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4 Speed vs Auto
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 13 5:10 pm
by Bozwell
just curious really what you got and what do you prefer?
having owned both types many years back (manual then auto) i definatly prefered the 4 speed. hence the reason for having to get a 4 Speed equiped car this time.
we could and should argue about the pros and cons of both but i'm not changing my mind. reading all the period write ups and road tests the Journalists were dissapointed when they were given an auto to play with.
iv'e been told many a time an Auto car is quicker? my car will never see the 1/4 mile but possibly a track day or two in the future. (no normal circuit racer has an auto box

)

Posted: Tue Dec 31, 13 5:31 pm
by Dave-R
Most Mopar muscle cars are better off auto.
Any Drag racing an auto for sure.
In an E-Body I would consider a 4-speed but would prefer a modern 5 or 6 speed.
In a car like my 350 Corvette I should have got a manual version.
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 13 5:36 pm
by Mossy68
I'm an auto fan.
Can't shift quicker than a machine !!!

Posted: Tue Dec 31, 13 5:52 pm
by Bozwell
one of the problems i have with an old style auto is it sounds constantly like it has a slipping clutch. made worse with a high stall converter.
yes the 4 speed is a slow change (unless you want to mash the gears) but you can pick which one you want. i could pull away in 4th in my old Barracuda.
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 13 5:56 pm
by andyrob
4 speed for the fun of it, auto if your actually going to do a few miles in it
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 13 5:59 pm
by Blue
4 speeds are great fun apart from when you get stuck in serious traffic or end up scattering lumps of drivetrain across the start line....
I've just gone back to a stick after about 20 years running autos, had to give it one last go.
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 13 6:03 pm
by Rebel
Auto for me, all my cars are autos

Posted: Tue Dec 31, 13 6:41 pm
by db
LOVE my 4 speed, even if it did kill my motor on my 1st run

Posted: Tue Dec 31, 13 6:42 pm
by pete walton
I think the kit that is out there for $ speeds is a lot better than it was ,,,,So to judge a fresh $ speed car with the latest twin clutch set up with all these fancy new clutch forks and bearings etcs is a bit unfair as i am sure no one on here as invested in the latest kit .....But i have a plan,,,a very expensive plan but a plan none the less
Posted: Wed Jan 01, 14 8:52 pm
by Dave81
B road bruiser, track car (Caterham, Noble etc) then Manual.
Yank tank street/strip car then Auto.
Restomod Yank that handles...........Nice problem to have! But prefer the sound of Auto (can't explain why, other than years of US movies at full throttle)!

Posted: Wed Jan 01, 14 9:23 pm
by Charger
auto for me, it’s the future
manual, it’s like taking your clothes down to the river and thrashing them on a rock to get them clean

Posted: Thu Jan 02, 14 8:21 am
by MattH
Auto,
My dailies are auto as well, as is the works van. Manual is just a pain these days in traffic, even if it is a modern set up. Auto is just easier. Maybe I have got old and lazy.
Posted: Thu Jan 02, 14 9:51 am
by db
pete walton wrote:I think the kit that is out there for $ speeds is a lot better than it was ,,,,So to judge a fresh $ speed car with the latest twin clutch set up with all these fancy new clutch forks and bearings etcs is a bit unfair as i am sure no one on here as invested in the latest kit .....But i have a plan,,,a very expensive plan but a plan none the less
What's your plan Pete?
Posted: Thu Jan 02, 14 11:20 am
by paolo_mangusta
was going to start a poll on this myself... the main thing about my 'new' Dart compared to my last one is the auto box, and I do keep wondering whether I should convert it, buy another (did seriously consider your Barracuda Bozwell until I got distracted by another one in Sweden, by the time I worked out the Swedish one seemed too risky you'd bought it) or do something else like Gear Vendors.
For me the basic issue is that there's only 3 gears, so if you've got to make a straight choice between lousy on the motorway or lousy at accelerating, at least with a small block

Posted: Thu Jan 02, 14 11:21 am
by Mick
Street car, probably a manual. Race car can go either way but for in excess of 600 hp, i would go with a Jericho and an adjustable clutch. Not cheap and not very streetable but will run with an auto. To maximise a race setup, is not cheap which ever way you go. Manual is definitely more exciting but you better have good drive train parts because it's very violent.
If i could justify the cost, i would like to go back to manual but i wouldn't entertain the stock stuff, as et wise the car would go backwards.
Mick