apples24

iTrader: (1)

but when your sat in a massive traffic jam you appreciate having an auto and lets face it uk is one big traffic jam lately

Shark Man

I have issues with them because of the hills:

Seems on the bigger 6pot engines, the ECU is unwilling to use the engine's torque to go up the hills. So instead of cruising up at 2000rpm in lockup-mode (torque converter bypassed) in 3rd or 4th which it "could". It insists on dropping out of lockup mode and slurrs aways at 3000rpm, guzzling uneeded fuel in the process.

I could understand it if it were in sport mode, or I was acelarating up the hill, but just maintaining a constant speed, it doesn't need to do it - but for some reason it does, like it overestimates the steepness of the hill or thinks the engine hasn't got enough power.


Not that it matters much, but someone challanged me to get above 25mpg in the 325 auto (e46) in heavy sub-40mph local traffic, its impossible; The reason why its so poor on local MPG is because it refuses to lock-up torque converter. Even though it can do it in 3rd 4th and 5th at less than 30mph.

Seems madness that the gearbox is capeable of by-passing the torque convertor at slow speeds, and has an engine that has enough low speed torque, to cruise with it locked-out (and thus more efficiently), but the ECU won't let it

I wish I could remap gearboxes

apples24

iTrader: (1)

must admit my 2.2 does kinda sit around 25 around town and 33 ish on motorway

NotoriousREV

My Soarer's autobox is great. The whole car is so quiet, you don't really know what gear you're in and can't feel the changes anyway so it doesn't matter. Very lazy car to drive.

It has "Econ" and "Sport" modes. In "Econ" it does 16mpg. I'm too poor to put it in "Sport".

Sonic'

My old Shogun V6 is an auto and its great, plus cruise control on the motorway is good too

Apart from, have you noticed how no one else on the motorway can maintain a set speed

I can switch between auto and manual no problem, had an old Sierra 2.0 ghia auto for 7 years a long time ago, great car never failed once and drove really nice (although a bit soft on the springs)

Drove from San Fran to Vegas through Lake Tahoe and Death Valley in a Mitis Galant Auto and that was bliss being an auto, and then drove from Vegas to Grand Canyon in a day (12 hour round trip)

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

I'd imagine the strangest thing when driving the c200 would be the handbrake, or should I say footbrake!

That took some getting used to on a C class I used once.

philbr

my scoob aint no slouch, and you can change gear if you want, thats why theres a pure manual switch on the impreza ;so it doesn't change down like it would if you just put it in a gear.
you can use engine braking by shifting down, power switch let's revs rise to 7k before changing, my personal observation is that these slightly older boxes are better than the electronic stuff only in as much as you do get a bit of control.
if you learn to drive em right you'll be as fast as anyone else and without losing your brakes at the end of a fast run.

andys

Having just sold the scooby am now driving an auto and it still taking a bit of getting used to. 7 forward gears, one reverse and paddles as well can be a bit of a challenge. Still find myself puttting my hand on the gear **** as I approach junctions..

mart360

Interesting,

I went away for the weekend at the start of feb, we had an auto

we covered 1500 miles and averaged 21mpg, which we thought was very reasonable

























































for a 6.75L V12


mart

nooobyscoooby

You've obviously not used a Beemer steptronic. I like manuals, but these are fantastic and I don't hang about so you really do get the best of both worlds - trickling in traffic and hooning when you want to.

In 12 years and 500K I don't remember anything - and I mean anything - passing me if I'm in the mood!

Klaatu

I find the auto box in my 2003 Impreza RX sufferes from hysteresis, it is rather annoying on cruise.

Shark Man

He may have depedning on the cars he's driven, as teh gearboxes aren't unique to BMW:

ZF 5HP18, 5HP19( As fitted to BMWs, Audis, Porsches and VWs)

ZF 5HP24 (as fitted to BMWs, Jags, Audis and Land Rovers)

ZF5HP30 (as fitted to BMWs, Rolls-Royces, Bentleys and Aston Martins)

Not to forget the GM 5L40E fitted on American models (as seen on anything made by GM, as well as BMW).




Sorry

Klaatu

I converted my Land Rover 90 4 cyl, 5 speed to V8 driving an ex-Range Rover ZF 4HP22 gearbox. Was quite awesome.