Why do you drive an automatic (unless you don't)?

[johnhenry]

Original post #157. Now have 61,000 on a/t 08 civic lx w/ an avg. life mpg of 38.6.Still have aprox. 10,000 miles left on the tires. Did buy a m/t civic and it just didn't get the higher mpg's. No mods yet but in the planing stage to improve mpg.

[graydonengineering]

My Nissan Sentra was EPA rated for better MPG with the CVT auto than manual. I belive that is true to reality when my wife drives it and it's her car.

[graydonengineering]

Originally Posted by tumnasgt

In my opinion it's just as dumb as having a 5 speed manual that still does well over 3000rpm at 60mph, when virtually all engines these days would be able to travel fine at 60 at around 2000rpm, and then people can just change down to 4th if they need some extra power.

My truck REALY needs higher gearing. I drive in 5th at 45mph all the time. The rpm's go sky high at any speed over 55. Planning on getting taller tires when the time comes.

[TheEnemy]

Even with 29" tall tires my Frontier turns 3000 at 75mph, and as it is I have problems when I am using it for utility work as first is too high and I really start thrashing the clutch. I really need a higher 5th and lower 1st.

When we bought my wifes car we tried the stick shifts first, but the manufacturers all seemed to think anyone who wanted a stick wanted a sporty car. The steering was stiffer, the clutch was agressive, and they were all geared lower. In short my wife had a hard time driving any of the sticks if she could at all. So we got the automatic for her.

For those of you who were talking about stick on hills and needing the e-brake: Try using the heal/toe method. Left foot on the clutch, right foot heel on the brake, right foot toe on the gas. Slowly let out the clutch while pressing the gas with your right toe until it feels like the clutch has the weight then rotate your right foot to where its all the way over the gas pedal. Off roaders use this method all the time when negotiating steep hills.


edit: Just took a trip to Las Cruces and back 2800rpm at 75mph with 29" tires.

[Fat Charlie]

My car needs a taller top gear, but the manufacturers' focus is on performance (or rather the feeling of performance) and not long legs. Besides, does the EPA testing involve cruising at 80? Why should they engineer for that when they can't get credit for it in the tests? It's kind of like how second gear will generally get you to 60. That might not be the best spread of gear ratios in the box, but it is the best way to get a good 0-60 time to brag bout.

We haven't owned an auto in 19 years, but last week I finally got her back into one. She isn't good at remembering to shift into fifth gear, and always saying "hey, you want to try out fifth for a while?" isn't healthy for a marriage. So sometimes, an auto is a good thing.

[graydonengineering]

Originally Posted by TheEnemy

Even with 29" tall tires my Frontier turns 3000 at 75mph, and as it is I have problems when I am using it for utility work as first is too high and I really start thrashing the clutch. I really need a higher 5th and lower 1st.

Good to know, I think my next tires should be around 30". I don't go over 65 in my truck at all because the mpg drops off a cliff. At 60 I get around 28, at 75 I get about 21..

[ps2fixer]

Same here with a corolla...

50+mpg at 35mph
45 at 40
43 at 45
38 at 50
35 at 60
33 at 70

[TheEnemy]

Thats odd because I get 24-25 pretty solid with mine in the 70-75mph range with no mods. Got 27 not long ago at 70mph but I think I got a tank that didn't have any ethanol in it or some other wierd random variable like that.

I would caution you with the 30" tires, my 29" tires rub when turning sharp as it is, but they are wider than stock too.

edit to add: are you sure you dont have a part of your belly pan pulling out of place at speed causing it to act like a parachute?

[Marc F.]

My personal car is an automatic for 2 reasons, one it was what I found that fit my needs when I was broke -- second my "daily driver" is a 2010 Cascadia, I shift 24 times in the first 2 blocks of my work week (Eaton Fuller 10 speed). Unlike a car I have to downshift as I slow to aid the brakes with the engine compression. My work week is 2000 to 2500 miles, I have never tried to figure out how many times I shift in a week, wow, I have no idea....

[redpoint5]

I specifically choose an automatic for my truck for 1 reason; the benefits of bench seating are compromised by a shifter.

Had I been interested in bucket seats for a truck, I would certainly have preferred to row through the gears.