Man I hate automatics
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Originally Posted By: IndyIan
I think that's issue with some automatics, they just don't do what you want and so you are fighting them all the time. Some people don't care about using more gas or the mechanics of always doing a triple downshift, triple upshift to maintain adjust their speed up 5 mph... Other people can't stand that.
I probably wouldn't mind an auto with flappy paddles that actually control the transmission in a responsive manner, and will hold a gear with the TC locked at reasonable rpms...
My first several vehicles were stickshift, although I did learn how to drive on the family van. Two decades of driving means I can shift in my sleep. Yeah yeah yeah I know that's not that hard to do. What I mean is, I don't have to *think* about what gear I need to be in, it's practically sub-conscious by now.
So it's almost a primal feeling, or insult, when it's not doing the right thing. I feel obligated to correct its action I guess.
I think that's issue with some automatics, they just don't do what you want and so you are fighting them all the time. Some people don't care about using more gas or the mechanics of always doing a triple downshift, triple upshift to maintain adjust their speed up 5 mph... Other people can't stand that.
I probably wouldn't mind an auto with flappy paddles that actually control the transmission in a responsive manner, and will hold a gear with the TC locked at reasonable rpms...
My first several vehicles were stickshift, although I did learn how to drive on the family van. Two decades of driving means I can shift in my sleep. Yeah yeah yeah I know that's not that hard to do. What I mean is, I don't have to *think* about what gear I need to be in, it's practically sub-conscious by now.
So it's almost a primal feeling, or insult, when it's not doing the right thing. I feel obligated to correct its action I guess.
Originally Posted By: grampi
Depends on whether or not the auto transmission has a drain plug...piece of if it has one, royal PITA if it doesn't....manufacturers that don't put drain plugs in the transmission pans should be shot!
I agree, but I feel obligated to ask for a dipstick too. I've got a drain plug, but the fill plug is on the side, and it needs to be 115C +/-0.03C while perfectly level. Well maybe not that bad but a dipstick would be have been nice.
Depends on whether or not the auto transmission has a drain plug...piece of if it has one, royal PITA if it doesn't....manufacturers that don't put drain plugs in the transmission pans should be shot!
I agree, but I feel obligated to ask for a dipstick too. I've got a drain plug, but the fill plug is on the side, and it needs to be 115C +/-0.03C while perfectly level. Well maybe not that bad but a dipstick would be have been nice.
i want to brag about my brand. but that would not be fair.
Originally Posted By: supton
Originally Posted By: grampi
Depends on whether or not the auto transmission has a drain plug...piece of if it has one, royal PITA if it doesn't....manufacturers that don't put drain plugs in the transmission pans should be shot!
I agree, but I feel obligated to ask for a dipstick too. I've got a drain plug, but the fill plug is on the side, and it needs to be 115C +/-0.03C while perfectly level. Well maybe not that bad but a dipstick would be have been nice.
Doing a drain and fill on my Corolla is super easy...drain 4 qts, put 4 qts back in, done!
Originally Posted By: grampi
Depends on whether or not the auto transmission has a drain plug...piece of if it has one, royal PITA if it doesn't....manufacturers that don't put drain plugs in the transmission pans should be shot!
I agree, but I feel obligated to ask for a dipstick too. I've got a drain plug, but the fill plug is on the side, and it needs to be 115C +/-0.03C while perfectly level. Well maybe not that bad but a dipstick would be have been nice.
Doing a drain and fill on my Corolla is super easy...drain 4 qts, put 4 qts back in, done!
Does it have a dipstick?
Drain and fill isn't bad on mine, I guess. Just have to snake a hose down to it. Checking level is bizarre: wait until it is at temp, then remove a plug and see if oil "drips" out--no drips not enough, stream is too much. I guess it wouldn't be bad as long as one uses a hose rated for the temps involved (since it likely will route near the tubing).
Drain and fill isn't bad on mine, I guess. Just have to snake a hose down to it. Checking level is bizarre: wait until it is at temp, then remove a plug and see if oil "drips" out--no drips not enough, stream is too much. I guess it wouldn't be bad as long as one uses a hose rated for the temps involved (since it likely will route near the tubing).
I have owned/driven more than a dozen rides...cars, vans, trucks, cycles...for close to 1 million miles...and only 2 had ATs....'nuff said...
KISS is my motto. The Getrag 4HP22 in the 528e is 4 speed. Only thing that ever broke on me was a torn torn lip seal on the torque converter. I have had 86 and 88 model yrs. All worked perfectly, controlled by a cable on the throttle body. No brain needed. My son's '86 college car got over 30 mpg on trips. The 88s had a 3.46 diff and the 86's had a 2.93. with only a 121 hoss I-6. Of the five I have had, there is probably an aggregate total mileage of 1.2 million miles. All went went to the crusher with a functioning transmission. If I needed to get a rebuild kit , it would cost about 300 bucks. Internet rebuild how tos abound. OTOH, the 5 spd, is de rigeur for the real BMW experience. They are noisy by 250 K miles, the shifter gets sloppy. You can get 200 K out of a clutch set, less on the hydraulics. A rebuilt 5 spd is 3-4 K$ to have rebuilts. Parts are outrageously priced Costs me about 50$ to drain and replace the filter, every 50 K or so. Definitely waay more fun in the stall and crawl rush hour in and out of Bawstun too.
Part 2 . After being away from manual transmissions for 30 yrs, I bought the Rat with a 5 spd. It was cheap because it needed a clutch very badly. . I would have been better off just driving it to the recyclers and taking the loss. Nobody in their right minds would have rescued this wreck. Must be the meds
Part 2 . After being away from manual transmissions for 30 yrs, I bought the Rat with a 5 spd. It was cheap because it needed a clutch very badly. . I would have been better off just driving it to the recyclers and taking the loss. Nobody in their right minds would have rescued this wreck. Must be the meds
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I've been driving since the mid 70's and always had and still have at least one vehicle with a manual transmission. I enjoy driving a stick, and imagine I'd enjoy it even more if some day I move off of Long Island and live somewhere were traffic isn't the norm. My next new vehicle will be an A/T though.
For year I've always felt the same way, manual only, love the stick shift, total control.
Then I got old, knees stiffened up, hip hurts, can't hardly push in the clutch, now it's I love those auto's. Power Glide all the way. Love that slush box.
Then I got old, knees stiffened up, hip hurts, can't hardly push in the clutch, now it's I love those auto's. Power Glide all the way. Love that slush box.
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I hated Automatics till I found VW's DSG set up.
LOVE MY DSG!!!
Jeff
LOVE MY DSG!!!
Jeff
Originally Posted By: Miller88
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Originally Posted By: redhat
Now that you mention that I will agree that the 6-speed auto in the Honda's seems to shift quick and nice. Not a big fan of the 6-speed A/T in the new Impala either.
I haven't driven a new 6-speed from Honda yet; both of ours have 5-speeds. My folks are buying a new MDX in the next month and it has the 6-speed and I'm interested in trying it.
We have a Malibu and an Equinox at work with GM's 6-speed and I'm sure that they're fine mechanically but the programming is so inflexible. I won't call it "bad" because that's subjective, but it's biased to economy almost to the exclusion of everything else.
My 2011 Camry had a 6-speed and the shift programming was quite good. It had an overly aggressive TCC engagement schedule, though, which really dampened response. But it had a +/- shifter which offered full control to the driver.
I'm kind of hard to please when it comes to transmissions; I'll end with saying simply that some are much better than others.
I have a good amount of wheel time behind an Accord with the 5A. It's actually quite nice.
I drive much lighter than the owner of the car and I think that confuses it.
It starts out in 1st gear, shifts to 2nd, shifts to 3rd, locks torque converter, unlocks torque converter, locks torque converter, shifts to 4th then to 5th.
I like how it pretty much always had the torque converter locked all the time under acceleration (better fuel economy) and the "grade logic" feature.
I did get to drive the car on a trip last year and got 30MPG out of it! Not too bad considering it's a pretty heavy, v6 car with 240HP.
Still probably one of the best all around cars I have driven. Better than the 8th and 9th generation, IMO. If it weren't for timing belt on V6 models, I'd strongly consider importing a 06/07 V6 accord for a nice daily driver.
*importing meaning buying one from outside of the rust belt.
I also enjoy the 5 speed auto Honda's. My Accord 2.4 has the 5 speed auto, I like how it shifts. Not slow and buttery smooth but relatively quick and dominant.
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Originally Posted By: redhat
Now that you mention that I will agree that the 6-speed auto in the Honda's seems to shift quick and nice. Not a big fan of the 6-speed A/T in the new Impala either.
I haven't driven a new 6-speed from Honda yet; both of ours have 5-speeds. My folks are buying a new MDX in the next month and it has the 6-speed and I'm interested in trying it.
We have a Malibu and an Equinox at work with GM's 6-speed and I'm sure that they're fine mechanically but the programming is so inflexible. I won't call it "bad" because that's subjective, but it's biased to economy almost to the exclusion of everything else.
My 2011 Camry had a 6-speed and the shift programming was quite good. It had an overly aggressive TCC engagement schedule, though, which really dampened response. But it had a +/- shifter which offered full control to the driver.
I'm kind of hard to please when it comes to transmissions; I'll end with saying simply that some are much better than others.
I have a good amount of wheel time behind an Accord with the 5A. It's actually quite nice.
I drive much lighter than the owner of the car and I think that confuses it.
It starts out in 1st gear, shifts to 2nd, shifts to 3rd, locks torque converter, unlocks torque converter, locks torque converter, shifts to 4th then to 5th.
I like how it pretty much always had the torque converter locked all the time under acceleration (better fuel economy) and the "grade logic" feature.
I did get to drive the car on a trip last year and got 30MPG out of it! Not too bad considering it's a pretty heavy, v6 car with 240HP.
Still probably one of the best all around cars I have driven. Better than the 8th and 9th generation, IMO. If it weren't for timing belt on V6 models, I'd strongly consider importing a 06/07 V6 accord for a nice daily driver.
*importing meaning buying one from outside of the rust belt.
I also enjoy the 5 speed auto Honda's. My Accord 2.4 has the 5 speed auto, I like how it shifts. Not slow and buttery smooth but relatively quick and dominant.
Originally Posted By: gregk24
Originally Posted By: Miller88
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Originally Posted By: redhat
Now that you mention that I will agree that the 6-speed auto in the Honda's seems to shift quick and nice. Not a big fan of the 6-speed A/T in the new Impala either.
I haven't driven a new 6-speed from Honda yet; both of ours have 5-speeds. My folks are buying a new MDX in the next month and it has the 6-speed and I'm interested in trying it.
We have a Malibu and an Equinox at work with GM's 6-speed and I'm sure that they're fine mechanically but the programming is so inflexible. I won't call it "bad" because that's subjective, but it's biased to economy almost to the exclusion of everything else.
My 2011 Camry had a 6-speed and the shift programming was quite good. It had an overly aggressive TCC engagement schedule, though, which really dampened response. But it had a +/- shifter which offered full control to the driver.
I'm kind of hard to please when it comes to transmissions; I'll end with saying simply that some are much better than others.
I have a good amount of wheel time behind an Accord with the 5A. It's actually quite nice.
I drive much lighter than the owner of the car and I think that confuses it.
It starts out in 1st gear, shifts to 2nd, shifts to 3rd, locks torque converter, unlocks torque converter, locks torque converter, shifts to 4th then to 5th.
I like how it pretty much always had the torque converter locked all the time under acceleration (better fuel economy) and the "grade logic" feature.
I did get to drive the car on a trip last year and got 30MPG out of it! Not too bad considering it's a pretty heavy, v6 car with 240HP.
Still probably one of the best all around cars I have driven. Better than the 8th and 9th generation, IMO. If it weren't for timing belt on V6 models, I'd strongly consider importing a 06/07 V6 accord for a nice daily driver.
*importing meaning buying one from outside of the rust belt.
I also enjoy the 5 speed auto Honda's. My Accord 2.4 has the 5 speed auto, I like how it shifts. Not slow and buttery smooth but relatively quick and dominant.
Yes! Definitely very quick and commanding shifts.
Originally Posted By: Miller88
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Originally Posted By: redhat
Now that you mention that I will agree that the 6-speed auto in the Honda's seems to shift quick and nice. Not a big fan of the 6-speed A/T in the new Impala either.
I haven't driven a new 6-speed from Honda yet; both of ours have 5-speeds. My folks are buying a new MDX in the next month and it has the 6-speed and I'm interested in trying it.
We have a Malibu and an Equinox at work with GM's 6-speed and I'm sure that they're fine mechanically but the programming is so inflexible. I won't call it "bad" because that's subjective, but it's biased to economy almost to the exclusion of everything else.
My 2011 Camry had a 6-speed and the shift programming was quite good. It had an overly aggressive TCC engagement schedule, though, which really dampened response. But it had a +/- shifter which offered full control to the driver.
I'm kind of hard to please when it comes to transmissions; I'll end with saying simply that some are much better than others.
I have a good amount of wheel time behind an Accord with the 5A. It's actually quite nice.
I drive much lighter than the owner of the car and I think that confuses it.
It starts out in 1st gear, shifts to 2nd, shifts to 3rd, locks torque converter, unlocks torque converter, locks torque converter, shifts to 4th then to 5th.
I like how it pretty much always had the torque converter locked all the time under acceleration (better fuel economy) and the "grade logic" feature.
I did get to drive the car on a trip last year and got 30MPG out of it! Not too bad considering it's a pretty heavy, v6 car with 240HP.
Still probably one of the best all around cars I have driven. Better than the 8th and 9th generation, IMO. If it weren't for timing belt on V6 models, I'd strongly consider importing a 06/07 V6 accord for a nice daily driver.
*importing meaning buying one from outside of the rust belt.
I also enjoy the 5 speed auto Honda's. My Accord 2.4 has the 5 speed auto, I like how it shifts. Not slow and buttery smooth but relatively quick and dominant.
Yes! Definitely very quick and commanding shifts.
I agree about feeling that only a true manual transmission gives me the total control which allows me to feel confident that the vehicle will respond the way I want it to.
I have two vehicles right now, a 94 Honda Accord LX with an auto
and my 96 VW Golf GL with a stick shift. Although the Accord is a nice car I just feel that the auto never reacts exactly the way I like it to, the lock up converter is constantly locking and unlocking at a near steady state speed on the highway which is completely annoying, and frankly makes me wonder if it is causing excessive wear.
My Golf is a joy to drive and it is always in exactly the gear I want it to be at all times, I never have to guess.
When the last decent and affordable car with manual transmission is no longer available it will be the last new car I ever buy.
I have two vehicles right now, a 94 Honda Accord LX with an auto
and my 96 VW Golf GL with a stick shift. Although the Accord is a nice car I just feel that the auto never reacts exactly the way I like it to, the lock up converter is constantly locking and unlocking at a near steady state speed on the highway which is completely annoying, and frankly makes me wonder if it is causing excessive wear.
My Golf is a joy to drive and it is always in exactly the gear I want it to be at all times, I never have to guess.
When the last decent and affordable car with manual transmission is no longer available it will be the last new car I ever buy.
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Manuals, feh. I suppose some people churn their own butter too.
The 12-year old Aisin A245E 4sp in the Prizm works fine @ 166,000 miles. I can force a downshift when I need to by applying the accelerator. Is changing ATF that much harder than MTF? I certainly didn't have any issues.
The 12-year old Aisin A245E 4sp in the Prizm works fine @ 166,000 miles. I can force a downshift when I need to by applying the accelerator. Is changing ATF that much harder than MTF? I certainly didn't have any issues.
Originally Posted By: LazyPrizm
Manuals, feh. I suppose some people churn their own butter too.
I don't know about churning butter, but if I was well off financially and retired, I could see myself doing stuff like that. Raising chickens, boiling maple syrup, etc. Changing my own brakes, the list goes on. Sometimes it's nice to do things to your liking.
Quote:
The 12-year old Aisin A245E 4sp in the Prizm works fine @ 166,000 miles. I can force a downshift when I need to by applying the accelerator. Is changing ATF that much harder than MTF? I certainly didn't have any issues.
I think that is part of the problem. Old school 4spd's are less "shifty" than the new ones. In some ways I wonder if I wouldn't mind one, behind a low rpm/high torque motor which could just stay in OD once on the highway. Less internal drag I'd think (half the parts of a six speed? even less compared to the coming 8spd FWD's?). Or I could just drive one in a stick that doesn't shift around and doesn't give threat of wearing out.
It's not just about changing the oil.
Manuals, feh. I suppose some people churn their own butter too.
I don't know about churning butter, but if I was well off financially and retired, I could see myself doing stuff like that. Raising chickens, boiling maple syrup, etc. Changing my own brakes, the list goes on. Sometimes it's nice to do things to your liking.
Quote:
The 12-year old Aisin A245E 4sp in the Prizm works fine @ 166,000 miles. I can force a downshift when I need to by applying the accelerator. Is changing ATF that much harder than MTF? I certainly didn't have any issues.
I think that is part of the problem. Old school 4spd's are less "shifty" than the new ones. In some ways I wonder if I wouldn't mind one, behind a low rpm/high torque motor which could just stay in OD once on the highway. Less internal drag I'd think (half the parts of a six speed? even less compared to the coming 8spd FWD's?). Or I could just drive one in a stick that doesn't shift around and doesn't give threat of wearing out.
It's not just about changing the oil.
Originally Posted By: supton
Originally Posted By: LazyPrizm
Manuals, feh. I suppose some people churn their own butter too.
I don't know about churning butter, but if I was well off financially and retired, I could see myself doing stuff like that. Raising chickens, boiling maple syrup, etc. Changing my own brakes, the list goes on. Sometimes it's nice to do things to your liking.
Quote:
The 12-year old Aisin A245E 4sp in the Prizm works fine @ 166,000 miles. I can force a downshift when I need to by applying the accelerator. Is changing ATF that much harder than MTF? I certainly didn't have any issues.
I think that is part of the problem. Old school 4spd's are less "shifty" than the new ones. In some ways I wonder if I wouldn't mind one, behind a low rpm/high torque motor which could just stay in OD once on the highway. Less internal drag I'd think (half the parts of a six speed? even less compared to the coming 8spd FWD's?). Or I could just drive one in a stick that doesn't shift around and doesn't give threat of wearing out.
It's not just about changing the oil.
Drive a 4.0 Cherokee with the 4 speed auto. More than adequate.
Originally Posted By: LazyPrizm
Manuals, feh. I suppose some people churn their own butter too.
I don't know about churning butter, but if I was well off financially and retired, I could see myself doing stuff like that. Raising chickens, boiling maple syrup, etc. Changing my own brakes, the list goes on. Sometimes it's nice to do things to your liking.
Quote:
The 12-year old Aisin A245E 4sp in the Prizm works fine @ 166,000 miles. I can force a downshift when I need to by applying the accelerator. Is changing ATF that much harder than MTF? I certainly didn't have any issues.
I think that is part of the problem. Old school 4spd's are less "shifty" than the new ones. In some ways I wonder if I wouldn't mind one, behind a low rpm/high torque motor which could just stay in OD once on the highway. Less internal drag I'd think (half the parts of a six speed? even less compared to the coming 8spd FWD's?). Or I could just drive one in a stick that doesn't shift around and doesn't give threat of wearing out.
It's not just about changing the oil.
Drive a 4.0 Cherokee with the 4 speed auto. More than adequate.
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