Quote:
Originally Posted by rwthomas1
Most automatics are awful for several reasons. Shift quality is lacking, usually too soft unless just getting around. Even a manual valve body gives a disconnected feel simply because the connection to the engine is a viscous coupling. Not talking DSG or paddle shift here, just regular automatics, think Toyota Camry.... Frequently when you slow down to make a turn, automatics are late to downshift, then they upshift early again, only to downshift again at the next nearest corner. Every one I've ever driven does this. No need for all the extra up and down shifting. A person that knows how to drive a stick shift will choose the proper gearing simply because they can see ahead and anticipate. No automatic can do that.
RT
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I think I don't have that problem because most of my autos that I own have been altered. Even the MB auto is much firmer on shifting. From what I can see, the shifts are made soft because that is how the public wants it to be. Even the MB shifts hard compared to what the other cars do. I changed the valve body on my Excursion and the springs to F350 springs. Problem is a lot of soccer moms that get SUVs want it to look like a truck but shift soft.
I don't think the autos are that bad a trade off when you consider that it seems to be ok most of the time. Sure, there are a few times where I find the auto not shifting the way I think it should (stock units). The few times somehow are hard to justify when you look at it on the whole and it is ok. Even the MB 722.6 trans gets it right most of the time. Again, if you want to talk autocross, I would agree that is where the stick shines. However, since I don't really autocross most of the time, I can't justify the inconvenience of a stick.