Automatic or Manual ???

[Just Thinkin]

I am looking to buy a DSM and was wondering about the reliability and performance of the automatic. I'm finding that the manual transmission cars are more likely to have been modified and the automatics seem more common and not modified. Is a 13 second automatic going to be reliable or should I keep searching for a 5 speed?

Thanx
Just Thinkin ....

 

[99gsx0221]

i personally like manual more then automatic. Manuals are much more fun to drive, and alot funner when racing. Sure after a while you will have to replace the clutch and tranny, but you have to do that in every car. Manual in my opinion is the way to go

 

[Lenn]

Reliability is a variable in autos and manuals depending on how the car was driven and cared for before you got it. If you want fun, get a manual. If you plan to race, just about anyone that drag races will say that automatic is the way to go (it may not be as fast as a manual but your times will be very consistant and you can launch under boost unlike a manual). On the flipside of the auto not being as fast, with a good shift kit and tuning, it can be just as fast with half the driving effort. All it really boils down to is what you want to get out of the car.

 

[timgt]

They are both reliable if taken care of well. I would go with your personal preference. I always like manual, auto gets boring.

 

[-TunedDSM-]

This is definately a personal preference. I enjoy manual because its so much fun and you feel more in control of the car. But like said autos have their advantages too and can be great drag cars. If you want a fun street car, go with manual; if you want an ultimate dragster, go with the auto. It is true that usually the manual cars are modded being that most enthusiasts prefer the manual tranny. Just be patient and you can find a stock one. Just go with whatever you want to get and dont let anyone else make the decision for you.

 

[Shane2GSX]

I have had both auto and manual DSM's. Before I bought my current MT GSX, I had an AT GST. I loved the car, and never had a problem with the automatic transission. It was lightly modded though. As is my GSX for now. But if I were to choose between the two, I'd pick a manual. It is so much more fun to drive and you have better top end. On my old GST, once I hit O/D even more power was lost. Plus, I always found myself wanting to shift manually. But, it's all about your preference. Like others have said, an auto can be just as fast and is more consistent. If your serious about an auto dsm, check out this link. Lots of good info..

http://www.ecanfix.com/users/atdsm/faq_at01.htm

 

[TheRealist]

Fun factor manual is fun "er" , even tho i have an automatic i still would prefer manual "because your in control of your gears, but automatic has its advantages and disadvantages, but when racing doing rolls and the guy slips/misses a gear priceless

 

[chrisfrye]

It's a personal preference, but i love my automatic more then my previous manual. a lot of factors you have to look at, and really it comes down to is what your looking for. reliability, you'll find is probably equal between the two. i havent had a single problem with my automatic except when i put it in well below freezing temps(just took a few minutes to warm up). There are pleanty of modded auto's that are very reliable. in a manual you might ultimately have more control over your gears, but i find i can control my automatic and it shifts exactly when i want it to everyime depending how i ride it. Gas mileage is a little less a few mpg probably, its a little heavier, different gear ratio. But you dont have to worry about upgrading or replacing your clutch, and a manual, if you do any decent city or traffic driving, you must have some incredible paitence, to be shifting every 30 seconds.

 

[knighteclipse1]

like everyone said above its a personal preference. If you have the money you could just get both and then you can tell us what your preference is. I have both, with the auto needing engine work right now, I plan on a good shift kit and rebuild of the transmission as well as the new kit from http://www.tcugo.com/ I believe that will help with the "fun" factor of the automatic.

 

[Just Thinkin]

Thanks for the responses.
My main concern was reliability since it will be a daily driver mostly and a weekend racer when I get the urge. I like a manual but have seen a number of mt cars for sale with "bad" transmissions. There can be many reasons for that and not all are due to the transmission. If the manual transmission is as reliable as the auto, I would prefer the mt.

 

[Shane2GSX]

if you do any decent city or traffic driving, you must have some incredible paitence, to be shifting every 30 seconds.

Exactly why my daily driver is automatic.

 

[RedGSX21]

check out the manuals man they are a blast to drive and having to replace the clutch and stuff after awhile can happen in any car. U will no regret getting a manual.

 

[chrisfrye]

Exactly, i'll commute over 150miles a day and i race my car out the whole time, and its still as reliable as when i bought it with over 125k miles on it. It's lightly modded around low 14's. The problem with manuals is people don't know how to drive them, and are very easy to break to a novice. which is why most of these kids trying to race them out and shifting have dropped gears and clutches Don't believe me people are stupid? i knew a kid who just got a nice new integra was taking down the highway crusin about 50 and he wanted to see what would happen when if tried jumping out of overdrive into reverse. I'm not sure if he ever got in that gear, but i'm sure he never got out of it. haha.

 

[0nefastgst]

i think you should consider an AT since you will be doing daily driving then maybe some runs on the weekends, like you said if you want. i own a MT turbo and true it is very fun, but my friend has a turbo AT and it is fun as well.. there are really good replys here but whats more important is the condition of the car you'll buy that should be 1st priority since we all know our cars kick aS$ no matter....turbo, n/a, A/T, MT, its all about the tuners that make the car especial ours....

 

[VicBoost]

quick question how much hp and boost can a stock auto tranny hold?

 

[EclipseInTheSun]

manual, why would you question any other?

 

[Gs Dewd]

quick question how much hp and boost can a stock auto tranny hold?

I don't know but i have a n/t auto trans in my 94' that has a turbo engine swap and have put about 3k miles on it now and more then a few where hard miles and it is holding fine. So I would think the turbo a/t trans should be able to hold some good power. I have a 99' m/t car and the auto to me seems to be more fun. No lost of boost between gears so it pulls hard till you let off of it.

 

[knighteclipse1]

quick question how much hp and boost can a stock auto tranny hold?

Curious question, when I asked the same thing to Don at PolkPerformance, I was told they can hold around 300 whp. But I believe they can hold more then that from reading threads on here, but I am sure they were beefed up transmissions. Don I am sure was talking about stock transmissions.

 

[kevstyle]

I bought a A/t 92 Talon TSI and now converted it over to manual not that hard.. havent drove it yet because im rebuilding a complete longblock.

 

[antlip]

i love my 95 auto gsx. i have a built 6 bolt motor and im running 16 pounds of boost. i dont have any lag between gears shifting. i dont have to worry about crank walk now. no clutch or tranny problems yet. but its pretty much personal preference. the only reason i bought an auto was i got it for super cheap

 

[VicBoost]

I bought a A/t 92 Talon TSI and now converted it over to manual not that hard.. havent drove it yet because im rebuilding a complete longblock.

how much it cost you?

 

[Matrixhunter]

To answer your question it really depends on the car you happen to buy an auto can be nothing but headaches even more so than a 5-speed. Auto trannies are weak many of them considering the age of the car have lots of miles on them and are ready to die at any moment. Also auto tranny rebuilds are expensive and rarely do mechanics rebuild them correctly as to last a long time. Personally i bought an auto dsm and went through 3 trannies in a year all were used because i could not afford to get one rebuilt, and even the tcu died on me . In the end I got feed up and just converted my car to a manual and its been running great ever since. It really depends, if you get an auto make sure the tranny is in amazing shape or the car has very low miles on it.

 

[Shane2GSX]

quick question how much hp and boost can a stock auto tranny hold?

http://www.ecanfix.com/users/atdsm/atfaq's.htm

 

[knighteclipse1]

http://www.ecanfix.com/users/atdsm/atfaq's.htm

Ahhh!!! I knew I had seen it somewhere before. Good information on there.

 

[ken06]

Ive owned an automatic and a manual AWD car.
My final word is manual if the car is AWD. An automatic transmission AWD sucks so bad, the AWDs only drag benefit of perfect traction off the line is completly wasted, all you have is a heavy ass slow accelerating rock. How much can you rev up an auto, to maybe 2k, compared to a 5k manual launch that is so slow. My GSX takes off like a bat out of hell, yet my auto BMW is slow as $^^% off the line. If you get a traction challenged FWD then I would consider an auto but never get an automatic AWD, it is just a waste of so much potential.