Manual vs. Auto Transmission

[j996tt]

Always been a manual type of guy. I understand the ins and outs of manual vs. auto from a practical perspective (traffic, etc.). I want to know specifically whether the Yaris (HB) is more 'fun to drive' with what tranny. I assume manual as you can more out of the drivetrain. Does the auto take that much away from the experience? Thanks for the help. JF

[yaris prime]

I have driven both, but bought the manual. I don't drive in traffic, however. If I did spend any significant time in traffic, I would have bought the automatic. The manual does make for a more engaging driving experience.

[MadMax]

There's been numerous discussions on this, search a bit and you'll find 'em.

I wanted and got an auto, but I didn't buy my Yaris to drive "spiritedly" but for gas efficiency. Still, I enjoy hitting corners and leaving so-called sports cars in my dust. I don't care if they can out-accelerate me in the straights, that's the car and not the driver's skill in action.

The autos can be "shifted" to some degree, I do drop down from 'D' to '3' and even '2' but usually to deceleration. But as I always say, you can always shift an auto but you can't make a manual shift itself! So in my opinion, the auto doesn't take that much away from the car; but I don't know if I would feel the same way if I were 25 years younger.

And if you ever get stuck in slow-moving traffic, the auto is much more desirable.

Cheers! M2

[Altitude]

Manual all the way. They make every car more fun to drive. Never owned an automatic, never will.

[djct_watt]

My left foot never gets tired in traffic. I suspect people who complain about driving in traffic with a manual transmission are talking about old VW and chevy trucks with heavy clutches. I've owned two automatic cars in my life (my first two). After my first MT car, I've owned two more to make a total of three. I'm never going back to auto! And this is HAVING LIVED in some of the worst traffic cities in the world (Los Angeles and Bangkok).

[roxy1]

manual of course is more fun

manual will yield better mileage (if you know how to drive one)

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/calculatorSelectEngine.jsp?year=2007&make=Toyota&model=Yaris

a good sampling there with the manual averaging 4 mpg's better than the auto. though id say in the hands of any given driver the difference shouldnt be that large.

BUT, the fun part and the stellar mpg's part may not go hand in hand:burnrubber:

[djct_watt]

The MT is more aggressively geared with a higher final drive. . . so theoretically on the highway it should have worse MPG.

But being that it has 1 extra gear and the gears are shorter, it has a GREAT DEAL more power. Furthermore, MT always put more power to the wheel than autos, with the exception of expensive DSG/SMG/hydraulic auto-manuals. Those are tried and true manual transmissions that are electronically controlled. However an automatic with a selector/paddles and a regular torque converter and planetary gearset auto is NOT the same. Not all auto trannies are equal.

[BuildCode]

I've never driven a Yaris auto, but the manual is really fun to drive! And funny what MadMax said, I also seem to have more fun with my car in corners than the sports cars do which are behind me!

[tomato]

manual FTW.

Except if you live in SF and have to contend with traffics + hills both on a daily basis, then get an auto, it just makes life simpler.

[djct_watt]

PS, I lived in S.F. for a few years. . . it's not that bad. If you learn to use the parking brake, it's actually quite easy to start/stop on hills.

[Yaris Hilton]

I got high-sided off my Harley ~10 years ago and wrapped my right arm around my back. While recovering from that, I learned to really appreciate automatic transmissions!

[djct_watt]

Yes. . . if you own a real a bike, consider an auto in case of the ever-likely wipe out. My bike was totalled by a cop that ran a red light (light no siren). I had to operate the clutch with a broom stick for about two weeks. Not fun.

[jambo101]

Granny trannys are good if you spend a lot of time in rush hours, any kind of spirited open road driving will be more fun with a manual tranny/

[wooverstone8]

manual FTW.



+1:thumbup:

[SilverBack]

Better acceleration + better MPG (due to slightly taller high gears and a 5th gear) = Can't go wrong with manual.

[DevilGirl]

I agree with most that the manual is more fun to drive. This is my first MT car (I've had 4 auto tranny cars before). The only part where it starts to suck is stuck in traffic like I was over the weekend in Philly. I think my left foot went numb a few times...

[roxy1]

Better acceleration + better MPG (due to slightly taller high gears and a 5th gear) = Can't go wrong with manual.

actually the auto has a taller 5th gear and revs a bit lower at highway cruising speeds than the manual. with an auto, there are still parasitic losses so its not only about the rpms, so yes, still better mpg with the manual.

[MUSKOKA800]

I agree with most that the manual is more fun to drive. This is my first MT car (I've had 4 auto tranny cars before). The only part where it starts to suck is stuck in traffic like I was over the weekend in Philly. I think my left foot went numb a few times...


If your leg went numb holding down a Yaris clutch then heaven help you if you ever drive a hi-po manual V8 in grid-lock. You'd wish for numb. :wink:

[rningonfumes]

**Psst** Auto has 4 gears... *blends back into the walls **

[DevilGirl]

If your leg went numb holding down a Yaris clutch then heaven help you if you ever drive a hi-po manual V8 in grid-lock. You'd wish for numb. :wink:

1. It was only my foot, not my leg. Actually, only part of my foot. The ball of my foot.
2. I wouldn't be driving a V8 to begin with, let alone a manual V8. At best, a V6 is what I'd ever own.
3. Thanks for your input though! :wink:

(P.S. It's mostly a matter of how I have my foot positioned on the clutch more than the clutch itself).

[Kal-El]

actually the auto has a taller 5th gear and revs a bit lower at highway cruising speeds than the manual. with an auto, there are still parasitic losses so its not only about the rpms, so yes, still better mpg with the manual.

Yeah, the auto is a 4 speed. Toyota does need to change that though. Ford will have 6 speeds in the Fiesta and Focus giving Ford a big edge. Hopefully the next Yaris and Corolla with have the same but something tells me they won't (at least Yaris probably won't).

[roxy1]

Yeah, the auto is a 4 speed. Toyota does need to change that though. Ford will have 6 speeds in the Fiesta and Focus giving Ford a big edge. Hopefully the next Yaris and Corolla with have the same but something tells me they won't (at least Yaris probably won't).

D'OH! i knew that. i meant the auto final gear is higher than the manual's 5th gear.

[grampi]

The MT is more aggressively geared with a higher final drive. . . so theoretically on the highway it should have worse MPG.

But being that it has 1 extra gear and the gears are shorter, it has a GREAT DEAL more power. Furthermore, MT always put more power to the wheel than autos, with the exception of expensive DSG/SMG/hydraulic auto-manuals. Those are tried and true manual transmissions that are electronically controlled. However an automatic with a selector/paddles and a regular torque converter and planetary gearset auto is NOT the same. Not all auto trannies are equal.

Higher final drive=taller final gearing=equals lower top gear RPMs, which in theory its highway mileage should be better.

[grampi]

D'OH! i knew that. i meant the auto final gear is higher than the manual's 5th gear.

You still got it wrong. Somehow you're associating higher gearing with higher RPMs. It's just the opposite. Higher gearing = lower RPMs.

[roxy1]

You still got it wrong. Somehow you're associating higher gearing with higher RPMs. It's just the opposite. Higher gearing = lower RPMs.



no, i said the auto has a higher final gear (thus lower rpm's).

the people saying the mt has higher final gearing are wrong. if you drive an automatic yaris and a manual tranny yaris at 70 mph, i assure you that the automatic is running at lower rpm's. this has been confirmed plenty of times.

[djct_watt]

Higher final drive=taller final gearing=equals lower top gear RPMs, which in theory its highway mileage should be better.

Oops. . . I meant lower final drive. I always swap high/low. If you read to the rest of my post, it is consistent with the error.

But being that it has 1 extra gear and the gears are shorter, it has a GREAT DEAL more power.

That was in my original post. Let me just rephrase and say that the MT has a SHORTER final drive.

[indyhairball]

With forty years of driving I have lost my taste for manual transmissions. I have become lazy.:smile:

[nlpnt]

Went for the manual, never regretted it. I live in the mountains so the shorter top gear means climbing hills in 5th where with the auto it'd need to kickdown into 3rd or maybe even 2nd. In traffic I find it easier to shift into neutral whether I'm driving stick or auto, so it really makes no difference.

Plus, if the accelerator sticks I can clutch as I brake, leaving both hands free for the steering. Or the Rosary. :eek:

[grampi]

no, i said the auto has a higher final gear (thus lower rpm's).

the people saying the mt has higher final gearing are wrong. if you drive an automatic yaris and a manual tranny yaris at 70 mph, i assure you that the automatic is running at lower rpm's. this has been confirmed plenty of times.

You've got it right then. :thumbsup:

[Hershey]

manual makes you think ahead for what waits further up the road . Helps to keep you more alert ( or awake :smile: ) .

[yaris-me]

I wanted a manual, but got an AT. After reading about the DBW TB and how some people have difficulty adjusting to the DBW, I'm happy with my AT. Br careful what you wish for.