View Poll Results: Manual vs. Automatic
Manual
49
62.82%
Automatic
29
37.18%
Voters: 78. You may not vote on this poll
Manual vs. Automatic
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 191
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From: Miami
2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser
Manual vs. Automatic
I'm still saving for my C230 Coupe and the more I read these forums the more I want the car already and the more options\choices you guys give me. My new question is manual or automatic. I've owned both kinds of tranny, love maual for performance and auto for...well being automatic. Is it worth the extra $1300 for auto just to not have be shifting gears all the time in traffic and convinience of auto. Just want your thoughts and opinions from those who have driven both.
P.S.
I will be modifying.
P.S.
I will be modifying.
Out Of Control!!
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From: Westwood, NJ
2004 Civic Si. FWD for the Win!
I'll try to avoid my stereotypes of manny drivers vs. auto drivers, which is an achievement for me.
If you're going to be modifying the car, you can shave .4 to .5 secs off your 0-60 times by pocketing the $1300 and sticking with the stick. That'll get you started on your mods.
If you are concerned about driving fast, I see no reason for getting the auto, unless you have a hellish commute. Even then, there are the weekends to think about, and who wants a slushbox on a weekend run?
If you're going to be modifying the car, you can shave .4 to .5 secs off your 0-60 times by pocketing the $1300 and sticking with the stick. That'll get you started on your mods.
If you are concerned about driving fast, I see no reason for getting the auto, unless you have a hellish commute. Even then, there are the weekends to think about, and who wants a slushbox on a weekend run?
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: NYC
C32 AMG, C300 Sport
where do you drive?
If you will be driving in a city environment, then you clearly dont want to be shifting constantly. I live in NY so I can tell you the answer to that one. Other than that you have to look at the fun factor related to the luxo factor. If you want to race or spend some time at the track, you want the manny. If you just want to race around the streets like it is the track, you still need a manny. Otherwise, the auto is always a good bet. Wont be replacing any worn clutches either.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Miami
2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser
Yeah most of my driving is in the city, i live in miami, and weekends are spent on the highways to girlsfriends house, parents house, and going to the beach. No, i don't want to race but does the auto have enough pick me up to pass someone on the road at say 50-60.
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sal, I really wanted the six speed, but the dealer didn't have one. I bought an auto and ordered a six speed. I drove the auto for 77 days, then traded it for the six speed. The Mercedes auto is excellent. However, the Touch Shift feature is just as useless as every other "manumatic" I have ever driven. There is substantial lag between selecting a gear and actually shifting into it. It is claimed that the delay is just half a second, but it feels like several.
I am very pleased with the six speed. Due to the wide, flat torque curve of the kompressor engine, you don't need to shift as much in traffic as with some other cars. This engine will pull smoothly from just over 1000 rpm's in second gear. Or third, or fourth. With the C7 package, you get a short throw shifter which is not mentioned in the Mercedes literature about the car.
I am very pleased with the six speed. Due to the wide, flat torque curve of the kompressor engine, you don't need to shift as much in traffic as with some other cars. This engine will pull smoothly from just over 1000 rpm's in second gear. Or third, or fourth. With the C7 package, you get a short throw shifter which is not mentioned in the Mercedes literature about the car.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Miami
2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser
Thanks Lynn, I was just a bit disheartend from manual driving around my 2001 PT Cruiser(which by the way I LOVE, except for that little problem it has<EVERYTHING ON IT EXCEPT THE FRAME>) I'm sure that the Coupe will bring back the fun of having a manual tranny.
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From: On a hill overlooking San Francisco Bay
c230k, black, auto, c2 (let the sunshine in), Bose, leather, and CD
Hey guys!
So, this is a little of topic, but I have a question about my automatic tranny (I gave in a got an automatic for the first time my life because I could not take the traffic on the golden gate bridge anymore and I'm missing a stick until I'm sitting in traffic again)
So here is my question, when I try to shift into gear with the steptronic transmission, I always end up in 4th no matter what gear I'm in when I switch over. The owner's manual seems to imply I should be switching over to the gear I'm in. Did I read the book wrong, I'm I doing something wrong, or is there something wrong with my car?
TIA!
Beth
So, this is a little of topic, but I have a question about my automatic tranny (I gave in a got an automatic for the first time my life because I could not take the traffic on the golden gate bridge anymore and I'm missing a stick until I'm sitting in traffic again)
So here is my question, when I try to shift into gear with the steptronic transmission, I always end up in 4th no matter what gear I'm in when I switch over. The owner's manual seems to imply I should be switching over to the gear I'm in. Did I read the book wrong, I'm I doing something wrong, or is there something wrong with my car?
TIA!
Beth
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From: Obama Land
K Car
So here is my question, when I try to shift into gear with the steptronic transmission, I always end up in 4th no matter what gear I'm in when I switch over. The owner's manual seems to imply I should be switching over to the gear I'm in. Did I read the book wrong, I'm I doing something wrong, or is there something wrong with my car?
On my car, it is the same way. I could be sitting at a light at a full stop, and when I switch over, it says 4th. Normally, when I want to use this function, I just pull to the left, and hold for a few seconds, and it will drop down to the lowest gear. This works well when driving, and you want that down shift power to pass someone. I really haven't played around too much with this since my car is still in it's breaking in phase.
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From: Earth
GLB 250 4matic
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From: bucks county
black on black 2k2-230k auto/c1/c5/c7/k2c/COMAND/TELEAID/Stage II HIDS
obviously the GSR was manual, and it was a ton of fun driving from home to college, some 300 miles away... but now the commute is 40 minutes to philly, stop and go, to bumber to bumper traffic patterns.
the thought of rowing through that 2 times a day makes me tired
the mercedes auto is VERY competent, and smooth. the best auto i have ever driven, and it works well in the coupe.
it certainly is no slouch, but hey, if i could drive the open roads every day, i would have gone with a manual too
greg
the thought of rowing through that 2 times a day makes me tired
the mercedes auto is VERY competent, and smooth. the best auto i have ever driven, and it works well in the coupe.
it certainly is no slouch, but hey, if i could drive the open roads every day, i would have gone with a manual too
greg
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Originally posted by revstriker
I could be sitting at a light at a full stop, and when I switch over, it says 4th. Normally, when I want to use this function, I just pull to the left, and hold for a few seconds, and it will drop down to the lowest gear. [/B]
I could be sitting at a light at a full stop, and when I switch over, it says 4th. Normally, when I want to use this function, I just pull to the left, and hold for a few seconds, and it will drop down to the lowest gear. [/B]
The differences in accerelation between mannys and autos in the MB line are LESS than in other cars. You expect an auto to be 1-1.5 seconds slower to 60 in some brands, but in the MBs, it's only .3 seconds slower, etc. MB makes great automatics.
Last edited by MB-BOB; Feb 6, 2002 at 10:03 AM.
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From: Orlando, FL
2002 Mercedes-Benz C230 Kompressor Sports Coupe
I can't even begin to count the number of accidents I've evaded by being able to instantly drop a gear and get 'out' of the situation. Something that is never as quick or easy with an automatic.
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From: Obama Land
K Car
Originally posted by MB-BOB
When you engage "-" the first step down from "5/D" is 4th, so it naturally goes there. However, if you're at a dead stop at a light and engage 4 from D and leave it there, the transmission will NOT let you move away from the light in 4th... It downshifts to the appropriate gear (1st on my car). So, you don't really have to ratchet down to actual 1st. The transmission WILL be limited in upshifts to 4th, max, until you appraoch readline when the tranny takes over and jumps to 5/D.
When you engage "-" the first step down from "5/D" is 4th, so it naturally goes there. However, if you're at a dead stop at a light and engage 4 from D and leave it there, the transmission will NOT let you move away from the light in 4th... It downshifts to the appropriate gear (1st on my car). So, you don't really have to ratchet down to actual 1st. The transmission WILL be limited in upshifts to 4th, max, until you appraoch readline when the tranny takes over and jumps to 5/D.
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Revstriker, I was so intrigued by this thread, I left work for a few minutes, went out to my car in the parking lot to test it before responding. So, we're in the same boat. I had never tried that until this morning, either. LOL.
I did notice, coincidentally, that the tranny wouldn't let me downshift manually to play any of these games until the tranny warmed up for 2-3 minutes. That's interesting, too.
I did notice, coincidentally, that the tranny wouldn't let me downshift manually to play any of these games until the tranny warmed up for 2-3 minutes. That's interesting, too.
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From: Obama Land
K Car
Originally posted by MB-BOB
Revstriker, I was so intrigued by this thread, I left work for a few minutes, went out to my car in the parking lot to test it before responding. So, we're in the same boat. I had never tried that until this morning, either. LOL.
I did notice, coincidentally, that the tranny wouldn't let me downshift manually to play any of these games until the tranny warmed up for 2-3 minutes. That's interesting, too.
Revstriker, I was so intrigued by this thread, I left work for a few minutes, went out to my car in the parking lot to test it before responding. So, we're in the same boat. I had never tried that until this morning, either. LOL.
I did notice, coincidentally, that the tranny wouldn't let me downshift manually to play any of these games until the tranny warmed up for 2-3 minutes. That's interesting, too.
I'm looking forward to playing with this. Unfortunately, I'll have to wait . We are having some weird weather here in Texas (snow!!), and my car is nice and clean! So I've been carpooling with my wife. 
Actually, she's from Florida and is too scared to drive in the snow.
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From: Phoenix
Land Rover DII, 2002 C230
My wife and I test drove a 2000 SLK 230 manual, We both thought the shifting was terrible. It was very sloppy and really turned us off with regards to that model although we did not try the auto version. Our C230 is the wifes daily driver, 66 miles round trip in Phoenix, and she loves the auto so far. This is only the second auto car I have ever owned and I really like the auto on this car.
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Originally posted by revstriker
We are having some weird weather here in Texas (snow!!)...
We are having some weird weather here in Texas (snow!!)...
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From: Gaithersburg, MD
2002 C240 6-spd (ret)
Originally posted by sal
Thanks Lynn, I was just a bit disheartend from manual driving around my 2001 PT Cruiser(which by the way I LOVE, except for that little problem it has<EVERYTHING ON IT EXCEPT THE FRAME>) I'm sure that the Coupe will bring back the fun of having a manual tranny.
Thanks Lynn, I was just a bit disheartend from manual driving around my 2001 PT Cruiser(which by the way I LOVE, except for that little problem it has<EVERYTHING ON IT EXCEPT THE FRAME>) I'm sure that the Coupe will bring back the fun of having a manual tranny.
). The PT Cruiser was interesting when it first came out, but to me, it looks like sales around here are falling. Also, it's underpowered, no? Why don't they put a decent 6-cyl in that thing?
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From: Orlando, FL
2002 Mercedes-Benz C230 Kompressor Sports Coupe
Originally posted by Lynn
... With the C7 package, you get a short throw shifter which is not mentioned in the Mercedes literature about the car.
... With the C7 package, you get a short throw shifter which is not mentioned in the Mercedes literature about the car.
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Originally posted by Flashman
If you look at MB's website and look up the description of the C7 package, it does say that it includes a "sport shifter" as one of its options. I'm guessing that is marketing speak for "short shifter".
If you look at MB's website and look up the description of the C7 package, it does say that it includes a "sport shifter" as one of its options. I'm guessing that is marketing speak for "short shifter".
To me, that does not say anything about the shifter, just the knob.
