Manual or Automatic?

[carsismeZ06]

I don't know if someone already say this, and don't go nuts on me, i'm new. You could technically get a manual and an auto gearbox. I'm not 100% on this, but I heard that there was going to be an automatic with paddle shifters.

[theholycow]

Paddle shifters are, for some, a better interface to the automatic. What would be even better would be if the automatic was a SMG or DSG like on german cars -- a servo-operated manual that can be controlled by the computer OR the driver, no torque converter, a real clutch (operated by servos instead of a pedal), and extremely fast shifts.

Even if a DSG is available, I'll be buying the cheapest base model with the manual transmission. My commute is 60% country roads/40% highway, never a traffic jam...

[ihc95]

Take the automatic with paddle shifters. A nice blend of performance and practicality.

[MAROobsession]

80% sure about going to a MT camaro. Every time i get behind the wheel of my friends or dads car then back into my auto accord and i tell my self.... what the f*ck am i doing with this..... BORING

[TFord]

Originally Posted by theholycow

My commute is 60% country roads/40% highway, never a traffic jam...

I miss those days....that was the one good thing about living in south east GA, country roads and highways. If I could manage to learn how to drive a manual Id get a manual for sure...Hell Id be willing to do a M6 swap on my A4 Z28!

[Jose_The_Great_Cuervo]

Originally Posted by TFord

I miss those days....that was the one good thing about living in south east GA, country roads and highways. If I could manage to learn how to drive a manual Id get a manual for sure...Hell Id be willing to do a M6 swap on my A4 Z28!

What part of South East GA you lived in? I stay in Hinesville/Ft. Stewart and go to college @ Georgia Southern so you know that manual is PERFECT for me.

[camaro5]

As good as automatics are getting, they don't know what you're thinking.

When you need for example at least 4000rpm for the proper hp and torque to complete a pass or turn, you need it now and in the right gear for sure.

No hesitation, no indecision on gear selection.

[Bruno]

I'll take DCT when it flows down from the C7 vette. Until then I'm rowing my gears!

[TFord]

Originally Posted by Jose_The_Great_Cuervo

What part of South East GA you lived in? I stay in Hinesville/Ft. Stewart and go to college @ Georgia Southern so you know that manual is PERFECT for me.

I was stationed in Kings Ba, GA. Its right on the coast, and literally boarders FL. its bout 25 min south of Brunswick, and 30 min north of jacksonville FL

[CamaroSpike23]

Originally Posted by camaro5

As good as automatics are getting, they don't know what you're thinking.

When you need for example at least 4000rpm for the proper hp and torque to complete a pass or turn, you need it now and in the right gear for sure.

No hesitation, no indecision on gear selection.

thats why you have paddle shifting. keep it in the gear you want without needing to spend the extra second to pop the clutch and downshift.

tho i understand where you are coming from. as its been stated over and over, stock manual is more fun and can usually outperform stock auto.

but you can throw as much money as you want at a manual tranny and i can spend less on an auto and have it perform better. we do not have the capability to shift as fast as an automatic can.

and as far as the tranny knowing what im thinking. i hate when my car tries to think for itself. my 94z gives me more electrical problems than anything. my old 78 tho, hell it only needed 8 wires to run... 2 for the battery and 6 for the cylinders lol ive removed the abs from my computers programing for just that same reason, when i know im going to slide, i am preparing to handle the car for a slide when my brakes lock, but when my abs is kickin on and off, it throws me off. and pisses me off

[camaro5]

Originally Posted by CamaroSpike23

thats why you have paddle shifting. keep it in the gear you want without needing to spend the extra second to pop the clutch and downshift.

ive removed the abs from my computers programing for just that same reason, when i know im going to slide, i am preparing to handle the car for a slide when my brakes lock, but when my abs is kickin on and off, it throws me off. and pisses me off

I drove a BMW 7 series and the paddle shifters on that car were useless - slow to react - unintuitive.

But if they get it quick - and I know Camaro will have a display showing what gear you're in - I'm gonna think about an automatic.

I know what you mean about ABS. It does not feel natural and can be downright startling in an emergency braking situation. It lowers braking performance in snow.

But, I have had it save my entire family's life. In a panic situation, you don't modulate - you apply full braking -most people do. If you skid you can't turn well, and I was able to steer out of a wreck with maximum braking applied.

You probably knew this. Maybe a car with less obtrusive ABS would help. They differ greatly.

[stovt001]

In normal driving, ABS helps a TON in emergency situations. However, they do seem to be a little iffy when you're intentionally pushing the car. There's a great cloverleaf getting onto the freeway going home from work, and if there isn't a line of cars I'll push it a bit (just to make sure the Nittos are still stickier than the stock tires, right?), but if the metering light is on at the bottom and I brake before I'm all straightened out, the electronic nannies are very not happy. I mean I know you always want to brake in straight line when you're pushing it, but you'd think I was attempting to J-turn it or something the way they nag. And with the peddle pulsing and getting a bit of a slow-surge-slow-surge pattern, it does feel disconnected and unnatural.

[theholycow]

I must be a real oddball...

I'm very happy with the 4L60E automatic in my GMC. I can give it a decent amount of gas and enjoy the engine's low-end torque without having to wind it out to 5,000 rpm, or I can drop the hammer and have it downshift WAY faster than I can shift a manual transmission. There's no need to shift ahead of time, though if I wanted to I certainly could; the column shifter gets it in gear quickly enough, faster than the tranny in some cars equipped with paddle shifters, and certainly fast enough when we're talking about shifting ahead of time.

I'm also very happy with ABS in general. When there's an emergency bad enough that I would need to pump the brakes, my foot is too busy trying to stop the car ASAP to pump the pedal. My only complaint is the occasional false alarm after going over a bump under heavy braking (which can be remedied by a single release and re-application of the brake) and sometimes I'd rather have a total skid for slightly better stopping power in semi-slippery conditions. I suppose I could rig up a button to press during those maneuvers that would cut off power to the ABS...

[ChrisB]

Its Automatic or nothing for me