Manual versus Auto

[Rich_NYS]

Anybody have a manual-shift and wish they had an auto or vice-versa?

I have an auto but I'm looking forward to selling it after I buy a manual-shift.

Here's one of the reasons I prefer a manual-shift....lol:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sib48KpG4Kg

[Michael]

The only gripe I have with my auto is 1st is too tall. It really needed to be a 4 speed or a 3 speed w/overdrive.

[jawn101]

Anybody have a manual-shift and wish they had an auto or vice-versa?

I have an auto but I'm looking forward to selling it after I buy a manual-shift.

Here's one of the reasons I prefer a manual-shift....lol:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sib48KpG4Kg

By the time they finished, it seemed pretty close.. the faster car (I assume the 5sp) only won by a pretty small margin there.

I prefer the 5 speed because it's way easier to work on than the auto in these cars... :)

[DARCOM]

I would to just love to install a lower gear.

[Rich_NYS]

By the time they finished, it seemed pretty close.. the faster car (I assume the 5sp) only won by a pretty small margin there.

I prefer the 5 speed because it's way easier to work on than the auto in these cars... :)

Josh got a good jump off the line (manual,) and I ended up 2 MPH faster for the overall 1/4 run (auto.)

[Rich_NYS]

I think not many manual-shift owners wish they had an auto....

[SherryC]

I think not many manual-shift owners wish they had an auto....

Rich,

Au Contraire. I wish my manual was an auto every time I drive it. I get that people like the responsiveness of manual, but guess I'm just lazy :rolleyes1:

SherryC

[Michael]

Rich,

Au Contraire. I wish my manual was an auto every time I drive it. I get that people like the responsiveness of manual, but guess I'm just lazy :rolleyes1:

SherryC

Ohh about every 6 months or less someone with a 5 speed starts a thread wanting honest un-biased opinions. Sounds innocent enough but the ulterior motive is to brag about how much faster their 5 speed is over autos.
http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=17404&d=1363494133

[NightFlyer]

I drove that race like shit!

In my own defense (aka excuses), there were a number of contributing factors, the primary one being that at that point, I hadn't slept a wink in over 48 hours. Second, I spun the NCTs off the line by dumping the clutch, which actually cost me at least a 1/10 of a second. Third, I'm still running the nylon (plastic) clutch line (gotta be concours correct), and it was warm enough out for the line to be swelling, thus requiring a double clutch into 2nd (takes more time). Fourth, my shifting overall was quite sloppy and not very tight. And finally, instead of winding the top end out in 3rd as I should have done (to hit the hp sweet spot at around 5500rpm), I shifted into 4th around the 1/8 mile mark - a review of the time slip and video confirm that this was the biggest error I made in that race...

Anyway, I prefer the manual in my D for a number of reasons, the least of which is that it's faster than the auto - as the race proved, it really isn't all that much faster than the auto (had I driven that race perfectly, my car probably would have only been 1/3 to 1/2 second faster than Rich's auto car). The reasons I like the manual are for the more connected driving experience, ease of maintenance vs the auto, better access to other components vs the auto, the over-driven 5th gear allows substantially greater fuel economy on long distance trips, etc.

[Rich_NYS]

I drove that race like shit!


LOL -If I had a manual you would've been in some serious trouble, mister -hahaha!

All the other stuff you mentioned is machts nichts, bro.....you came off the line like a champ, left me a car-length behind, and there are cool videos of it on Youtube! :thumbup:

And BTW.....you looked pretty damn Rico Suave while doin' it, Mr. Johnson! :cool:

[DMCVegas]

Ohh about every 6 months or less someone with a 5 speed starts a thread wanting honest un-biased opinions. Sounds innocent enough but the ulterior motive is to brag about how much faster their 5 speed is over autos.

So true. And I'm also guilty of bragging over the auto in the past.

Me, I like the 5-Speed simply because I prefer driving stick because I like the control aspect, and I prefer the control method of a stick rather than flappy paddles in modern cars. To this day in automatics I'll start listening to the hum of the engine no matter what kind of car or truck, and will unconsciously grab at a stick shift that isn't there.

The best transmission is really just the one that you're most comfortable with.

[Farrar]

It really needed to be a 4 speed or a 3 speed w/overdrive.


I would to just love to install a lower gear.

Yes, and yes. Having that fourth gear would be fantastic on the highway, where you're cruising at about 3,000 RPM and your passenger keeps saying "WHAT?" whenever you speak. After a road trip in my D, I wake up with a sore throat the next morning from all the shouting.

Renault made a 4-speed successor to our 3-speeds, but I seem to be the only one interested in trying it. And at this point, I haven't the money, space, or time to pursue such a project. Give me about ten or fifteen years... I plan on having a 4-speed 3.0L even-fire EFI auto. :)

[Iznodmad]

This thread seems to re-invent itself every once in a while. I currently have one of each and have driven both type for many thousands of miles. That includes daily driving and road trips. It is my conclusion that I slightly prefer the manual overall. Road trips give the manual the nudge for sure with lower rpm and about 5mpg better average. Around town driving only, about 2-3 mpg difference for me between the two. The most important thing for either is correct tune of the engine, maximizing performance and efficiency. If it came down to purchasing a vehicle, I still suggest taking the overall best quality Delorean, regardless of trans type or interior color.

[JohnZ]

I like manual gear shifting :)

I drove an automatic once, it was like I was missing something from my body, not to mention that you think about pressing hard the clutch pedal and all you get is slamming on the brakes :dead:

But it's just habit, and tastes. You can't blame tastes ;)

[Farrar]

99% of my driving is done in city traffic. Even if I didn't have wonky knees, I'd still prefer an automatic because all the stop-and-go driving I do every day.

[Michael]

The 45 year old soccer mom in the Toyota minivan equipped with an auto will spank your 5 speed's ass...and with the weeks worth of groceries and a few kids in booster seats inside to boot.

Think about that next time you brag about how the "driving experience" is and how bad ass your manual transmission is.:driving1:

[Dangermouse]

You are all suffering from auto-envy!

[Rich_NYS]

The 45 year old soccer mom in the Toyota minivan equipped with an auto will spank your 5 speed's ass...and with the weeks worth of groceries and a few kids in booster seats inside to boot.



....and do a lot worse to my auto -lol!

If I had a manual, at least I'd look cool while getting trounced...hahaha!

[NightFlyer]

LOL -If I had a manual you would've been in some serious trouble, mister -hahaha!

All the other stuff you mentioned is machts nichts, bro.....you came off the line like a champ, left me a car-length behind, and there are cool videos of it on Youtube! :thumbup:

And BTW.....you looked pretty damn Rico Suave while doin' it, Mr. Johnson! :cool:

For your first time at a track, you actually did really well at the line with the beams and tree. My reaction time was actually better than perfect - a perfect reaction time is considered to be .5000, whereas my reaction time was .3825, thus I was really pushing a possible red-light (leaving the line before the green light turned on, which is an automatic foul/forfeit) with my launch. In fact, had it not been for my tire spin, I probably would have been even closer to a .0000, or even a possible red light. That's what decades of experience does for you though :wink:

You definitely drove the better race, but then again, with an auto, that's not hard to do - just put it in D and keep the peddle to the floor.

My driving let my car down, as opposed the car letting me down. My driving was so poor that even though I won the race, which was all because of my stellar reaction time, Rich's car actually ran the 1/4 mile faster than my car did.

In drag racing, the ET clock doesn't start until you leave the line, even if you're completely sleeping on the tree. That's why at test and tunes, boosted guys will sleep on the tree for several seconds as they build boost for their launches.

I did look pretty damn cool though 8)

Had we been able to make a second pass, I would have done much better :biggrin:

Here's the time slip (original and enhanced copy) from the race for those interested. As you can see how the tire spin and double clutch into second cost me, the costliest move was the shift into 4th just before the 1/8th mile mark:

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=28493&d=1403547508
http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=28494&d=1403547511

[Michael]

Actually a perfect light for footbrake is .000 Some strips show .500 on your slips but it's really a .000 green light(and what shows on the board) if you guys are running a 5/10 tree, (which you probably are).

A 5/10 tree set up for foot brake you will leave on the green. If you are running a delay, you leave on the first yellow. No matter what, once your tire breaks that first beam, if the light is still yellow, you redlight.

I would commonly cut a .2## light in my Talon in the footbrake class(no delays allowed). I have even done a few perfect lights on my CBR in footbrake but mostly I was around 2/10 maybe .1## when I was "warmed up".

Trust me, you did not nor would you have red lighted with that slip.


All this drag talk has me thinking about taking mine to the strip this Thursday just to see what she will do.

[Starglider]

Surely 90% of you US owners have auto daily drivers to cruise about in when you are feeling lazy. If the DeLorean is a fun weekend car then the argument for it being automatic is pretty weak.

[NightFlyer]

I wasn't looking to go that in-depth, but Michael is 100% correct.

And Michael should definitely take his stage II out to the track (of course with a friend along is always better - maybe the Regal guy would be up to having some fun)...

[Michael]

I wasn't looking to go that in-depth, but Michael is 100% correct.

And Michael should definitely take his stage II out to the track (of course with a friend along is always better - maybe the Regal guy would be up to having some fun)...

My Regal buddy has and races a pretty mean Malibu almost every weekend. When this vid was taken he was high 10's, he is now in low 10's. He let me race it once at street fights and I have to say it's an addictive trip! We have an awesome dragway here(Bristol Thunder Valley) but it's at 1,200' so that plays into our times a bit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exs9o7Ft_Qg

[Nicholas R]

My Regal buddy has and races a pretty mean Malibu almost every weekend. When this vid was taken he was high 10's, he is now in low 10's. He let me race it once at street fights and I have to say it's an addictive trip! We have an awesome dragway here(Bristol Thunder Valley) but it's at 1,200' so that plays into our times a bit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exs9o7Ft_Qg

1200' track? Interesting; I'm not sure I've heard of those. I've been to several 1/8 mile tracks and plenty 1/4 mile tracks but 1200' feet? Is that a specific class or what?

[Michael]

1200' track? Interesting; I'm not sure I've heard of those. I've been to several 1/8 mile tracks and plenty 1/4 mile tracks but 1200' feet? Is that a specific class or what?

Umm, That would be 1,200' above sea level

It's a 1/4 mile track.

[NightFlyer]

1200' track? Interesting; I'm not sure I've heard of those. I've been to several 1/8 mile tracks and plenty 1/4 mile tracks but 1200' feet? Is that a specific class or what?

1/8 mile is for pussies...

[NightFlyer]

My Regal buddy has and races a pretty mean Malibu almost every weekend. When this vid was taken he was high 10's, he is now in low 10's. He let me race it once at street fights and I have to say it's an addictive trip! We have an awesome dragway here(Bristol Thunder Valley) but it's at 1,200' so that plays into our times a bit.

Bristol Thunder Valley is definitely way nicer than any of the tracks that I've ever raced at. My former home town track is Great Lakes Dragaway in Union Grove, WI. I'm used to dumpy tracks 8)

[Rich_NYS]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4y7y6C_8b0

[Nicholas R]

Umm, That would be 1,200' above sea level

It's a 1/4 mile track.

DOH! my bad, haha! :mallet: Ok that definitely makes more sense now.


1/8 mile is for pussies...

Yea I've never seen the appeal. I spent 2 summers working in Charlotte, NC and 8th mile tracks were popular where I was. I went a few times but never ran. There's definitely a different science to it since you're trying to spool through short gears so quickly, but its not for me.

[Michael]

Josh was per staged and staged before you even got out of the box! He was not being courteous:wink:

They also set the tree of almost right after you staged so you probably were not ready for it. The guy who stages first usually has the advantage because they have a bit more time to get ready.

[Rich_NYS]

Josh was per staged and staged before you even got out of the box! He was not being courteous:wink:

I think the track dudes directed us when/where, so it's really not his fault....but I'm all for blaming him anyway -lol!




They also set the tree of almost right after you staged so you probably were not ready for it. The guy who stages first usually has the advantage because they have a bit more time to get ready.

For sure...

I really wanted to have another run after I learned what to expect, but we got in just before they shut down.

[NightFlyer]

I think the track dudes directed us when/where, so it's really not his fault....but I'm all for blaming him anyway -lol!

For sure...

I really wanted to have another run after I learned what to expect, but we got in just before they shut down.

Josh was a big asshole! :biggrin:

As we didn't use the bleach/water box, we were immediately directed to the line. I always like to get staged first, but many actually prefer to stage last - in elimination and bracket racing, there's a lot of strategy that goes into it...

It is a shame that we didn't get a second run in - if only I could have rounded up everyone that wanted to go earlier than 8pm. That was my fault as an organizer - I should have put my foot down sooner than I did, but I still don't have any regrets. It was FANTASTIC as it was :thumbup:

[PB Co]

I have always been a manual driver but I wound up with a very good deal on an automatic DMC-12.

When you're rusty almost 300K Honda from the 90s out performs your stainless beauty, well, I guess I do not miss that clutch very much at all. Plus, with no power steering there is plenty to keep you occupied and entertained with the automatic. Comparing the gears to the manual, nearly matching 2-3-4, I am really only missing 'overdrive' when I'm out for a highway spin. For me my DMC is my luxury car and I am totally content with an automatic.

[RammJaeger]

I used to drive manual transmission but when I was in college I had to drive up highway 101 from Monterrey to San Francisco multiple times per week about 80 miles in rush hour traffic. 2 hours in stop and go traffic multiple times a week convinced me to ditch the automatic. I think my left leg got really muscular though :)

I don't feel any less connected in my Delorean with an automatic than I did in any of my manual transmission cars. Actually I think I feel more connected when I can keep both hands on the wheel at all times, especially when I am snaking through curves.

[Kane]

The hills in downtown Seattle are almost as bad as in San Francisco. There's no way I'm going to be stopping on the side of a hill like that in a manual. I'm sure some people think that's no problem, but I don't trust that I won't slam into the person behind me. Automatic for me, thanks. :)

[ALEXAKOS]

Auto for comfort manual for excitement. Simple as that! Open thread "what would you wish to trade your PRV engine with" to get more responses;)

[Jeff K]

I've owned both.

A Stage 2 Houston rebuild auto with every option

A 5 speed I restored.

I sold the auto, I couldn't enjoy the three speed trans.

Not really about speed, but the fun factor.

The Renault transmission shift quite smoothly. The bellcrank and push-rods feel real good. IMHO

Most cars today have shift cables.

[jawn101]

The Renault transmission shift quite smoothly. The bellcrank and push-rods feel real good. IMHO


Big +1. After a very thorough rebuild of my transmission by our local master Clint, my 5 speed feels like a bolt-action rifle. Owners who say a sloppy shifting trans is normal just haven't put in the time to see how great it can really be.

[Nicholas R]

I agree with this. I converted from an auto to a manual so I had to setup all of the linkages and cables myself. As such I was really meticulous about them working exactly as they should. Because of that time adjusting it, mine shifts beautifully. Whenever I get into one that shifts like a tractor with a crash-box transmission, I try to explain that it could be so much better. The biggest thing to adjust is just that cross-shift cable. Once that is properly adjusted and sliding easily, shifting is super smooth!

[Kenny_Z]

I love my manual DeLorean. My dream version was a 5 speed with gray interior and that is exactly what fell into my lap. My other cars are automatics and much easier to drive in heavy traffic. I wish my Mustang was a manual because it feels wrong to drive an automatic classic. One day I'll swap her to a 5 speed.