Why is stick so much faster than automatic??
07-10-2010, 06:31 PM
#1
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Why is stick so much faster than automatic??
Hey there,
While I'd love a WRX, for financial reasons I may end up going with a 2.5i. I know it won't be particularly quick, but aside from good acceleration and handling, I wanted a safe, reliable car with all-wheel-drive.
Anyway, while researching acceleration stats for the 2008-2010 Impreza 2.5i, I found a big difference between manual and auto transmissions...
For stick shift, Car & Driver [1] is claiming a 0-60 time of 7.6 seconds, and Edmunds [2] says 8.2 seconds (not sure why the difference). But for the auto, Motor Trend [3] gives a time of 9.5 seconds. Even if the stick does 8.2 seconds, that's a big difference from 9.5 seconds.
I guess this is a dumb question, but why is this so? Simply because you can launch a stick car at a higher RPM?
Thx.
1. http://www.caranddriver.com/features...20_000-feature
2. http://www.edmunds.com/subaru/imprez...vemanual1.html
3. http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...fications.html
While I'd love a WRX, for financial reasons I may end up going with a 2.5i. I know it won't be particularly quick, but aside from good acceleration and handling, I wanted a safe, reliable car with all-wheel-drive.
Anyway, while researching acceleration stats for the 2008-2010 Impreza 2.5i, I found a big difference between manual and auto transmissions...
For stick shift, Car & Driver [1] is claiming a 0-60 time of 7.6 seconds, and Edmunds [2] says 8.2 seconds (not sure why the difference). But for the auto, Motor Trend [3] gives a time of 9.5 seconds. Even if the stick does 8.2 seconds, that's a big difference from 9.5 seconds.
I guess this is a dumb question, but why is this so? Simply because you can launch a stick car at a higher RPM?
Thx.
1. http://www.caranddriver.com/features...20_000-feature
2. http://www.edmunds.com/subaru/imprez...vemanual1.html
3. http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...fications.html
07-10-2010, 10:47 PM
#3
you have the "slippage" through the slush box also...
remember the auto tranny doesnt have a direct connection from the engine output to the tranny output.
take 2 fans. like a desktop fan. face them together. turn on one fan (engine output) and watch as the other fan start spinning (tranny output).
where as a manual tranny always have gears connected to the output shafts.
remember the auto tranny doesnt have a direct connection from the engine output to the tranny output.
take 2 fans. like a desktop fan. face them together. turn on one fan (engine output) and watch as the other fan start spinning (tranny output).
where as a manual tranny always have gears connected to the output shafts.
Are you considering getting an automagic? Why would you do such a thing? 
07-11-2010, 11:00 AM
#7
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I think the choice should be based much more on how you want to connect to your car. If being in control is really important to you then manual. If you prefer to cruise and mostly drive around town and through lots of traffic then manual.
You'll get AWD and all that fun stuff anyways. I think maintenance on a manual is cheaper/simpler if you really want to factor that in as well.
You'll get AWD and all that fun stuff anyways. I think maintenance on a manual is cheaper/simpler if you really want to factor that in as well.
07-16-2010, 06:08 PM
#10
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Lets not forget that a automatic tranny shifts in a lower RPM, vs a manual you have abit more leway for pulling @ higher RPMs.
I agree though, Sticks are so much more fun to drive
I agree though, Sticks are so much more fun to drive
07-18-2010, 11:24 AM
#11
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My first manual car was my subie and i was kinda scared at first not knowing really how to drive stick but now that I''ve learned and got the hang of it, i would never get another automatic car again. it does seem faster and you just can control the car way better. it also saves your brakes because you can downshift instead of riding the brakes.
07-18-2010, 12:27 PM
#12
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even if you dont know how to drive manual I would highly suggest getting a manual car, having said that try and learn on a friends car so you dont mess up your brand new clutch haha. Manual makes the driving experience so much more fun and once you have a manual car you will never want to go back to automatic
07-19-2010, 12:51 PM
#13
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Doesn't the Impreza still use the 4EAT?
If so, in addition to the reasons stated above, you have worse gear ratios for your 0-60 time. I had an Outback loaner with the normally aspirated 2.5l mated to a 4EAT and first gear in that thing was LLLOOONNNNGGGGG. It was scary slow at altitude.
You also have to consider that with a manual tranny, the magazines are probably launching the car at 4-5k rpm, which you can't do in a stock automatic.
If so, in addition to the reasons stated above, you have worse gear ratios for your 0-60 time. I had an Outback loaner with the normally aspirated 2.5l mated to a 4EAT and first gear in that thing was LLLOOONNNNGGGGG. It was scary slow at altitude.
You also have to consider that with a manual tranny, the magazines are probably launching the car at 4-5k rpm, which you can't do in a stock automatic.
