I didn't like the AT and I'm trying to understand why

[fiveoneoh]

I Finally got to test drive a car and it was AT. Much of what I've read about the AT is that it is still fun and engaging to drive (in fact, I was looking forward to experiencing this in an AT).

Unfortunately when I drove it, I did not feel any fun or engagement. I'm not trying to be a MT-snob here, I just honestly wonder what went wrong? Did I drive it wrong, somehow? I dunno, also the paddle shifters were cumbersome and difficult to learn in such a short time.

Does anyone have any advice for driving AT and it still being fun? I am planning on a few more test drives before making my decision, but I would love to hear from others who have driven both MT and AT or those who own the AT and enjoy driving it.

I've seen similar threads about "should I get AT or MT". THat is not what I'm asking or debating here. I'm simply wanting feedback on why the AT is considered so great (for an automatic), what I'm missing out on and how can I get it!

thanks!

[krea.tion]

Its a "good auto" because it tends to do what you want it to. It shifts fast and responsively to your input. The downshifts are quite smooth as well. In other auto cars, a pull of the paddle is more like a suggestion given to car to shift, the car ultimately chooses if and when it will. In the BRZ, it feels more connected to you.

[hav0c]

Not sure about the paddle shifters being difficult to learn (there are two, left=down & right=up) but perhaps you want to drive MT? I love my AT - M mode lets me choose a gear (though I tend not to use the paddles to select it), Sport maintains some power when I'm in the mountains, and D is fine when I'm busy enjoying my coffee and listening to an audiobook on my 70mile commute.

If you need to move your left foot around and fool with shifting on a regular basis, all the time, regardless of circumstance - buy the MT. Picking a gear and holding it is good enough for me - I keep both hands on the wheel and focus on finding a good line, steering input, throttle, etc..

Different strokes and all that.

I learned to drive on a manual and have spent many hundreds of hours shifting. For me (your mileage my vary) the fun isn't in the tactile bit of pressing my foot down ,timing revmatches, etc - but in picking the right gear for the moment, applying the proper amount of gas, and steering. I'm also one of those freaks who have enjoyed CVT when driving it - I wouldn't buy one because I don't think the technology is "there" yet, but the idea of exactly manipulating the ratio between engine and axle according to the requirements of the situation appeals to the engineer in me.

In the end - if it isn't fun, don't buy it - you will regret it. Try the MT. IF that isn't fun either than maybe you are looking for something else - more power, a sense of danger, crazy lights and sirens in the cockpit when you accelerate, or a seat with a butt massager (BMW Alpina B7!). Don't compromise and don't worry about what other people say is better or more fun.

[fiveoneoh]

haha, thanks. I don't know why but up/down was, for me at least, way more complicated than it seemed like it should've been.

Good point on the different modes, next time I will try out sport mode as well. And I'[ll tell the sales man to STFU I'm trying to concentrate on the car. sheesh.

and yes, how did you know I'm trying to convince myself out of a MT. haha.

Originally Posted by hav0c

Not sure about the paddle shifters being difficult to learn (there are two, left=down & right=up) but perhaps you want to drive MT? I love my AT - M mode lets me choose a gear (though I tend not to use the paddles to select it), Sport maintains some power when I'm in the mountains, and D is fine when I'm busy enjoying my coffee and listening to an audiobook on my 70mile commute.

If you need to move your left foot around and fool with shifting on a regular basis, all the time, regardless of circumstance - buy the MT. Picking a gear and holding it is good enough for me - I keep both hands on the wheel and focus on finding a good line, steering input, throttle, etc..

Different strokes and all that.

I learned to drive on a manual and have spent many hundreds of hours shifting. For me (your mileage my vary) the fun isn't in the tactile bit of pressing my foot down ,timing revmatches, etc - but in picking the right gear for the moment, applying the proper amount of gas, and steering. I'm also one of those freaks who have enjoyed CVT when driving it - I wouldn't buy one because I don't think the technology is "there" yet, but the idea of exactly manipulating the ratio between engine and axle according to the requirements of the situation appeals to the engineer in me.

In the end - if it isn't fun, don't buy it - you will regret it. Try the MT. IF that isn't fun either than maybe you are looking for something else - more power, a sense of danger, crazy lights and sirens in the cockpit when you accelerate, or a seat with a butt massager (BMW Alpina B7!). Don't compromise and don't worry about what other people say is better or more fun.

[Jedi1]

I've been racing for the last 38 years in so many different vehicles I have trouble remembering them all. I only bring that up to illustrate the point that I'm no stranger to a bit of heel and toe. I have been toying with the idea of a DSG equipped VW/Audi or PDK'd Porsche for the last several years for several reasons.

Reason 1. I can keep both hands on the wheel where they belong and get down to the business of carrying more speed into through and out of corners. Aggressive Dual Clutch setups have proven themselves .1-.3 quicker to 60 mph and are at least good for a tenth or two every single time you grab a paddle over their manual gearbox counterparts. Transfer these tenths over the course of an entire lap consisting of 20-40+ shifts and it's not hard to see how the dual clutch box becomes the weapon of choice when outright speed and lap times are the game.

The Auto in the FRS is so close to on par with the PDK in the Porsche that it's almost scary!

Reason 2. These transmissions are just plain better and infinitely more consistent than me. I mentioned being no stranger to heel and toe. Been there, done that, got the trophy. Even after 38 years I still get it wrong every once in awhile. Whether I'm a few RPM's shy on the rev and this upsets the car on entry or I hang a shift coming off the corner and fumble for the gear for half a second this is never a good thing. These new Auto boxes just don't make mistakes. I can take our FRS into a 3rd gear decreasing radius corner at the top of third (91-92 mph), trail brake it in with some left foot brake if need be and in the middle of the corner with all the lock I need on the wheel ask for second gear. It's like a miracle! Bam! Downshifts to second mid corner, rev matches perfectly, chassis stays absolutely pointed in the direction I intend it to go and there is no drama.

Reason 3. And this one is HUGE! My wife has a bad back. She can drive a manual car, but can't have fun with one like she used to. With this Auto, it's Game On for her again! Seeing her with a huge smile on her face while behind the wheel again is priceless!

Reason 4. Having the ability to throw it in drive, leave it there and deal with hill starts while drinking a nice beverage and answering the phone all at the same time is an awfully nice thing. : )

I love rowing through a nice manual gear box. They are tons of fun and there is a certain satisfaction in getting everything right over the course of a lap or whatever road you happen to be on. There is also something amazing about getting the gearbox out of the way and hearing the car rev match perfectly every single time and snap off the upshifts with perfect precision. I like getting the gear box out of the way and concentrating on the task at hand. For me that task has always been about going faster! The new auto and dual clutch boxes are another tool to help accomplish that goal.

[fiveoneoh]

thank you! another great view point for me to consider. I really appreciate it!!

[Guff]

As has been stated, putting the Trans in sport mode made a huge difference. Shifts were definitely pushing DSG speeds and it really felt like a Trans for the track.

I do heartily enjoy rowing through gears though, so manual is my preference, but that doesn't detract from the genuine awesomeness of the Zx6's Auto Trans.

[Jedi1]

IN all honestly. Unless your test drive was on a race track or a serious road (i.e. THE TWISTIES) you probably didn't have enough time or room to push the car into the level that these transmissions really begin to shine. IN order to appreciate these things in manual mode, they need to be driven hard!

Not saying you didn't get on it and I don't pretend to have a clue what your comfort level is behind the wheel. You could be Senna reincarnated for all I know. If you are Senna, there's a club race at Barber Motorsports Park this weekend. Stop by. We would love to meet you! : ). I would be willing to bet that a SERIOUS drive on track would at least get you a much better understanding of what these transmissions are capable of and why I and so many others look at them as a favorable tool and not the end of the art of driving.

[dori.]

Probably the best automatic I've driven, when its in sport mode. Still a hint of 'lag' when you touch the paddle but I think that's to be expected from a regular automatic transmission.

[jadewbj]

I think the reason so many people say its a great auto is that it does shift when you want to, not when it wants to.

I have two issues with the auto. One is that it still has more drivetrain loss than a manual and in this car you need every HP and TQ you can muster the second is I still miss rowing through the gears.

[Bonburner]

AT felt like a CVT because it shifted so fast and smoothly .. It's impressive but bored me :/

[DarkSunrise]

My other car is a dual-clutch (auto) GTI. Certain aspects of it really impress me, especially the seamless shifts and the continuous train-like pull up the gears. But as good as that automatic transmission is, I've really missed driving manual during the past year that I've had the GTI.

For me, rev-matching gears and using the clutch is fun. If you're the same way, no automatic (no matter how good) will be as fun or engaging as a proper manual setup.

[atledreier]

The thing for me was that the AT was GREAT for when I drove the car hard, and I can only imagine how much fun it would be on a racetrack. But I got to try my daily commute, and after half an hour I was ready to rip both my hair out of my head and the damn gearbox processor out the window! When in D and driving a slow queue it was just idiotic and very, very annoying. Tried all the modes to make it behave like a normal AT bit it was just weird. Doing a constant 10mph, box in 2nd, then it may suddenly decide 3rd is a better option, but doesn't bother to revmatch and jerks. Stuff like that just irks the H**L out of me, and really put me off the AT for good. My DSG Golf occationally do something 'weird' too, but not nearly as often, and much less annoying.

[Turbowned]

I agree with Jedi1 about the automated manual being undoubtedly more consistent, however it's not always faster. It's been shown numerous times that the MT is faster from 0-60 and faster around the road course in the FR-S/BRZ. It's consistency must not be able to compensate for the power that the AT is robbing from the engine, or at least that's my best guess. A single or dual-clutch automated manual is usually faster than its full manual counterpart, but I just don't think this AT is up to the same standards. It still blows most automatics out of the water, don't get me wrong.

The other reason why the AT bothers me is because this car is meant to be a driver's car, a tool for beginners to hone their skills or for the seasoned driver to show off his/her learned skills; it's not a numbers car, not meant to be a technological masterpiece like an Evo, GT-R or McLaren. Rowing through the gears and executing a smooth rev-matched downshift is an inherent part of engagement while driving a sports car, or at least it used to be...

I'll admit, personally I find driving a single/dual clutch auto to be boring. I remember test-driving an Audi R8 V10, and walking away from it thinking "boy, this car is like a supermodel with lettuce stuck in her teeth, and that lettuce is the auto gearbox." I was trying so hard to convince myself to lease an S4 with S-Tronic (DSG) but after driving it and the 6MT back-to-back I just couldn't do it. I drove the FR-S with AT at the FR-S drive event and I obviously wasn't thrilled with the AT, however all of the driver aids were on and I know that was part of the reason why the car was fighting me through the course.