Can an auto keep up with a manual?

[Sparrowhawk]

Originally Posted by steadvex

We can do a RICA remap without sending the ECU off, just thought id throw it out

Can you PM me some details?

[steadvex]

Originally Posted by Sparrowhawk

Can you PM me some details?

Apologies, thinking of the wrong car!

No we can't so do it without sending it away either ☹

[iain cooper]

a well driven manual will win every time.

autos are for a relaxing drive, manuals are for drivers

Iain

[Richard_TD]

This is the result when I raced a manual T5 (wrongly listed as up to 2000cc) with my automatic TDi

http://www.crailraceway.co.uk/showco...ate=2016-02-21

He beat me, but not by as much as he expected to.

[Sparrowhawk]

Originally Posted by Richard_TD

This is the result when I raced a manual T5 (wrongly listed as up to 2000cc) with my automatic TDi

http://www.crailraceway.co.uk/showco...ate=2016-02-21

He beat me, but not by as much as he expected to.

What cars were they? That's really interesting! I think you might've outdriven him too!

[Richard_TD]

His (left) was a manual 850 T5 CD saloon, mine (right) was an automatic 850 TDi GLT saloon.

There wasn't really much driving to be done on my part really. With automatic and traction control it was just a matter of sinking the right foot and leaving it there. The times are pretty much the same every time for me, although weight makes a surprising difference. On a previous visit I managed to reduce my time through the day by progressively jettisoning stuff- including my boots and even my trousers in a last ditch attempt to get below 17 seconds. http://www.crailraceway.co.uk/showdr...ate=2015-10-25

There's not much sport in it in an automatic of course, it was just a day out with some friends. It's interesting to see how your car compares though, even if it's not a particularly relevant test.

[JDmac]

Originally Posted by bobby2000

Well I can show a lot of cars a clean pair of heels away from a standing start with either of my cars. I will stick with my automatics.

Also happy with my 2010 V70 with TF80SC geartronic & haven't been embarrassed yet. Seems to give engine braking using the gear lever but
haven't been too hard on it - boxes are expensive. After many years in motor sport left foot braking comes naturally, cheers all,JDmac.

[doingitsideways]

Originally Posted by Richard_TD

His (left) was a manual 850 T5 CD saloon, mine (right) was an automatic 850 TDi GLT saloon.

There wasn't really much driving to be done on my part really. With automatic and traction control it was just a matter of sinking the right foot and leaving it there. The times are pretty much the same every time for me, although weight makes a surprising difference. On a previous visit I managed to reduce my time through the day by progressively jettisoning stuff- including my boots and even my trousers in a last ditch attempt to get below 17 seconds. http://www.crailraceway.co.uk/showdr...ate=2015-10-25

There's not much sport in it in an automatic of course, it was just a day out with some friends. It's interesting to see how your car compares though, even if it's not a particularly relevant test.

Interesting.
I managed to wring a 16.7 out of my bog standard, 300k+ manual 850 TDi estate at York and was very happy with that.
I left my trousers on though. Lol

My S70 T5 auto that's knocking on for 300bhp pulled a 15sec dead on the same day.
I'm going manual with that now though as the auto can't really take any more.
With a manual 'box it should be pulling low 14s, maybe into the very high 13s.
A second is a hell of a lot on the 1/4 mile.

[dme123]

Originally Posted by Richard_TD

There wasn't really much driving to be done on my part really. With automatic and traction control it was just a matter of sinking the right foot and leaving it there. The times are pretty much the same every time for me, although weight makes a surprising difference.

This is key. I think in this case it's blurred a bit by the auto in question being an old four speed slusher, but with a vaguely modern automatic most drivers are faster most of the time with an auto. When reading the quoted 0-60 times remember that for a manual that's a full bore, clutchless, zero mechanical sympathy time. For the auto you could hit it 100% of the time by squashing the pedal to the floor while drinking coffee.

You also need to bear in mind that most ordinary drivers don't drop down gears to accelerate, and so limit their acceleration at motorway type speeds.

Of course current autos are almost always quicker than the manuals even on paper, and in the real world they are far quicker for an "ordinary" driver.

My experience with anything auto from the 5 speed era onwards is that someone in an equivalent manual has to be working very hard and not get caught out in the wrong gear or screw up a change to keep up with an "enthusiastically" driven automatic through a series of roundabouts or along a twisty road.

Obviously things are different for driving gods like us on here though ;-)

[BEJ]

I always used to think a manual would see off an auto until I got my current car.
The 8speed auto is fantastic. I also have paddles but wish I hadn't forked out the extra cash as I rarely use them.The auto box is that good.