Want opinions automatic vs. manual transmission

[grampi]

Originally Posted by thomasward00

I hate to sound negative, I love my yaris but it is not a performance car, nor will it ever be, putting engine mods on this car is a waste of money, thats why I chose an auto. For performance cars then I love manuals.

You couldn't be any more wrong. You want a manual tranny ESPECIALLY in a car like the Yaris. With a car like the Yaris that has so little HP, you want to get as much of that power to the pavement as possible. There is more power lost through the driveline with an automatic, so a manual is the only way to go.

[kimona]

Originally Posted by grampi

You couldn't be any more wrong. You want a manual tranny ESPECIALLY in a car like the Yaris. With a car like the Yaris that has so little HP, you want to get as much of that power to the pavement as possible. There is more power lost through the driveline with an automatic, so a manual is the only way to go.

ENTIRELY MISLEADING AND ABSOLUTE BLOODY NONSENSE!

You're living in the dark ages when automatic transmissions "lost power" through the design of the torque converters. That isn't the case today with Toyota's automatic transmissions.

In fact, many of today's automatic transmissions are every bit as quick as manuals, and are often quicker!

Don't be afraid to step on the Yaris' accelerator and you'll match the stick shift through the quarter mile, and you'll the clean the manual if the driver is even slightly off shift.

The only place, you may wish you had a manual is on the circuit when entering and exiting corners. But, even there, you can manually shift the Yaris' automatic tranny with some impressive performance.

There may be something positive to be said for the manual shift re drifting if the Yaris were a rear wheel drive car... but that's a moot point.

Furthermore, the Toyota automatic is every bit as fuel efficient and reliable as the manual, and over the long run will cost less to maintain.

Indeed, most Yaris automatics are getting better gas mileage than manual shifts due to the driving habits, capabilities, or inexperience of manual shift drivers.

Any argument against purchasing the automatic transmission in favour of the manual shift based on superior performance, better gas mileage, or reliabilty is just plain uninformed foolishness!

The only viable reason for purchasing a manual transmission is the simple fact that you like to shift and/or it makes you feel one with the car and more in control on the road. However; these are all purely psychological factors that not all drivers can relate to.

[lubaloy]

At the ripe old age of 45+, I guess I am nearing the end of my driving life as well.

Add the fact that I have Multiple Sclerosis, and I guess it must be my next -- or maybe last -- incarnation typing this.

Even so, I bought a new 5-SPEED 2007 HB just a little over a week ago, and I could not be happier.

It's been a very long time since I went for a drive just because, and I am grateful to TOYOTA for such a wonderful gift.

Even for a geezer gimp like me, a big part of the fun is shifting through the gears.

YMMV.

~~~ lubaloy ~~~

[hystria]

I would recommend the automatic transmission for the Yaris. On the manual transmission the clutch is hard to work with, especially in heavy city driving. In city driving the automatic transmission would give better fuel mileage as it computes the best shifting point better that a driver could do with a manual transmission.

[KwonSau]

Originally Posted by kimona54

The only viable reason for purchasing a manual transmission is the simple fact that you like to shift and/or it makes you feel one with the car and more in control on the road. However; these are all purely psychological factors that not all drivers can relate to.

I'll concede that these are the primary reasons my last three cars have been manuals (including the Yaris).

[Vanderkitten]

I didn't read all of the posts, but a manual transmission is more capable of performance oriented driving than a manual, in any car, especially an econobox. The HP to the wheels is greater with a manual, the car is faster and also tends to be lighter.

In a city, an Auto is preferable, but I want performance first, so I went with the manual. But this car is not a performance car out of the box, and if you are not going to try and make it so, the AUTO gives you the ability to chat or one-handed text and drive all day long.

I would imagine resale will be better on the Auto as well.

[Edd]

Originally Posted by Vanderkitten

the AUTO gives you the ability to chat or one-handed text and drive all day long.

Anyone who buys automatic for this reason is completely self indulgent and should NOT be on the road. It's dangerous and illegal, actually worse than being at 0.08 BAC.
The problem is, whether you are looking at the phone or otherwise, your concentration on the road and your surroundings is broken and you put other people at risk. This applies to handsfree as well (but it's not AS bad and is actually legal).

[Motorhead6T5]

Originally Posted by kimona54

ENTIRELY MISLEADING AND ABSOLUTE BLOODY NONSENSE!

You're living in the dark ages when automatic transmissions "lost power" through the design of the torque converters. That isn't the case today with Toyota's automatic transmissions.

In fact, many of today's automatic transmissions are every bit as quick as manuals, and are often quicker!

Don't be afraid to step on the Yaris' accelerator and you'll match the stick shift through the quarter mile, and you'll the clean the manual if the driver is even slightly off shift.

The only place, you may wish you had a manual is on the circuit when entering and exiting corners. But, even there, you can manually shift the Yaris' automatic tranny with some impressive performance.

There may be something positive to be said for the manual shift re drifting if the Yaris were a rear wheel drive car... but that's a moot point.

Furthermore, the Toyota automatic is every bit as fuel efficient and reliable as the manual, and over the long run will cost less to maintain.

Indeed, most Yaris automatics are getting better gas mileage than manual shifts due to the driving habits, capabilities, or inexperience of manual shift drivers.

Any argument against purchasing the automatic transmission in favour of the manual shift based on superior performance, better gas mileage, or reliabilty is just plain uninformed foolishness!

The only viable reason for purchasing a manual transmission is the simple fact that you like to shift and/or it makes you feel one with the car and more in control on the road. However; these are all purely psychological factors that not all drivers can relate to.

http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/Sp...aris&trimid=-1

If you would click this link you will see a performance section,compare the sedan m/t with the sedan a/t.


M/T 0-60=8.84 1/4 mile=16.97 1/4 mile trap speed=84.00
A/T 0-60=10.29 1/4 mile=17.96 1/4 mile trap speed=77.30

That almost 7 mph difference shows a huge differance in power put down to the ground,and the 1 sec quicker in the 1/4 seals the deal.


You can tell yourself whatever you want to help yourself sleep at night though.

[Irishlass]

I'll chime in on this one! A newby here and manual all the way. I'm giving the mice under the hood all the help I can. I can see automatic if you're stuck in a lot of stop and go traffic.....

[kimona]

Originally Posted by Motorhead6T5

http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/Sp...aris&trimid=-1

If you would click this link you will see a performance section,compare the sedan m/t with the sedan a/t.


M/T 0-60=8.84 1/4 mile=16.97 1/4 mile trap speed=84.00
A/T 0-60=10.29 1/4 mile=17.96 1/4 mile trap speed=77.30

That almost 7 mph difference shows a huge differance in power put down to the ground,and the 1 sec quicker in the 1/4 seals the deal.


You can tell yourself whatever you want to help yourself sleep at night though.

Unfortunately, most manual shift drivers are not competent enough to match these 1/4 mile times. For the vast majority of drivers, the automatic transmission will prove faster and more fuel efficient.

Listen, I'm not knocking manual transmissions. I've owned and rebuilt dozens of imports with manual transmissions. I still own and regularly drive several lovingly cared for sport cars; bugeye Sprite, Sunbeam Tiger, Cooper S, and MR2. I enjoy driving with the manual transmision in each of these cars.

I also raced Class "C" sedan all over Canada for many years, so I fully appreciate the performance and driveability of manual transmissions.

But the Yaris is not a sport car, and most drivers are not sport car enthusiasts, but just regular guys looking for a neat little fuel efficient car that they can add a few well chosen accessories to make it look more sporty.

After test-driving the Yaris stick shift, I was dissapointed; this is not a performance tranny and clutch... far far from it! Sure you can make some mods to modestly improve it, but it will never...

Anyway, what I am saying is that for most owners, the Yaris is a daily driver, and the automatic transmission just makes more sense. Period.

[Motorhead6T5]

Originally Posted by kimona54

Unfortunately, most manual shift drivers are not competent enough to match these 1/4 mile times. For the vast majority of drivers, the automatic transmission will prove faster and more fuel efficient.

Listen, I'm not knocking manual transmissions. I've owned and rebuilt dozens of imports with manual transmissions. I still own and regularly drive several lovingly cared for sport cars; bugeye Sprite, Sunbeam Tiger, Cooper S, and MR2. I enjoy driving with the manual transmision in each of these cars.

I also raced Class "C" sedan all over Canada for many years, so I fully appreciate the performance and driveability of manual transmissions.

But the Yaris is not a sport car, and most drivers are not sport car enthusiasts, but just regular guys looking for a neat little fuel efficient car that they can add a few well chosen accessories to make it look more sporty.

After test-driving the Yaris stick shift, I was dissapointed; this is not a performance tranny and clutch... far far from it! Sure you can make some mods to modestly improve it, but it will never...

Anyway, what I am saying is that for most owners, the Yaris is a daily driver, and the automatic transmission just makes more sense. Period.

I agree MOST people are faster in an auto,But thats cause most people can't drive well. I was just rebuting the fact that you said with modern tech autos are just as fast even the yaris.

Don't get me wrong,I have a manual valve bodied th350 in my chevelle,but that thing has so much power its more about getting it to the ground consistantly.

If you got a yaris purely for mpg and comfort than yes it would be dumb to get a manual. However if you bought it with the plans to use it for performance use, its dumb to get the auto.

The manual yaris isn't all that slow,I keep hearing people say oh its a econo box it will never be fast,yet you hear this from people with slush box autos that are 1 second behind in the 1/4(10 car lengths). Of course you think the car is slow,you bought the power sucking AUTO thats doing 7mph slower at the end of a 1/4 mile.

You will dump all kinds of money into an auto just to get it to the performance levels of a stock manual. I went through the same thing on 1 of my 5.0 mustangs with an aod.