phyber

I've been in a debate with myself for a while now, and i'm looking for other perspectives.

I've been DD'ing a 5 speed car since 2004. I bought a manual car without even knowing how to drive it, yet learned and have been with it ever since.

Recently, due to age and conditioning, I have had some rather severe knee injuries. With all the traffic, clutching, hills, etc...it's taking a big toll on my fun level of driving. I still love banging the gears on the country roads and off ramps, but in rush hour light-to-light driving...i'm frowning.

My situation is that I prefer smaller, compact import vehicles. Not just restricted to ricer cars, I'm referring to Civics, Jettas, BMW 3 series, Acura RDX/TSX, etc etc. I know that with these smaller displacement engines, you're not really getting the full power performance unless you're using a manual. I don't do any hauling, no extreme off roading, not carrying lots of people...

I don't race any of my cars, they're not excessivly modified, nor do I want either. I just want a nice car for DD'ing, yet is still fun to drive.

MY QUESTION:
In my category of car interests, what would you suggest? Automatic or manual? And what kind of car?

ShawnD

A lot of dudes on this forum love to get a big handful of hard rigid shafts and wrestle them around.

Reloaded

Twin clutch

phyber

I assume you're talking about a "manumatic" as i've always called it....an auto with either a paddle setup or seperate "+ and -" gear selector?

I've never heard any reviews on them...are the red lines the same as a manual?

Reloaded

As much as I hate linking anything to Wikipedia, check it out
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual_clutch_transmission

Ford has them on the new Festas and they're pretty slick. Rumor of a 180hp 2600lb SVT variant has me really considerign one for a daily driver.

blah

Automatic unless it's a strictly 'fun' car.


And you should buy a Ferrari, obviously.

phyber

i'm more of a Lambo guy.


I guess i'll just have to get out there and test drive some cars to see their "pep" level. I didn't know if ppl on the board could give advice like, "hell no, a bmw automatic will suck!" or etc

Z33_Taxi

and the new 6spd Evos as well and they're uber dope

Reloaded

It's a pretty awesome technology, no slipping torque converter, 100% of the torque to the wheels.

Ford says they want to have all of their vehicles equipped by 2013. I'm not sure if they mean their truck line though.

The unit in the Festva is crazy light, 30 - 35lbs light for the entire transmission. Only requires a fluid change every 150,000 and uses a dry clutch setup unlike the wet clutch currently sold in Europe.

Z33_Taxi

Yea i read in car and driver...that the traditional manual transmission will be obsolete with the next 5-7 years...

...but the world is ending 2 allegedly so it wont matter