Auto v.s Stick

[SkyMarshall]

As I have paid for the rights to "stand in line to receive a Redline" My question is,
How does the Redline perform with the auto tranny? is it a dog? Or should I definitely opt for the stick?

[shabby]

I doubt the auto is a dog, but i always prefer to shift my own gears. Gotta do something then just step on the throttle and turn the wheel.

[coopcj7]

I have had autos all my life my sky being the first stick and I dont belive that I would want it any other way.

remember in a straight line the auto will beat the stick but in most anything else the stick will be superior.

Either way the sky is a wonderful car in any form

[stonebreaker]

I opted for a stick just because it's more fun on the twisties. But if you're going to drive in rush hour, or drag race, the auto is the way to go - particularly since you can put a high performance torque converter in the auto and make it even faster without having to reprogram the car.

[lostcause]

Originally Posted by stonebreaker

I opted for a stick just because it's more fun on the twisties. But if you're going to drive in rush hour, or drag race, the auto is the way to go - particularly since you can put a high performance torque converter in the auto and make it even faster without having to reprogram the car.

Tell me more about this high performance torque converter!!!

I bought an auto for exactly the reasons mentioned above. Daily driver, rush hour, my only real "performance" driving will be off red lights against whoever wants to play. Once or twice a year I may have the chance to do some twisty driving around tail of the dragon or similar roads, but 99% of the time will be daily, rush hour, straight highway, drag.

[mbeardsley]

I've driven stick all of my life, but just bought an Auto on my redline, and I am not disappointed. It's got tons of power.

Yes, I am sure that there will be some days that I will miss the stick, but I'm sure not missing it right now.

In case you care, the Auto is actually faster 0-60 than the stick is (5.2 seconds vs. 5.5).

[MidniteBlues]

Oh Boy, LOL, I guess this was expected, another the ole auto vs stick argument again-- Us auto dudes have already proven that it is faster, better and much easier, I think yawl better do some "searching" on the forum for the proof--Stickes have no chance off the line my friends-- As for the twisties, that is NP either, yawl just ain't ran against an auto head to head, is all--

[xmicro_Redline]

Remember...You drive a car with a manual tranny and you ride in a car with an automatic. A subtle difference of words, buut a totally different life style. Go with you gut, period!!

[joker70]

I have an auto and love it the twisties are the same the shifts are very quick and I like not having to drop the clutch. I here the manuals are kinda hard to mess with and from what I have see on the rides people for the most part have problems getting in gear and the timing right so as not to dump it IMO thats not to say that everyone is that way OK.. for those that will argue about it

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by coopcj7

I have had autos all my life my sky being the first stick and I dont belive that I would want it any other way.

remember in a straight line the auto will beat the stick but in most anything else the stick will be superior.

Either way the sky is a wonderful car in any form

On second thought, I will keep my remark to myself

[stonebreaker]

Originally Posted by lostcause

Tell me more about this high performance torque converter!!!

I bought an auto for exactly the reasons mentioned above. Daily driver, rush hour, my only real "performance" driving will be off red lights against whoever wants to play. Once or twice a year I may have the chance to do some twisty driving around tail of the dragon or similar roads, but 99% of the time will be daily, rush hour, straight highway, drag.

OK, tell me how much you know about torque converters so I know where to start.

[Gerry]

Originally Posted by stonebreaker

OK, tell me how much you know about torque converters so I know where to start.

I doubt he knows anything at all. Everyone who even knows what a torque converter does (and where it is in the driveline) wouldn't need to know any more than raising the stall. So you better start from scratch and don't leave out torus flow and how that works on the turbine and stator.

[lostcause]

Originally Posted by stonebreaker

OK, tell me how much you know about torque converters so I know where to start.

Not a thing. All I heard was "more power without reprogramming..." and naturally I have to know how!!!

[SKYRCKT]

Go for the stick!

[MidniteBlues]

here, learn how a TC works & what it does-- --
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/torque-converter.htm

[moni6]

I test drove an auto R/L. It is very fast and shifts so smoothly. We decided to get the stick because we thought it would be more fun. The auto is faster because we could never shift as fast as the computer.

[R Sky Rox]

OK, I grew up using a stick and wanted that kind of control. That being said, if you're going to opt out of the Onstar phone after your complimentary minutes are up, then talking on a cellphone while going through town is hell while driving a stick. Of course, there are headphones for that, too. It's really a matter of personal preference. Auto's are easier; you get more control with a manual.

You're going to love this car, either way.

[R Sky Rox]

Originally Posted by stonebreaker

I opted for a stick just because it's more fun on the twisties. But if you're going to drive in rush hour, or drag race, the auto is the way to go - particularly since you can put a high performance torque converter in the auto and make it even faster without having to reprogram the car.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but what I think stonebreaker is trying to say here is not that a high performance torque converter will make driving in rush hour any better--just that you will be able to jump out more quickly after stopping. It also sounds like it's easier to install the high performance torque converter in the auto than it would be to install it in the manual because you would have to reprogram the manual for the installation. I know nothing about torque converters, I'm just trying to interpret!

[Gerry]

Originally Posted by lostcause

Not a thing. All I heard was "more power without reprogramming..." and naturally I have to know how!!!

A torque converter does not make more power. It can change the way the engine power hits the rear tires.

A torque converter multiplies torque through the reaction of the stator and turbine to torus flow. It’s not a fluid clutch or fluid coupler, though it’s helpful to think of it in those terms. You can look it up on “How it works” web site for a pictorial description. Where a torque converter is vastly different from a fluid coupling is that multiplication of torque. Most converter multiply torque by anywhere from 1.8 to 2.5. Design will dictate where in that range –or outside that range- is the highest multiplication. You ask: “Does it really multiply torque, like if I have 260 lb/ft and the converter multiplies that torque by two then I have 520 lb/ft of torque? Yes it does, but it’s only that high at the moment of launch and goes away quickly once the tires start turning and the converter starts to couple.

The converter itself is a doughnut-looking thing that is sandwiched between the engine and the gearbox portion of the transmission. It is where a clutch would be if it were a manual. It is bolted to an automatic flywheel called a flex plate. Engine power is fed into the converter, which drives the transmission’s hydraulic pump. Torus flow pushes the trans fluid around in the converter and drives the fluid through the stator and into the turbine. The relationship in design between the stator and turbine determines what’s called a stall speed. This is very particular for a vehicle. Stall speed is the maximum engine rpm that can be achieved in the converter. This is pretty hard to do without a trans brake, which locks the trans in 1st and reverse. But picture yourself standing on the brake as hard as you can and flooring the throttle. If you could keep the rear brakes locked and without the interference of traction control, you would see how much rpm the converter stalls at.

What you would hope for as far as drag strip performance is that the stall speed occurs at your torque peak so that you are applying the most force at the moment of launch. Obviously this does not come without some compromise. First off, a higher stall torque converter wouldn’t do very much for a redline Sky. The torque peaks at 260 lb/ft and occurs at a fairly low rpm and stays flat to redline. A N/A Sky may benefit a bit by shifting the stall speed closer to the torque peak, but this isn’t something you’d want to do without the benefit of some experience. Too much stall on a street car can make the car a little strange to drive on the street due to what’s called the dynaflow affect. This is where movement of the throttle doesn’t bring about a corresponding response in the car due to the converter’s higher slipping to get to that stall speed.

So, in summary, a higher stall converter can be helpful in the right car and in the right situation. I don’t think there’d be much benefit –and probably not enough to offset the difficulties- in a redline. It could help an N/A Sky with the right person tuning the car.

And my opinion as far as auto or stick...have it your way. I have one old muscle car with a four speed, another with an auto. They're both a blast to drive.

[SkyMan 08]

Well Here is my Opinion.
having owned cars with both, including sporty cars and sports cars...

The stick can be more fun, and a stick can be less fun.. depending on the situation. An automatic can be fun too if you know how to drive one.. yes I said DRIVE one, you do not RIDE in an automatic car(unless it is a luxobarge), you still have to know when to brake when to accelerate, how to hit the corner just right, and you can down shift with your right foot using the accelerator, you can make the automatic do most anything you need on a mountian road, and going down hill you can manually shift it in a lower gear just like a stick. Plus you can keep both hands on the wheel.
A manual Is the pits if you have stop and go traffic, or if you are cruising the beach scene on a warm summer night. My left leg has gone numb before...

To me an Automatic has more positives than negatives.

I put this argument in the same catagory as Roadsters vs Motorcycles... whatever is best for you!!!

[ZDShadow]

The one thing that drives me nuts is that most true-hearted sports cars in the market usually have a His and Hers automatic option. So, in what is now the 3rd production year for the Kappa, we have yet to see one. I mean what about us city folk that want a daily driver and control over shifting? A rush hour dominator, and twisty destroyer!

If they put paddle shifters on the steering wheel or a side-over +/- on the console stick even, would be a clincher for me. ( because of the rush hour drives, and bad knees, all that clutching kills me )

Shoot, they put the paddles in a pontiac a couple years ago already, can't be that hard. I kind of consider it a marriage of both worlds without all the clutching and RPM management. Sure, you still don't have ultimate control over the shifting in terms of RPM matching, etc...but I'll sacrifice that for a his and hers.

Just my