How do you explain to someone the advantage of manual gearbox ?

[john70t]

Attach three bungee cords from the shift knob to the passenger-side seat belt buckle.
A few more to the center.

Tell him "those are the computer deciding when to shift".

[Otter74]

You may be able to convince him of the difference between an automatic and a manual, but he may still prefer the automatic.

If he is just going to be cruising around on the highway an automatic may be good enough as far as sports-car-ness goes. That's not really sports car driving, after all. Leaves a hand free to wave to the girls, too (j/k)

And even an automatic 944 is a lot more sports car than the Mark IV I seem to remember him driving from that other thread. Maybe he can autocross against himself in the two cars!

[URY914]

Here ya go...........

[aschen]

I would and do think that the type of person who wants a 944 is the same type who wants a manual usually.


It's hard to be objective in any case for a 30 yo 4cyl German sports car. The objective answer is buy a miata of course.

I think auto cars usually dyno a few less whp. Though the rumor mill says 944 cluch jobs are a pita

[dave 911]

Originally Posted by URY914

Here ya go...........

This is great

[Dantilla]

An automatic transmission cannot predict what the driver wants the car to do in the next few seconds. There is an uphill sweeper going towards my house that can be taken pretty quickly, usually in third gear in my pick-up. Occasionally, it will downshift to second mid-corner, and the rear instantly breaks loose.

[oldE]

Sugarwood,

There is more than a grain of truth in the diagram above.
These days we have torque converters which lock up faster to minimize slippage.
The torque converter must provide some slippage when starting off so the engine does not stall, but at higher RPMs tends to provide a greater percentage of power to the gears.
The inefficiencies of the older autoboxes and torque converters are the problem unless you have great amounts of torque delivered by the engine.

A lot of the tendencies of automatics to shift at inopportune times can be worked around with some pre-planning and careful footwork, but as pointed out, a manual transmission is easier to control.

Best of luck with your friend.
Les

[Bill Douglas]

Modern autos are great. But an old world auto in a broken down old 944 would be a PITA. I particuarly like new CVT autos in Toyotas.

[john70t]

People forget: Simplicity is Supreme.

The more that can break, the more will break.
The T34 defeated the Tiger.
The PPSh-41 defeated the Stg44.

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by john70t

People forget: Simplicity is Supreme.

The more that can break, the more will break.
The T34 defeated the Tiger.
The PPSh-41 defeated the Stg44.

Repairs are not a part of his calculus. He owns 12cyl jaguars, for example.

[DanielDudley]

If the guy owns 12 cylinder Jags, he does not need our input. If I was going for an automatic ''sports car'', I'd go for a C3 Corvette, with a crate engine transplant.

I suppose an automatic 944 would make a nice weekend cruiser, and would absolutely get you to the golf club on time. Stellar AC.

[stuartj]

Originally Posted by Dantilla

An automatic transmission cannot predict what the driver wants the car to do in the next few seconds. There is an uphill sweeper going towards my house that can be taken pretty quickly, usually in third gear in my pick-up. Occasionally, it will downshift to second mid-corner, and the rear instantly breaks loose.

Exactly. Cant control the balance of the car, cant drive the car on the throttle when the trannie decides its time change gear half way through a high speed sweeper. That said, the new gen semi autos are seamless, better, faster than a driver. F1.

[RANDY P]

a porsche with an automatic is called a "morphodite" in car circles.

Might as well put a bench seat in there too...

[wayner]

My young kids say this about their cars that have manual transmissions.

1) None of their friends ever ask to borrow their cars
2) A manual transmission is the best form of theft determent

[Mark Henry]

How a Automatic transmission works

https://youtu.be/QqTToQcb-5c

[sugarwood]

[sugarwood]

I think I will leave it as: A gearbox allows you to sustain higher RPMs, which means more horsepower, which means going faster, which is the whole point of buying a "sports car"

[john70t]

A manual gearbox lets the driver decide when traveling sideways over an unknown crest in a turn with bumps at life-threatening speeds.

The driver.
[i.e. the payor]
[i.e. the owner]

[901toPDK]

Manual is like a good handjob
Auto is like...

[ted]

Originally Posted by stuartj

Exactly. Cant control the balance of the car, cant drive the car on the throttle when the trannie decides its time change gear half way through a high speed sweeper. That said, the new gen semi autos are seamless, better, faster than a driver. F1.

Manual better for car control compared to old torque converter autos.
Better for throttle steer and you get to heel toe match rev downshilfts.