!! of a time convincing anyone that a Sportomatic is the best way to go if you want to use your Porsche to commute.

[porwolf]

Sometimes I drive a friend's Tiguan with AT, of course. Really comfortable to drive in city traffic an lot of pick up. Quite a difference to my '79SC and '82 Landcruiser. In marginal conditions, deep snow, dirt, or sand or diving the twisties with the SC I still prefer the direct control of the stick shift.

[porsche4life]

Having driven a tiguan 4motion in deep snow around Tahoe, I can say the tippy does just fine, and its actually a fun little SUV in the snow.

[stuartj]

Originally Posted by beepbeep

I confess, I kinda like automatic transmissions.

Being European, I barely drove cars with AT and have had looked down on them. Historically, many people around here considered AT's as bad, gas-guzzling things for lazy people who actually don't like driving.

Then I bought a VW Polo (It's like a smaller Golf, dunno if those are sold in US) equipped with AT just for driving around town and I LOVED IT. It was a revelation...no more sore left foot in traffic jams and it was the fastest thing out from a red light (when you never actually drive faster than 40mph). Just keep a left foot on a brake and right foot on accellerator and let go! Weeee!

It shifted funny so I did my own service, dropping down the pan, changing filters and so-called "lifetime fluid" and admiring the doodads inside. This was a Jatco 404E tranny. It finally developed a harsh 1-2 shift when cold (worn solenoid something) so I decided to trade up.

This time I bought a VW Golf MKIV with (according to Internet lore) much maligned 01M slushbox which I also serviced according to guide I found on Interwebs...it works even better than old one. I love it! (I'll just have a plain vanilla TC-equipped one, no fancy DSG/CVT things, thank you very much.)

I also downloaded a service manual to learn how the thing works and boy are they complicated things...brake bands, suns, planets, asteroids, moons, mazes with BB's, springs, solenoids, lot's of brass rings...fascinating really!

So there you go...

Sir, please step over to the clerk and hand in your Man Card.

[oldE]

Different horses for different courses.
If I lived in an urban area, I would probably have an auto in my DD. I found the constant clutch work while we were in Toronto last spring to be not to my liking.
My cars have 5 speeds as did my previous truck. Unfortunately that particular F150 was light duty and I was concerned about slipping/burning the clutch on the few occasions when it was heavily loaded. The current F150 is auto (and much heavier in spec), so I don't have to worry about that.
I do however have the Pavlovian urge to push a non-existant clutch pedal when coming to a stop.

I do like working the gearbox and the comment above about an automatic transmission allowing the driver to concentrate on their driving instead of shifting is indeed true for some. I find after over 40 years of driving manual transmission vehicles I always seem to know where I am in the gearbox and the motor control is almost unconscious. All the thinking about whether the shifter is moving to the right or left, forward or back, where the clutch pedal engagement point is, all that is in muscle memory.

When I drive in the UK, it is interesting how much of that has to be re-learned simply because it is the left hand doing the honors.

Best
Les