Question! Would i Be Happy With An Auto?

[Conrad]

The hardest thing is finding something to do with your left hand.

 

I usually pick my nose!

 

As for the auto thing, don't worry.

 

Like the majority of people on here I set out wanting a 6 speed TT in black. Then, like the majority of people on here I realised I couldn't afford it.

 

If I could have afforded my car in a manual I would have had it without a doubt. But that's not to say I don't like the auto box, I love it!

 

The best example I can think of is my mate who's into Scooby's who begged me to get a manual as he hated auto's with a passion. He drove my auto TT for just 30 seconds and changed his mind instantly. Can't say more than that.

[Pig]

Manual is too uncumfortable for passenger. auto all the way for me!

 

However its my everyday car

[Bobbeh]

Yeah, but on those 1 in 10 days, I take the Griffith out

 

Thats about how many days it starts right?

 

I'd love an auto for driving in traffic, and on most of my crappy journeys to and from work it wouldnt bother me which I owned.... but all is redeemed with the manual once you go on a track.

[geoffvalenti]

Thats about how many days it starts right?

 

I'll have you know, it starts every time It bloody well wants to, the amount the previous owner spent on the engine

 

The RV8 TVRs are really not that bad for reliability, they're nowhere in the same league as Toyota, but most problems are small and electrical and easily fixed by anyone with half a brain and a bit of determination

 

TBH most of the problems are the owners. Where most of us Supra owners would be happy to get our hands dirty fixing a small problem with our cars. TVR owners tend to stick it in the garage for the slightest thing, therefore giving a reputation for always being broken down.

 

Since I've had the Griffith, I've changed the oil, and fitted a new radiator, battery and top wishbone bushes. As far as I'm concerned it hasn't broken down once. Oh, and I took it for an MoT which it passed without comment.

 

If a "normal" TVR owner had owned it it would have been in the garage 5 times since August

 

It's not the most practical car and I'd certainly not recommend it for everyday use, mainly for the miserable driving experience when it rains (Roof on, windows up, air con on to stop it misting up) and its unfriendly manners in traffic, but TBH most high compression, big engined manual cars are like that.

 

But saying all that, as soon as you start it up, you forgive it all its foibles and that big grin doesn't leave your face

 

For an out and out muscle car, with drop dead gorgeous looks, you'd have to spend loads more to top it.

 

As you've probably guessed, I'm a diehard fan. The Toyota Supra and TVR Griffith were the 2 cars I always aspired to own.

Not that long ago I could only dream about owning either, now I've got both so if one doesn't start, I'll just have to take the other one

 

Sorry about the

[Supra-Dupra]

I always thought that there was no way i'd be driving an auto, but i did and i definatly am 110% happy with my choice.

 

Ill second that

[Guest Flat4_ire]

Ill second that

yeah right chris, manual all the way!!

[imi]

The only way to tell is to drive one mate.

 

[Tricky-Ricky]

Well I'll let you all know next week:yes: when I'll either be back saying I bought one! or now looking for a manual, thanks for all the comments:)

[dangerous brain]

LOL I just bought a 6 speed getragged aristo (supe in a big tuxedo) and I'll be honest in todays road conditions on my normal commute on cack A roads I was wishing for my auto back again. In traffic I was dying for it back. WHen the traffic cleared momentarily and I got to give it a bit of beast I was glad I had a manual. Again I'll reiterate that which I have said before an auto supe is just as trackable as a manual one, I should know I watched a TT tiptronic supe dissapear backwards in my rear view when in my 94 NA supe.

[imi]

All these people saying 1 in 10 days they wish they had bought a manual etc. I have 0 in 10 days that I wish I had an auto. lol

 

Me 2

 

99% London Driving sitting in traffic and extremely pleased with the 6-sp Manual gearbox. Cars got so much torque you hardly need to change gears when crusing in traffic.

[hadyn]

Well I'll let you all know next week:yes: when I'll either be back saying I bought one! or now looking for a manual, thanks for all the comments:)

 

I bought an auto after the S14 Ricky, thats all the proof you need mate.

 

As you know Im not a hairdresser

[dangerous brain]

I'll let you know if i get bored of the manual box. Dunno if its just the racing clutch i have but mine is very very heavy on the leg muscle

[STEVE C]

Good question this & quite a big decision. I came from the "old Ford" performance club e.g. rs turbos & Sierra/Escort Cosworths.

No I'm not a Chav I bought the cars because they performed well & actually sold my Escort Cosworth for almost double what my Supe cost & I bought at the wrong time compared for what they are going for now.

 

I never for one moment thought I would ever own an auto car, I always thought as them being for fat overpaid directors in BMW's who couldn’t drive.

I was looking for a manual TT for 6 months & found 7 in total, which I test-drove.

I'm a very fussy person & they just wasn't right e.g. condition of the cars or weirdo looking owner.

 

In the end I gave in to looking at an auto TT that was owned by a lady owner, I couldn’t believe how well it drove & was instantly hooked.

I thought I was giving it large down the long twisty Country lanes when I test-drove it. She kept saying go faster go for it "wait till the second turbo comes on"

When I let her take over I couldn’t believe how fast an auto could shift & bought the car.

 

End of the day I really like the auto for performance & comfort, I don't think I would change it & don’t ever miss a manual gearbox.

 

Maybe it was to do with the fit blonde bird that sold me the car, I don’t know? Aw fark maybe It was!

[Supra-Dupra]

yeah right chris, manual all the way!!

 

Eh u drove a Supra, nevermind an Auto ! Oh no wait ur in the "Chav" mobile LMAO !!

 

[chilli]

I'm sure you all know my preference by now lol but naturally that won't be the same as all of yours, everyone is different.

 

Really do think that driving both would be the best starting point.

 

From reading this you get the impression about 9/10 auto owners wish they had a manual from time to time and about 0/10 manual owners wish they had an auto from time to time! That's just an observation from reading it.

 

Mine is a real arse to drive around in traffic with its racing on/off clutch, yet never have I wished it was an auto, as soon as I get out on the open road I love it!

 

Think maybe consider your priorities, convienience when stuck in traffic or no compromise 6 ratios when out on those open roads, around the twisties the instant response (no torque converter), engine braking and 6 ratios make the manual really involving and garanteed to leave you with a smile on your face for ages! but it will be harder to master without a doubt but the reward is there for the taking when you've cracked it!

 

Consider carefully and enjoy it when you get it I'm sure you will have loads of fun in either!

[Guest chiefvinso]

I'm sure you all know my preference by now lol but naturally that won't be the same as all of yours, everyone is different.

 

Really do think that driving both would be the best starting point.

 

From reading this you get the impression about 9/10 auto owners wish they had a manual from time to time and about 0/10 manual owners wish they had an auto from time to time! That's just an observation from reading it.

 

Mine is a real arse to drive around in traffic with its racing on/off clutch, yet never have I wished it was an auto, as soon as I get out on the open road I love it!

 

Think maybe consider your priorities, convienience when stuck in traffic or no compromise 6 ratios when out on those open roads, around the twisties the instant response (no torque converter), engine braking and 6 ratios make the manual really involving and garanteed to leave you with a smile on your face for ages! but it will be harder to master without a doubt but the reward is there for the taking when you've cracked it!

 

Consider carefully and enjoy it when you get it I'm sure you will have loads of fun in either!

The only time I wished I had an auto was when I was really tired stuck in chicago traffic going to work - those demons have passed and will never return!!

[attilauk]

i have never had any problems with my Auto, in fact i found it VERY good on track, the engine response is no worse than a manual and by either pressing the O/D off button or knocking the stick into 2 you get more than enough engine braking!

 

there were occasions when an extra ratio would have been nice but that was only on track when i was really going for it (turning into camp corner on castle combe at 80mph just too fast for 2nd and just too slow for 3rd), on roads i have never had any times when i wanted a manual.

[dangerous brain]

OK is it me or is third fourth and fifth really close together ratio wise? I floor it any of those gears and it just doesn't seem like anywhere long enough before I bounce the rev limiter? To start with I thought perhaps the final drive was a bit low but i'm only at 3500 rpm at fuel cut for 112 mph in 6th. That said first and second don't seem to last very long either At the moment I do really miss my playstation style drive from the auto. Theres a lot to be said for point and squirt

[hadyn]

... At the moment I do really miss my playstation style drive from the auto.

 

Thats EXACTLY how I describe the experience of driving an auto Supra - like a playstation game! It just feels like its one big power band which never jerks etc like other autoboxes and can make heroes out of crap drivers like me!

[chilli]

ahhh well maybe that's where we differ, I like games but I often put GT4 in manual mode (and turn off the computer aids) because I think it's more of a challenge lol, get bored when the computer does all the work

[dangerous brain]

ahhh well maybe that's where we differ, I like games but I often put GT4 in manual mode (and turn off the computer aids) because I think it's more of a challenge lol, get bored when the computer does all the work

 

I keep crashing when I turn the computer aids off lol. Maybe thats why I also love rltc. So long as you don't go into the corner too fast all you gotta do to drive through a corner as fast as the car can get through it is preset your speed before corner on the brakes and then nail it to floor and steer. Maybe its not as challenging but I like driving as fast as the car will go rather than as fast as my pathetic abilities allow me otherwise I'd have a micra

[Guest chiefvinso]

ahhh well maybe that's where we differ, I like games but I often put GT4 in manual mode (and turn off the computer aids) because I think it's more of a challenge lol, get bored when the computer does all the work

Just like real life driving, maybe if things werent easier for people they would drive better (off topic).

[Ian C]

OK is it me or is third fourth and fifth really close together ratio wise? I floor it any of those gears and it just doesn't seem like anywhere long enough before I bounce the rev limiter? To start with I thought perhaps the final drive was a bit low but i'm only at 3500 rpm at fuel cut for 112 mph in 6th. That said first and second don't seem to last very long either At the moment I do really miss my playstation style drive from the auto. Theres a lot to be said for point and squirt

 

I find that the jump from 4th to 5th in the V160 is a loooong ratio change compared to all the others. I think it's different for the V161 as 1st to 4th are taller so the jump from 4th to 5th is similar to all the others.

 

-Ian

[chilli]

I keep crashing when I turn the computer aids off lol. Maybe thats why I also love rltc. So long as you don't go into the corner too fast all you gotta do to drive through a corner as fast as the car can get through it is preset your speed before corner on the brakes and then nail it to floor and steer. Maybe its not as challenging but I like driving as fast as the car will go rather than as fast as my pathetic abilities allow me otherwise I'd have a micra

 

lol, well rltc is one of those 'aids' that I wouldn't switch off (except just to play) that's for sure!

 

Just like real life driving, maybe if things werent easier for people they would drive better (off topic).

 

now that's an interesting thought

 

I find that the jump from 4th to 5th in the V160 is a loooong ratio change compared to all the others. I think it's different for the V161 as 1st to 4th are taller so the jump from 4th to 5th is similar to all the others.

 

-Ian

 

I was thinking that maybe 5th and 6th are quite close, maybe this is because 4th and 5th are more spaced out then.

 

Must say 2nd to 3rd and 4th to 5th are the hardest changes to make quickly but I'm getting better at it!!!

[dangerous brain]

I find that 2nd 3rd and 4th last about a nano-second. 5th is OK and 6th goes on forever. One thing I don't understand is why the car will pull no bothers from 30 mph in 6th. Made me think the final drive or whatever you call it is wrong as the car shouldn't pull at that speed in 6th surely?