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  • fiat22turbo

    Sept. 9, 2009 4:09 p.m. fiat22turbo UltraDork

    They just don't seem to know how to "hoon" an auto equipped vehicle. I watched the Cheap Porsche Challenge and Jeremy couldn't get his 928 to do a burnout. I nearly screamed for him to do a rev-drop at least if there isn't enough power to brake stand it properly.

    I realize that they, like many of us, stear away from automatics but surely someone on the crew has some experience with an automatic and driving the piss out of it.

    Just an idle thought, now back to your regularly scheduled programming.

  • Keith

    Sept. 9, 2009 4:39 p.m. Keith PowerDork

    Automatics are far less prevalent in Europe.

  • rob_lewis

    Sept. 9, 2009 4:50 p.m. rob_lewis Dork

    I was yelling at the TV when they tested the Vette, the Caddy and the Challenger and all made fun of Hammond because he couldn't do a burnout.

    All he had to do was turn OFF the traction control and hold the brake just a bit. I guarantee it would have left a nice, smoky set of lines.....

    -Rob

  • maroon92

    Sept. 9, 2009 4:50 p.m. maroon92 UltraDork

    Keith said:

    Automatics are far less prevalent in Europe.

    quoted for truth!

  • Josh

    Sept. 9, 2009 4:51 p.m. Josh HalfDork

    But Hasn't Jeremy owned a string of big AMG Mercs, which are almost always Autos?

  • fiat22turbo

    Sept. 9, 2009 4:53 p.m. fiat22turbo UltraDork

    Yep, my thoughts exactly. The American V8 episode was another one that got me a little frustrated.

  • ddavidv

    Sept. 9, 2009 4:58 p.m. ddavidv UltraDork

    Automatics suck. I wouldn't promote their burnout abilities either.

  • andrave

    Sept. 9, 2009 5:29 p.m. andrave Reader

    Its a tv show.. the guys play characters. Obviously they know cars very well, 90% of the show is dramatics for tv and hilarity ensues. don't take it too seriously.

  • aussiesmg

    Sept. 9, 2009 5:43 p.m. aussiesmg Dork

    ddavidv wrote:

    Automatics suck. I wouldn't promote their burnout abilities either.

    quoted for truth

  • confuZion3

    Sept. 9, 2009 6:22 p.m. confuZion3 SuperDork

    Most people can't drive manual transmission cars.

    I, on the other hand, cannot drive auto. I never learned.

  • MrJoshua

    Sept. 9, 2009 7:18 p.m. MrJoshua SuperDork

    confuZion3 wrote:

    Most people can't drive manual transmission cars.

    I, on the other hand, cannot drive auto. I never learned.

    Besides frequently trying to jam your left foot through the floor-the transition isnt hard.

  • Greg Voth

    Sept. 9, 2009 7:24 p.m. Greg Voth Reader

    I have driven an SRT-8 Challenger. It was a manual but I have no doubts that the auto could preform a hellacious burnout. The problem is not with the hp or tq, it is that the car weighs two tons.

  • Trans_Maro

    Sept. 9, 2009 8:09 p.m. Trans_Maro HalfDork

    Why would anyone drive an automatic?

    Shawn

  • andrave

    Sept. 9, 2009 8:22 p.m. andrave Reader

    so I can drink coffee, text on my cell phone, play with my radio, and drive at the same time?

  • maroon92

    Sept. 9, 2009 8:35 p.m. maroon92 UltraDork

    I can do that in my manual equipped car!

  • andrave

    Sept. 9, 2009 8:47 p.m. andrave Reader

    Automatic in my DD. Why? 1) I put 3-4k a month on my pathy. Thats a lot of shifting. 2) I use my blackberry when I'm on the road, for GPS and emails, texting, phone calls, etc. Shifting, black berry, and steering is one too many. 3) cruise control works a whole lot better in the mountain state when your auto tranny will downshift for you. 4) auto trans is infinitely better for towing than manual trans.

    play cars must be 5 sp, or must be cheap enough to make up for it. Daily drivers must be auto.

    These are my rules.

  • neon4891

    Sept. 9, 2009 8:57 p.m. neon4891 UltraDork

    MrJoshua wrote:

    confuZion3 wrote:

    Most people can't drive manual transmission cars.

    I, on the other hand, cannot drive auto. I never learned.

    Besides frequently trying to jam your left foot through the floor-the transition isnt hard.

    I go to drop it into 2nd when turning up my road and when I cant my arm got so twitchy I had to pull over and shake it off. OTOH after a long day, it can be nice to just put in D and go.

  • mad_machine

    Sept. 9, 2009 9:59 p.m. mad_machine UberDork

    Other than the car I leaned to drive on and took my driving test in (the inspector would not let me take the test in my manual beetle) I have only ever driven a Ford e350 as an auto for any length of time.

    In a cargo van, it was nice.. but aside from a couple of rentals, I would rather shift

  • Sept. 9, 2009 10:03 p.m. mistanfo Dork

    I remember the first time my brother drove Mom's new AWD Camry (only available with a manual transmission in '87, we got an '88). We got just a bit down the road, to where he was used to shifting into second, in the Bronco, which had a stiff clutch, and he NAILED the brakes. Ouch. He was, to say the least, embarrassed.

  • P71

    Sept. 9, 2009 10:19 p.m. P71 SuperDork

    ddavidv wrote:

    Automatics suck. I wouldn't promote their burnout abilities either.

    I know, right?!?! Automatics suck at burnouts! I mean come on, a two-ton plus V8 should be able to smoke 'em like crazy!

  • DirtyBird222

    Sept. 9, 2009 11:09 p.m. DirtyBird222 Dork

    Greg Voth wrote:

    I have driven an SRT-8 Challenger. It was a manual but I have no doubts that the auto could preform a hellacious burnout. The problem is not with the hp or tq, it is that the car weighs two tons.

    Torque Management system on the Hemi powered cars is actually a nuisance when wanting to do a burnout even with the TCS in the off position. Let's blame fly-by-wire for that one because it's the same shenanigans in my Mustang. I've decided you just can't beat a good ole cable actuated throttle body!

  • MitchellC

    Sept. 10, 2009 12:13 a.m. MitchellC HalfDork

    Driving a manual while holding a cup of coffee is easy. On the straights, just shift with your left hand. That doesn't defy the Grassroots code of conduct, does it? Note: Do not attempt in corners. There are not enough hands!

  • RedS13Coupe

    Sept. 10, 2009 12:16 a.m. RedS13Coupe Reader

    andrave wrote:

    Its a tv show.. the guys play characters. Obviously they know cars very well, 90% of the show is dramatics for tv and hilarity ensues. don't take it too seriously.

    yeah, its getting much more like that too.

    I am honestly getting tired of all the theatrics lately. They used to just go mess around in cars and do dumb stuff. Now a days they do so many bits like the EVO vs tanks were they go so far beyond playing characters and just trying to be entertaining to having completely scripted bits.

    I wish they would stop with the setups and just get back to acting like kids and playing with cool cars.

  • flountown

    Sept. 10, 2009 12:20 a.m. flountown New Reader

    MitchellC wrote:

    Driving a manual while holding a cup of coffee is easy. On the straights, just shift with your left hand. That doesn't defy the Grassroots code of conduct, does it? Note: Do not attempt in corners. There are not enough hands!

    I just hold the coffee in my left hand...

  • RedS13Coupe

    Sept. 10, 2009 1:12 a.m. RedS13Coupe Reader

    ddavidv wrote:

    Automatics suck. I wouldn't promote their burnout abilities either.

    Honestly, they are probably the best cars for it.

    A slip torque converter damn near doubles torque.

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