Automatic transmission vs Manual whats your preference and why?

JLKKLJ777 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-29-2007, 11:54 PM

I have driven 7 speeds, 9 speeds, 10 speeds, super 10's, and now an automatic. I must say I was very anti automatic when they first came out but now I am pleased with the new technology. Perhaps I am getting lazy but the ease of use especially in stop and go traffic has really made this job easier. I have no experience with it in snow or icy conditions yet though. Have any of you got some tips regarding slick conditions while driving an automatic? I know when I got stuck on ice in a truckstop I could put the manual shift in 5th or 6th gear, float the clutch to the grab point and the truck would walk across the ice. Pretty neat trick. Dont see how it would work with the auto though.

pcuthbert · #2 (**permalink**) 08-30-2007, 10:59 AM

I think that an auto is fine in the city, but when it comes to the open road, the standard is far superior.

It is pretty difficult to force an auto to stay in a specific gear to maintain the torque/hp at the best ratio.

Ice and snow are the big downfall for the autos.

brtecson · #3 (**permalink**) 08-30-2007, 08:53 PM

I prefer auto because it's what I used when I first started driving, even though it does suck in the winter.

Dirtball · #4 (**permalink**) 08-30-2007, 09:28 PM

I had the opportunity to drive a Columbia class Freightliner,500 Detroit with automatic tranny before I retired and I can tell ya you could have driven it like standard or automatic.I ran a lot of Bangor, Maine's with it and I can tell ya in the ice and snow there was nothing better than the automatic. Now this truck was new and it was a PENSKE lease truck . I used to run up I-81 and across I-84 and in automatic I could set the cruise and it ran up and down the hills like I was pulling empties.Even my back hauls ( usually around 78,000 Gross ) it pulled .The truck I drove you could pull the breaks on and leave it in gear and it would stay put..The only problem I had was forgetting to set the cruise everytime I parked and the damn thing would shut off (usually had to wait aroud three minuets for the computer to re-set). Then you had to put it back in netural to restart..Minor problem that I finally got used to. If I ever decided to buy my own ( kick my butt if I do) I would have an automatic in it.

DamnitRay · #5 (**permalink**) 08-31-2007, 01:17 PM

Well a 500 hrs power motor with a auto tranny is one thing...how about these Holland trucks that bounces golf balls up and down in the cylinder head to get its power, sure would be hard on a auto tran.

Dirtball · #6 (**permalink**) 08-31-2007, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DamnitRay

Well a 500 hrs power motor with a auto tranny is one thing...how about these Holland trucks that bounces golf balls up and down in the cylinder head to get its power, sure would be hard on a auto tran.

Not really sure how they would hold up in a slip seat operation anyway..I did improve my fuel mileage with the auto trans..When I ran the midwest area I think I got somewhere around 7 to 9 miles per gallon.When I ran new England that was a different animal all together .I think I got somewhere around 5 to 6 mpg. I never babied the truck either I ran flat foot to the floor all the time ,At least as much as I could.I usually set the cruise at 68mph and pressed the pedal when I wanted to show off. Can't do that very often in a freight truck.