paddles vs stick

[Trackaholic]

I had a 2010 Camaro SS with a stick. Absolutely loved it but I'm 90% sure that I will get an automatic GT this time around. Love downshifting and hitting that sweet spot in the rpm range but when you get in traffic it was a pain. Like an earlier post said I agree that you start to focus on gear changes more than enjoying the speed and overall fun the car provides. On a few occasions I almost got in an accident because I missed the gear change or accidentally went into a higher gear that didn't provide the power I needed in that moment. Only happened like two times but I think I will enjoy the car and the 5.0 more if I can just hit the gas and go.

There was an interesting point made in Motortrend (or maybe Road and Track) a while ago, which was, "If the point of a manual is to have fun shifting and to interact with the car, why is shifting in traffic any worse than shifting on a mountain road? Shouldn't you be having fun in both cases?"

As a manual driver, I see where they are coming from with that question, but also why some would say manuals are no fun in traffic. For me, the fun/no-fun threshold is when you change from "slow and go" to "stop and go" traffic. As long as I can maintain a reasonable distance from the car in front, and try to keep a steady speed, I actually don't mind the manual in traffic. But when I need to stop frequently, feather the clutch at every launch, just get into second gear, and then stop...well, the fun diminishes.

I would still be getting a stick, but I understand why others wouldn't.

-T

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[Dirk McGurck]

There was an interesting point made in Motortrend (or maybe Road and Track) a while ago, which was, "If the point of a manual is to have fun shifting and to interact with the car, why is shifting in traffic any worse than shifting on a mountain road? Shouldn't you be having fun in both cases?"

As a manual driver, I see where they are coming from with that question, but also why some would say manuals are no fun in traffic. For me, the fun/no-fun threshold is when you change from "slow and go" to "stop and go" traffic. As long as I can maintain a reasonable distance from the car in front, and try to keep a steady speed, I actually don't mind the manual in traffic. But when I need to stop frequently, feather the clutch at every launch, just get into second gear, and then stop...well, the fun diminishes.

I would still be getting a stick, but I understand why others wouldn't.

-T

There's two to three days of the year I don't want a manual car. And that's usually stop and go traffic on the highway in the exact situation you talked about. That's about it. The other 363.5 days it's fun.

 

[scottpe]

On a few occasions I almost got in an accident because I missed the gear change or accidentally went into a higher gear that didn't provide the power I needed in that moment.

This happens to me in my automatic cars too, and actually MUCH more often than in my manual car. With the automatics, the computer doesn't always share my idea of what gear it should be in, and this sometimes occurs at very inopportune moments.

 

[Grimace427]

This happens to me in my automatic cars too, and actually MUCH more often than in my manual car. With the automatics, the computer doesn't always share my idea of what gear it should be in, and this sometimes occurs at very inopportune moments.

This has a lot to do with software and that can evolve on a daily basis. Mercedes is constantly updating their software for improved driveability as well as performance and being a tech myself I am often dealing with complaints exactly like how you described.


For me I'm still having to fight the urge to stomp the floor where the clutch pedal normally would be everytime I come to an abrupt stop driving a customer car. It's quite annoying!

 

[Arrehenius]

Personally grabbing a manual. I agree it can be tedious in traffic but the thrill and experience of ringing through the gears on a clear road is totally worth it imo.

 

[Norm Peterson]

With the automatics, the computer doesn't always share my idea of what gear it should be in, and this sometimes occurs at very inopportune moments.

ding ding ding

For me I'm still having to fight the urge to stomp the floor where the clutch pedal normally would be everytime I come to an abrupt stop driving a customer car. It's quite annoying!

You'll really want to avoid having to stop suddenly on a highway entrance ramp in the rain (with the risk of "muscle memory" taking over). Never mind how I know this.


Edit - in traffic I wonder which is the greater annoyance - having to work the clutch, which should be second-nature after a while . . . or having to ride the brakes to control the car at very slow speeds.


Norm

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