Turbo + automatic...

[speculative]

Looking @ Subaru WRX's and trying to decide between automatic and manual... Now, for the past 7 years I've driven a manual - but I grew up on a farm so I've never driven stick cars just stick trucks and heavy trucks. I know that "purists" would never get a car like that automatic, but I was wondering how much an automatic transmission limits the turbo fun ;) and also if anyone is an all-weather driver (i.e. snow and ice most of the winter) if it's better to drive a stick or an automatic through snow and ice. :) I don't think I'd mind a manual, it's cheaper, but I wouldn't want to have trouble on snow and ice w/stick shift because we get about 7 months of snow around here...

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[Farabomb]

Get a stick. No doubt about it. I have a 96 impreza and my mom has a 99 impreza outback and they're bolth stick. Soooo much fun to drive.

[Tasuke [H]]

On a newer car, Stick, no doubt. Just do not go fooling w/the turbo if you do have spinnie tire conditions. Fair warning.

Now if you have a 60's muscle car(and I may get flamed for this)and it is pushing more than 450FT/Lbs torque, you NEED a 4speed auto, or the snow will make you its BIZOTCH! I love a 5speed, do not get me wrong. I have also drive it both ways and the auto is the only way to make the car streetable.

[speculative]

:cool: Thanks for the quick replies guys! I'm gonna try to get some seat time in one Saturday. :)

Originally posted by Farabomb
Get a stick. No doubt about it. I have a 96 impreza and my mom has a 99 impreza outback and they're bolth stick. Soooo much fun to drive.

Farabomb, have you seen: http://www.i-club.com/Default.cfm?Action=News&CategoryID=4

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[Ozzer]

I can't speak from experience with regards to the WRX however on the auto/stick point of view here are my 2c worth

THink of the type of driving you are going to be doing.
If its lots of open road driving where you are typically going to be sitting on the highest gear for long periods of time I would go auto.

If you are going to be doing lots of speed changing (such as city driving) then go the stick.

One other thing to consider is that just because a car is an auto it doesnt mean you can't have some of the flexability and control you get with a stick.
Most auto's I have driven have the following options

1 2 3 (sometimes a 4) D R N P
Now that 1 2 3 you have are just the same as 1 2 3 in a manual. You just dont have a clutch to worry about.
My current car is an auto and when I am on the open road I typically stick it in D and go for it.
If I am doing city driving (like thorugh the Central Business District) then I usually opt to manually select the gears 1 2 3 to suit the driving conditions.

Please also bear in mind we dont get snow here in Perth WA so my snow/ice driving experience is non existant :)

[Farabomb]

I stop in there from time to time Spec. They have a great ammount of info. You'll have a blast if you get some seat time. Find some twisty roads, look for the recomended speed sign, downshift and double it.:D I've never drove a car that sticks to the road under power so well. I'm still saying stick. The clutch pedal is nearly nonexistant pressure wise so you allmost don't know it's there.

Tasuke, also the reason when you get into 450-500+FT/lbs you HAVE to use a auto because few manuals will be able to hanlde the torque. Ya need a auto to adsorb some of the shock.

[speculative]

Wagon. Silver. Manual. Might not be around the forums much for the next week. ;) Many thanks for the replies guys!!

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[RanGer498]

stick shift unless you live on roads that have lots of hills or in a heavy populated city where there is lots of traffic..why more fun and if you upgrade the power most of the time you just need to upgrade the clutch ...but i would get the stick shift lots of fun unless like i said you live in a place that has lots of hills or your stuck in traffic for a long time span!

[speculative]

Thanks for the input Ranger. :) I've been driving it around for a couple days now (picked it up Saturday) and I don't think the stick will be a problem for me. Another added bonus that I hadn't thought of is engine-braking, which may not be an issue for some but for me 1/2 my state is flat the other 1/2 is mountains, and I currently live in the "mountainous" part. Once I get a feel for the vehicle a bit more I know of a perfect windy road going up a canyon to a reservoir where there's boating and fishing that I'm gonna drive. :)

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[phoenix]

when byuing a performance car there is only ever 1 choice of transmission and thats a manual gearbox (stick shift), if you are even considering an automatic then buy yourself a family estate (station waggon).

Automatics give you no control over the egine and remove your ability to use the engine to control the vehicle, automatic + turbo is an absolute absurd combination which could have only been drempt up by an American marketing geek!....gee it sound great, I bet there are plenty who will buy this one!, yup there sure are, but I bet damn few get sold in the UK

[Tasuke [H]]

Originally posted by Farabomb

Tasuke, also the reason when you get into 450-500+FT/lbs you HAVE to use a auto because few manuals will be able to hanlde the torque. Ya need a auto to adsorb some of the shock.

Yeah, but here where I live, you can find good rockcrushers if the need arrises, plus if you have that much meat under the hood, you deserve to have to buy a new tranny if you don't do your homework on stress.