Auto vs. Manual

[[ion] C2]

My 246,000 mile transmission is on its last leg.

Do I replace it with another regular lower mileage automatic? ($125-150 + labor if I don't do it)

Do I go through the hassle/$$$ of swapping over a Getrag F23 and the new pedals, cables, shifter, axles and all the other related stuff that I don't even know about because I'm not a trans guy. If so, I'm going to need a list of EVERY part I need to source.

[JLw7123]

I would just get a tranny and just build it.

[sleepyalero]

real men drive stick. the getrag would hold up to your power very nicely.


plus manuals give you a little more power gain then an auto would.

[03glgold]

really it depends on how soon you think you will replace the body...if it won't be long then the swap is more work than it is worth...If it will be a while then I say go manual...best I could see is if a nice manual swap car came up for you so you didn't have to do a tranny swap at all.

In other news, there is a 2000 5speed for sale in my hometown...might have to try that out this weekend

[AleroB888]

real men drive stick. the getrag would hold up to your power very nicely.


plus manuals give you a little more power gain then an auto would.

haha, have you learned to power shift it yet?

I could shift my old 442 4-speed without the clutch with the Competition Plus shifter in it. Of course the trans only lasted 2 years with that kind of abuse.

Man I'd like to have that one back. :p

[sleepyalero]

power shifting is TERRIBLE for the transmission.

[03gxeco]

ion, just get the Heavy duty tranny from a pontiac grand prix GTP :) the slave cylinder on the f23 is a pain in the dick to replace.

[AleroB888]

power shifting is TERRIBLE for the transmission.

Let me drive it once, once won't hurt it :awesome:

[03glgold]

ion, just get the Heavy duty tranny from a pontiac grand prix GTP :) the slave cylinder on the f23 is a pain in the rooster to replace.

probably not any more difficult than the slave cylinder on any other manual, you just didn't have the right stuff to do it...manual over auto all day every day

[colonel6632]

lovin my manual. but first gear is very steep, so the power you make, first gear will be useless

[billytheman1188]

REBUILT auto ftw. Who wants to shift all the time!? Lol. I'll take precise shifting over stick anyday. While others r shifting trying to catch up you can be worry free ;)

[sleepyalero]

Let me drive it once, once won't hurt it :awesome:

No way! Not letting anyone drive it lol.

lovin my manual. but first gear is very steep, so the power you make, first gear will be useless

On my f40 first gear is 0-30mph. Very quick gear to start out at WOT. pedal to the floor you almost immediately have to go to 2nd.

REBUILT auto ftw. Who wants to shift all the time!? Lol. I'll take precise shifting over stick anyday. While others r shifting trying to catch up you can be worry free ;)

Depends on the driver... I don't mind shifting all the time, it doesn't bother me, it's actually more fun then just sitting there.

Also doesnt matter between an auto and a manual, if you're good at driving a stick, you can easily change gears almost just as fast if not maybe a tad faster then the auto. Remember.. It's not the car, it's the driver behind the wheel.

[Oldsman]

The manual will be quicker but the auto will give constant E.T.s

If you build an auto right it can handle the power. It is more costly up front.

In the manual you can still tear it up. You have to have a damn good clutch and watch your half axles especially if you launch too hard.

[03Sleepr]

REBUILT auto ftw. Who wants to shift all the time!? Lol. I'll take precise shifting over stick anyday. While others r shifting trying to catch up you can be worry free ;)

Your lady parts are showing..

[xXManwhoreXx]

This is closer than I expected.. manual all day man. Think about the tail of the dragon with a standard trans. Downshift into the corner right at the bottom of the power band stomp the gas as you slingshot out of the corner, your bov letting out a hiss as you slam into third slowly build back boost and as your wastegate lets out a death scream your turbo bolts break and your car breaks again



https://si0.twimg.com/profile_images/3026648560/0a0630752ccbe045d9fa7e2443f1ae04.jpeg


Seriously man.. you drive a race car... stop being a pussy and get something that will
a. Be more fun for you
b. Work better
c. Not need anything but a new clutch every couple years

Plus I know you don't care.. but more people outside of the alero community would respect your shit

[sleepyalero]

Agreed wouldn't you rather choose which gear you want to be in instead of mash the pedal, wait for the downshift then go.

You could hold your speed put it in a gear sit at like 3500-4000k rpms then mash it, wait for the shift point, BAM slam your next gear.

[kwhauck]

just for the fun factor, manual

[Mike The Canadian]

Manuals are fun, but I personally don't think I'd ever be able to shift faster than my auto; some of you guys need a tune to really see how fast this thing can and does shift.

There is NO wait for a downshift, when it upshifts it's immediatley going in the next gear.. Hell when it shifts you can see the speedo jerk up at-least 5km/h on a hard shift; much like a manual...

I like both and have driven both but for daily use, and even speed of shifting I gotta go with the auto.. The available manuals tend to have better FDR's which in-turn produce faster acceleration though... these autos have TALL gears.

[[ion] C2]

Ya shifts are fast currently. I'll probably just put a replacement in here becuase it'd be the cheap and easy way. I don't need anything special and don't really feel like forking out more cash/work than I need to in my current situation.

If they were both the same time/cost to install, I'd go with the manual just to try it.

[sleepyalero]

should still go manual anyway, you'd like it.

[kwhauck]

C2;637953']Ya shifts are fast currently. I'll probably just put a replacement in here becuase it'd be the cheap and easy way. I don't need anything special and don't really feel like forking out more cash/work than I need to in my current situation.

If they were both the same time/cost to install, I'd go with the manual just to try it.

by the third or fourth transmission, you'll get tired of changing them.........

[[ion] C2]

I always planned to go manual eventually, when I get the time and stability to do so.

This will be simply an emergency-like swap if need-be. I still only have one car. For a daily, auto's always been fine. It has a lot of miles, otherwise it's held up alright. Not getting the power down though lately.

Mechanical priority:

fixing my incessant intake manifold vacuum/boost leak
adding PCV ventilation to my timing cover
replacing top end oil gaskets (part of above fix)
installing 75mm throttle body I have sitting here
brake caliper


Body priority:

repair rust
dash cover (plastic direct-fit)
finish rewiring everything
other stuff I don't remember

[Cliff8928]

F23 is good, F40 is better...

[xXManwhoreXx]

So your opting out of having a race car to keep a built grocery getter. Cool story bro

[rocketfast321]

I say auto

[sleepyalero]

F23 is good, F40 is better...

because you drove matts lol

[[ion] C2]

So your opting out of having a race car to keep a built grocery getter. Cool story bro

Still faster than you.
Don't know if you noticed but many of the fastest cars at the track are automatic.

I'm opting out of spending time and money in changing something that doesn't need to be changed in that way.

[AleroB888]

The manual will be quicker but the auto will give constant E.T.s

If you build an auto right it can handle the power. It is more costly up front.

In the manual you can still tear it up. You have to have a damn good clutch and watch your half axles especially if you launch too hard.

How much does the Dual Gate shifter help you? I never used that one, but the Quarter Stick was great on my old TH400 and the Lightning Rods shifted my 84 H/O well but was cumbersome.

[Cliff8928]

because you drove matts lol

How about I own one....

[sleepyalero]

How about I own one....

you got a g6 with it?

[Cliff8928]

Nope....

[sleepyalero]

then what? i know you dont have a 3.4 alero so you couldnt have a f40 i dont think.

[mfuller]

He has a Saab 9-3 with the blown Ecotec and an F40.
Thanks for your compliment on my powerband, Cliff.:)

And Chris, my vote (for obvious reasons) is go to a manual.
Sure, it is more work (and potentially more $$$ than building a stout slushbox), but it's immensely more fun.

[sleepyalero]

oh yeah, didnt know he owned a saab.

[03glgold]

not that he would have any reason to since he has the saab, but the tranny from the saab would bolt up to the 2.2l ecotec, all ecotecs have the same bell housing

[jackal2000]

Auto.

[03gxeco]

I don't have to say anything other then this now. The STOCK AUTO TRANS in a MK4 Toyota supra can handle 1500HP.. STOCK!!! the manual can only handle 460-500hp. the fastest supra in the US uses the stock Auto trans.

STICK to the auto. don't give in to peer pressure here..

[sleepyalero]

the g282 can hold more then stock auto. ;)

[Oldsman]

How much does the Dual Gate shifter help you? I never used that one, but the Quarter Stick was great on my old TH400 and the Lightning Rods shifted my 84 H/O well but was cumbersome.

It helps some, when I use the his side. Normally use the her side just for cruising around.

I had a Hurst Auto-stick 1 in my 71 Olds basically same shift pattern as the cual gate and it was great.

[Cliff8928]

He has a Saab 9-3 with the blown Ecotec and an F40

It's actually a 9-5 (Think LaCrosse, not Regal), one year offering in the US with that power train.


Thanks for your compliment on my powerband, Cliff.:)

It was well deserved.. Those tires really are what make it happen.