where the shifter comes in handy for me is when i'm setting up to make a move in traffic and i don't want to have that pause while it downshifts from the accelerator. it also knows how many gears to come down to get the best punch so yes, i do find it useful at times.

it's also very nice to be able to put on the cool-jazz and let the machine do the work when i don't feel like it.

on a straight out acceleration thru the gears, i'm not at all sure that a manual will be any better except that there are 6 gears and thus a little closer together. it works fine for me.

dan

 

I use it practically every time I slow for a red light, exit ramp, etc.

 

I'm still crossing my fingers that the SRT-6 will come with a sequential manual option.

 

Poll results as of 4/22/04
1 Manual (standard) 35% [ 23 ]
2 Automatic (optional) 64% [ 41 ]

Total Votes : 64

 

I own a 6spd but I've been driving an automatic loaner for the past week. I was abit on the fence about which tranny to purchase but now I'm positive I made the right choice for me.

My observations:

PROS6spd)
-6spd is much quicker
-more control over the car's powerband
-more fun

CONS6spd)
-6spd is notchy into 2nd on cold days
-clutch take up in 2nd is nonlinear
-ya gotta drive all the time....no relaxing


PROS (auto)
-auto is convienent (I can actually go to Starbucks' drive thru)
-auto is good for an automatic
-good choice for a daily driver

CONS: (auto)
-slower
-touchshift is easily bumped too many gears when hand is resting on shifter
-side-to-side touchshift isn't as natural as an up-down movement
-tap....pause....shift
-never does exactly what I want it to do

This is just my opinion

Dallas

 

That's interesting wonderdallas. I personaly find side to side more natural because I know right is always up a gear and left is always down a gear. With a manual, moving the shifter up or down could be up or down a gear. I guess I confuse easily.

 

I drove both at the dealership. I drove the automatic first and did not want the car at all.

I did not like the way it shifted as an auto. I also thought it was a tiptronic and tried that out and was severely disappointed in the lag. it still shifted on me even though I tried to force it into second. All you can do with it is try to negotiate the shift points against what it is programmed to do. I cannot believe they are going to only offer the SRT-6 with this autostick - what is the point? It would be like buying a corvette or a Ferrari with a automatic. Don't get me wrong, I would be the first to buy a Porsche with an auto/tiptronic tyranny. This way you get the best of both worlds.

I took the manual out and did not like the clutch pedal. It seems to be a little lose and have some play compared to the other cars I checked out (RX9, 350Z, Corvette). It also has a rubber bumper feel to the shifter, which was a little strange. You can also felt he engine idle through the shift ****, which is fine but I thought Mercedes would have prevented this. It's ok though because feeling the engine through the shift **** has a very American muscle car appeal to it.

But the manual car had some zip to it! On top of that, turning of the dreadful traction control really let it open up.

The only part on the manual that bugs me is that my knee hits the bottom of the dash when my foot is on top of the clutch. They really need to redesign that part of the lower dash.

To each their own,

-marc

 

Poll Results as of 5/10/2004:

1 Manual (standard) 41% [ 30 ]
2 Automatic (optional) 58% [ 42 ]

Total Votes : 72

 

Auto here. Traded in my Audi TT Quattro for my Crossfire. The Audi was a manual and I was getting tired of it, especially here in Southern California traffic.

I find myself driving the Crossfire as if it were a manual. I prefer to slap my way around town and down the coast on the weekends, its just too much fun!

But, if you are really a die hard race fan, the manual is the way to go. You can do more tricks with those pedals (clutch, brake, accelerator) than you can with an automatic (brake, accelerator).

A little OT, did you know you can hold the shifter to the left for 2 seconds and it will automatically downshift to 1st?

 

Hi all,

Autostick was sort of a must for me due to those parking lots we call freeways out here in SoCal...
And the notion that a real sports car is a manual.....well that's so 80s ;-)
I think all these 911 with Tiptronic and 360s and so on are just grocery getters :-)
I think both trannies have their positive and negatives and it comes down to personal preferrence...but I like the idea of a 6 speed roadster in Blaze Red to go with my Autostick in Blaze Red

 

Actually, it will downshift to the "most appropriate gear" for the conditions. For example, if you were doing 65 in D and were going to pass someone and did the 2 second hold to the left (I think it's faster than that in my experience) it wouldn't drop to 1st (and hence redline your engine and drop your tranny on the pavement :!: :evil: :!, probably only to fourth or third :wink:.

 

Results as of 6/1/04:

1 Manual (standard) 40% [ 34 ]
2 Automatic (optional) 59% [ 50 ]

Total Votes : 84

 

Manual all the way!!!!













6sp graphite #16515

 

Manual here too. More common in the UK for a manual I think, although the majority of used cars are autos

 

I also had a 2001 Audi tt 225hp. My new Black 2005 Roadster-Autostick is a dream to drive and it shifts greeat with autostick. I wanted a stick, but the first car in was the autostick. Its fast and I like the option of the auto tranny

 

Results as of 6/22/04:

1 Manual (standard) 37% [ 37 ]
2 Automatic (optional) 62% [ 61 ]

Total Votes : 98

 

kind of wishing i bought a manual instead, the last several cars i have had have automatics. The last manual i had was a nissan maxima, almost a joke, a sedan in a stick. the only sedan i think you can have in a stick is the 540i BMW, the V8 4.4liter.

tempted to trade this XF in for the manual.

 

Poll Results as of 7/17/04:

1 Manual (standard) 36% [ 41 ]
2 Automatic (optional) 63% [ 71 ]

Total Votes : 112

 

Having been the owner of a Elan M100 and Triumph Spitfire - manual seemed like the only possiblility. However, my purchase choice was limited to stock - only tiptronic /SSP or BLK.

Visited local MB dealership to test drive SLK 320 with tiptronic - drove MB C200 with same transmission. C200 Kompressor not available in US. The car was amazing, driving the triptronic was in a word, fun. Never thought it so but it is. Now I like the feeling of the manual and I always will but in Korea traffic is nasty and the auto will allow me to relax a bit.

My perfect solution: the Crossfire tiptronic for everyday and an Elise for the backroads and great weather days.

Waiting in Korea.

 

I got the Auto as well (wife), Just got orders to Germany (Military) and can't wait to see how my xfire does on the autobahn. Hopefully my warrenty follows me there. 3 More months to Germany!