What's with all the automatic hate?

[ZL1-V]

Originally Posted by revo1059

Then pull the radio out, hell I recommend sealing the windows, wouldn't want to be distracted by an outside noise. Clock in the dashboard, yank it out! Tape the passengers mouth shut! You must be an absolute joy to ride with..."Don't talk to me I'm scanning the road!"

It's called common sense. Nobody is having a 5 course meal behind the wheel, but if I take a sip of a diet coke while I'm in the position to do so, my safety isn't compromised. In my FF/PM days I can't recall ONE accident I responded to that was the result of someone taking a drink of a pop/water (even the dummy who managed to drive her car under a semi in the next lane. Nobody got hurt so it was damn funny).


Texting....whole different story.

Thanks for posting that. I am sure we have some stories to share?

[Mvp_Me]

This is just getting way out of proportion; its entertaining though.

[mrmarklin]

Haters hate autos because we're faster 0-60 and in the 1/4 mile. That's just a fact.

And that's what counts with the "pony" cars.

For real racing, etc. Get a real sports car like a Corvette.

Camaros were developed for the stop light set like in American Graffiti. They're sporty cars, not true sports cars.

I drove BMWs for 20 years. My wife still has one. Lack of cupholders in the earlier ones was a PITA. Even the new ones are very marginal by US standards.
One cannot compare driving conditions here in the US with those in Germany (where I have driven many miles). Unlimited speeds on many parts of the Autobahns require total attention and good lane discipline. Also cultural norms in Europe are that no one ever carries any sort of drink outside a restaurant or home. It's just not done, hence the reluctance by many European manufacturers to install cupholders. They just don't perceive the need

[BHamm]

[QUOTE=mrmarklin;7401760]Haters hate autos because we're faster 0-60 and in the 1/4 mile. That's just a fact.

And that's what counts with the "pony" cars.

For real racing, etc. Get a real sports car like a Corvette.

Camaros were developed for the stop light set like in American Graffiti. They're sporty cars, not true sports cars.

I love American Graffiti. Which cars had automatics in that movie?

[Mvp_Me]

So i can speculate from reading from page 1-10 that the auto is better from 0-60 and drinking coffee but manuals = winning when it comes to street fun factor correct??

I already knew this but so does everybody else, how many more pages do we need to keep repeating ourselves?

[Norm Peterson]

Originally Posted by mrmarklin

Haters hate autos because we're faster 0-60 and in the 1/4 mile. That's just a fact.

Faster and more consistent I'll give you. In fact I'd have predicted it to you in so many words before the 1960's ended.

Try to separate a grudge against the automatic for making manual transmission cars relatively scarce (and extinct in some segments of the market) from any perceived hate toward people who like the automatics.

Then explain why I'm supposed to want an automatic if I'm shopping outside the sports/sporty/pony car segments for a decent mid-level sedan with decent power. Or any full size pickup truck, SUV, or minivan, for that matter. Or otherwise why I should be willing to spend $30k or more to own a vehicle that I wouldn't really want to drive. $20/day for something that I'd at best be putting up with. Sorry, life's too short to waste any of it like that.

Those who begrudge the 1LE, Z/28, and GT500 for being manual transmission only can only begin to imagine what it's like for many cars you might otherwise like a lot end up being a fail over their available transmissions.

Don't kid yourself that I or people like me envy the automatic cars for the acceleration performance. Like I've said before, I'd rather drive a 15 second manual than a 12 second automatic, and I'd make the same choice every time.

And that's what counts with the "pony" cars.

That's not true for everybody. You're entitled to your opinion for yourself, just don't presume it to be a universal truth.

For real racing, etc. Get a real sports car like a Corvette.

For real racing I'd either get a purpose-built race car or build it up myself.


For occasional track days/HPDE cars like the Camaro and Mustang are much better choices than you give them credit for.

Camaros were developed for the stop light set like in American Graffiti.

Did you miss the part called Trans-Am racing? Ever wonder where tags like "Z/28" and "Boss 302" came from?

Your "stop light set" has a one dimensional view of a three dimensional world. I'd hate to think people couldn't continue to develop past the Harry-HighSchool stage.

They're sporty cars, not true sports cars.

And not all "true sports cars" have anywhere near Caterham performance. Nor has the Corvette always been considered a "true sports car" - think "GT car". Your point???


Norm

[PQ]

Originally Posted by BigBoyBlue

No one can argue that you are not in a better position to avoid an accident if you are fully engaged in the act of driving (two hands on the controls), than if you have something in one hand that you are manipulating. There is no way anyone is a better driver with one hand on the wheel and sucking down a drink. Everyone thinks they have it under control, but a majority of accidents happen because the driver is doing something other than concentrating 100% on driving. That said, texting while driving should come with a $1,000 fine. Short of DWI I don't know of anything that causes more accidents.

Rationalize all you want.

Following this logic I'd say automatics are safer. With a manual you have to take a hand off the wheel.

But I don't drink coffee out of a bucket. My eyes never are obstructed by the normal cups. I would not like that feeling. And nobody is advocating for sipping coffee while negotiating obstacles. Normally straight line driving is where you relax.

Texting is obviously some really dumb shit when driving. I doubt anyone will disagree with you. But it's only dumb because you have to take your eyes and concentration off of the road to do it. NOT the case for drinking something. Neither you eyes nor concentration are taken away. You're talking about someone who is just simply not paying attention. And that person is going to drive flippantly with or without a drink in the car.

[GTAHVIT]

Originally Posted by PQ

Following this logic I'd say automatics are safer. With a manual you have to take a hand off the wheel.

But I don't drink coffee out of a bucket. My eyes never are obstructed by the normal cups. I would not like that feeling. And nobody is advocating for sipping coffee while negotiating obstacles. Normally straight line driving is where you relax.

Texting is obviously some really dumb shit when driving. I doubt anyone will disagree with you. But it's only dumb because you have to take your eyes and concentration off of the road to do it. NOT the case for drinking something. Neither you eyes nor concentration are taken away. You're talking about someone who is just simply not paying attention. And that person is going to drive flippantly with or without a drink in the car.

I hate Autos for a completely different reason....

[PQ]

Originally Posted by GTAHVIT

I hate Autos for a completely different reason....

I would not know what you are talking about.

[jessrayo]

Originally Posted by BHamm

And that's what counts with the "pony" cars.

For real racing, etc. Get a real sports car like a Corvette.

Camaros were developed for the stop light set like in American Graffiti. They're sporty cars, not true sports cars.

If you think the ZL1 Camaro is only good for going straight ahead you have no idea what this car is capable of. Let me just give you a couple of facts. At the Virginia International Raceway the track record for the ZL1 Camaro is exactly one second behind the best run the new stingray could pull off. And incidentally that is still one second better than Gen 6 ZO6 carbon edition with Z07 package could pull off. The ZL1 has posted a better lap time on the Nurbergring than any base Corvette to date including the new stingray. No official time has ever been posted for that car but I can tell you that that track has some very long uphill straights that favor the high horsepower in the ZL1. Oh, and in case no one has noticed GM is making a new Camaro called the Z/28. I don't think even you would say the Z/28 is not a racecar, and it happened to beat the stock ZL1 around the ring by less than 4 seconds. - I almost forgot it is only available with a manual transmission. Hmmm.

[Rob3D]

Originally Posted by Norm Peterson

Don't kid yourself that I or people like me envy the automatic cars for the acceleration performance. Like I've said before, I'd rather drive a 15 second manual than a 12 second automatic, and I'd make the same choice every time.



Norm

[ZL1-V]

Originally Posted by mrmarklin

For real racing, etc. Get a real sports car like a Corvette.

Camaros were developed for the stop light set like in American Graffiti. They're sporty cars, not true sports cars

I have told this story before on here. Many years ago in the late seventies at Riverside International Raceway (google it) I witnessed a Z/28 Camaro absolutely demolish a field of imports including the Porsche 911 at an SCCA race held there. It was the first time I saw or heard a Camaro on the track. I was ignorant of the fact that they were that fast, and could maneuver a road racing circuit. I had always assumed as others have that they were only fast in a straight line! Lesson learned that day. You also might want to break the news to Stevenson Motorsports as they are running the Z/28 this year.

[G Money]

Originally Posted by jessrayo

If you think the ZL1 Camaro is only good for going straight ahead you have no idea what this car is capable of. Let me just give you a couple of facts. At the Virginia International Raceway the track record for the ZL1 Camaro is exactly on second behind the best run the new stingray could pull off. And incidentally that is still one second better than Gen 6 ZO6 carbon edition with Z07 package could pull off. The ZL1 has posted a better lap time on the Nurbergring than any base Corvette to date including the new stingray. No official time has ever been posted for that car but I can tell you that that track has some very long uphill straights that favor the high horsepower in the ZL1. Oh, and in case no one has noticed GM is making a new Camaro called the Z/28. I don't think even you would say the Z/28 is not a racecar, and it happened to beat the stock ZL1 around the ring by less than 4 seconds. - I almost forgot it is only available with a manual transmission. Hmmm.

Jess hit the nail right on the head !

[ZL1-V]

If I'm reading this correctly there are several reasons some ZL1 owners drive an auto. Two seem to stand out. They despise driving in traffic with a manual, or the car is "shared ownership" with a significant other that absolutely refuses to drive a manual car or hasn't learned yet. Both valid reasons, I fortunately don't have either to concern myself with !