It depends on where you live. In California, you need to use a hands free device like a bluetooth headset to talk on the phone and drive.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Stick or automatic?
- Thread starter 204467
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
It depends on where you live. In California, you need to use a hands free device like a bluetooth headset to talk on the phone and drive.
SactoGuy18 said:
BMW... you're jesting right?
neiltc13 said:
It is. In the truest sense of the word.
neiltc13 said:
Tiptronic's don't actually having a clutch, but I digress, the manual action of changing gear is not mutually exclusive to the action of engaging and disengaging the clutch is it?
Perhaps the most obvious reason why DCG's aren't considered automatics is because the driver still has the overriding authority to decide as and when to change gear, it's simply that part of the process is assisted, albeit electronically, much like how syncromesh assisted the changing action on a conventional manual gearbox, but no one considers a synchromesh box to be any less of a manual than a dog clutch, even though it is. Massively so.
apearlman said:
Someone who can drive properly. I applaud you sir.
If driven properly, a clutch should have a life comparable to that of the engine (before any extensive overhaul work is required of course), if a driver's struggling to exceed 100,000 miles on a clutch, I recommend they take a refresher course... or buy an automatic.
My personal preference if for DCG boxes... completely and utterly magical they are.
Until I have my left leg amputated, or I am 50 years old I will not buy an automatic as my daily driver.
I have three vehicles and only one is automatic!
I have three vehicles and only one is automatic!
I love driving a manual. Fun and gives you lots of control. A lot of people drive manual cars very badly though, (wrong gears so reduced control etc.) and could do with either a refresher driving lesson or an automatic. Would make them more fuel-efficient too.
For the last 14 or 15 years or more, I've always had one of each.
My wife had a manual when we got married, and I had an automatic.
Then, we both had automatics for a few years after selling her car (and getting her a new one).
Then, I got a truck with a manual, and she had an automatic.
Then, in 2006 she got a car with a manual, and we still had the truck with a manual.
Then, we sold the truck in 2007, and got a newer truck with an automatic. So, we had the car with a manual and the newer truck with a manual.
Then, last week we sold that truck, and got a new car with an automatic. So, we've got two cars now. One manual, one automatic.
So, I guess you could say both. I don't mind the manual. And, I don't mind the automatic.
But, I'll tell you what messes with you... Getting into the car (or previously the truck) with the automatic and trying to find that missing clutch pedal.
I've tried to hit the clutch more than a few times in vehicles that don't have one.
Something else that's fun is having a fast locking competition clutch in a truck with too much power and driving it on roads with glazed ice and standing water. You don't gain traction until you hit at least 3rd gear (and no I don't drive with studs in the tires - haven't since my first year of driving many years ago).
As for the missing clutch, we'll see what fun I have in the new car. It's automatic stick is on the floor. So, we'll see if I try and clutch and shift that
As long as I don't try and shift without the clutch (which you can quite easily do with most manual transmissions if you shift at the right engine speeds). Doing that with an automatic might result in a rather abrupt PARK
My mother-in-law went through a few automatics on her way to 100,000 miles. So, perhaps some people just shouldn't drive
The problem is that many people still don't understand that you should stop a car before moving from reverse to drive.
And, then there's the ones who think you should just leave it in 4-wheel drive anytime you have something other than dry pavement. So, naturally they kill their tranny's a bit quicker.
I think my mother-in-law fell into both camps there.
My wife had a manual when we got married, and I had an automatic.
Then, we both had automatics for a few years after selling her car (and getting her a new one).
Then, I got a truck with a manual, and she had an automatic.
Then, in 2006 she got a car with a manual, and we still had the truck with a manual.
Then, we sold the truck in 2007, and got a newer truck with an automatic. So, we had the car with a manual and the newer truck with a manual.
Then, last week we sold that truck, and got a new car with an automatic. So, we've got two cars now. One manual, one automatic.
So, I guess you could say both. I don't mind the manual. And, I don't mind the automatic.
But, I'll tell you what messes with you... Getting into the car (or previously the truck) with the automatic and trying to find that missing clutch pedal.
I've tried to hit the clutch more than a few times in vehicles that don't have one.
Something else that's fun is having a fast locking competition clutch in a truck with too much power and driving it on roads with glazed ice and standing water. You don't gain traction until you hit at least 3rd gear (and no I don't drive with studs in the tires - haven't since my first year of driving many years ago).
As for the missing clutch, we'll see what fun I have in the new car. It's automatic stick is on the floor. So, we'll see if I try and clutch and shift that
As long as I don't try and shift without the clutch (which you can quite easily do with most manual transmissions if you shift at the right engine speeds). Doing that with an automatic might result in a rather abrupt PARK
if a driver's struggling to exceed 100,000 miles on a clutch, I recommend they take a refresher course... or buy an automatic.
My mother-in-law went through a few automatics on her way to 100,000 miles. So, perhaps some people just shouldn't drive
The problem is that many people still don't understand that you should stop a car before moving from reverse to drive.
And, then there's the ones who think you should just leave it in 4-wheel drive anytime you have something other than dry pavement. So, naturally they kill their tranny's a bit quicker.
I think my mother-in-law fell into both camps there.
There should be a third option in the poll, SST transmission as Mitsubishi calls it in their new Evolution MR which basically shifts faster then any human could with a manual transmission while not having to deal with the clutch pedal. Thats what all the big boys drive these days anyway, F1/WRC...
Anyway, I love my Evo, I get the best of two worlds, extremely fast upshifts/downshifts and livable bumper to bumper daily traffic. And before anyone compares SST to BMWs Tiptronic please read up on SST:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin_Clutch_SST
It's probably the direction all transmission technology will eventually lead to as it is simply more efficient in every aspect of automotive technology, from performance to gas mileage.
Anyway, I love my Evo, I get the best of two worlds, extremely fast upshifts/downshifts and livable bumper to bumper daily traffic. And before anyone compares SST to BMWs Tiptronic please read up on SST:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin_Clutch_SST
It's probably the direction all transmission technology will eventually lead to as it is simply more efficient in every aspect of automotive technology, from performance to gas mileage.
I agree with you on that, it needs a SMG/DCG option. Technology has moved on, and with it has ushered forth a whole new era of driver involvement.
BMW's equivalent is M-DCT, same principle as Mitsubishi's SST.
ive owned a manual transmission car ever since i first got my license. i am awkward when driving an automatic because i am accustomed to being able to depress the accelerator as far as i like without the gears changing. but in an automatic it jumps down a gear, and then i let off the gas so it jumps back up.