Automatic Haynes Roadster?
RichardRichard - 18/6/13 at 06:19 PM
What do you reckon to an Automatic Haynes Locost build?
The donor car I'm looking at buying has an auto box. I do actually like driving an auto but was wondering if anyone else has done one and do you
wish you'd gone manual? wouldn't be much trouble to convert to manual anyway.
Cheers
Mr Whippy - 18/6/13 at 06:37 PM
I drive both autos and manuals every day and most folk have no idea what their missing.
Autos are fantastic, I find it so funny when folk go on about how great sequential boxes are when automatics are just like them just faster plus you
can wind up the transmission at lights so it goes like a rubber band when they change 
Lots of people think you can't control them the same or as well as a manual but really that's down to lack off experience, you can make it
change gear exactly when you want. Go for it, certainly would always be my first choice.
In my experience the vauxhall autos are some of the best I used. I'd also recommend a separate oil cooler for the gearbox oil especially if you
are planning on thrashing it as that will really help the gear clutches last longer.
[Edited on 18/6/13 by Mr Whippy]
RichardRichard - 18/6/13 at 06:47 PM
Thanks Mate
snapper - 18/6/13 at 07:19 PM
Except for the dumb electronics that won't change down when you want to even in manual mode due to rev/torque lock out
Leave an auto 7 for the Americans
Ben_Copeland - 18/6/13 at 07:26 PM
There's a guy in Kent with an automatic Haynes roadster. I'll try remember who if he doesn't post
Mr Whippy - 18/6/13 at 08:11 PM
quote:
Originally posted by snapper
Except for the dumb electronics that won't change down when you want to even in manual mode due to rev/torque lock out
Leave an auto 7 for the Americans
Not all are electronically controlled most of mine have been mechanical with just electronic overdrives and you have to be very careful with the
manual selection especially when slowing down so as not to over rev the engine massively, really if you need to be mucking with the selector while
driving its not being used correctly and the gear locks are just meant for towing and driving in snow or wading when the gearbox would want to change
up at the wrong times.
Practice is required and a learnt feel for how each gearbox is set up (as they are all different) let's you control the gears, in my current car
I can select at least 3 different gears just by moving the throttle pedal slightly and then instantly take the engine right to the redline without
ever having to have just one hand on the wheel. Most who complain of them just have a few shots, balls it up and don't use them again put off
because they didn't feel in control or can't left foot brake.
[Edited on 18/6/13 by Mr Whippy]
Ivan - 18/6/13 at 08:23 PM
My Cobra has a 3 speed auto box and I wouldn't change it for a manual - even for track days. I did however put a shift kit in it so when a
specific gear is selected I can hold it to max revs before changing up and if i change down it will immediately drop down to the next gear.
On track once over 30mph I keep it in second which is good for 0 - 100 mph for more than half the track, and only change up to 3rd (tops out at
150mph - not that I get there) on two of the longer straights. The only down point is that when changing down under braking from 3rd it over brakes
the rear wheels for a fraction of a second that causes a tyre chirp and a bit of wheel locking - I need a much looser torque converter I think to stop
the chirp.
You can get after market gear change computers that allow you to completely manage the change characteristics of modern electronically managed autos
so they could be changed to suit the cars characteristics. I have been seriously thinking of installing a Merc 7 speed box with this but need to do a
lot more research when time allows.
Around town I just leave it in Drive to do it's own thing.
40inches - 18/6/13 at 08:23 PM
Wouldn't go back to a manual box now, they are a b*ll ache in traffic, the last 12 cars have been auto's. The worst a Granny Scorpio,
changed up to second at 25mph in kickdown, and changed when it felt like it for the rest.
The best boxes? on a 535i Beemer, that was so responsive, as Mr Whippy said, changed on the throttle, closely followed by a Jeep
4 litre Cherokee, no torque converter wind up, it just went!
40inches - 18/6/13 at 08:31 PM
quote:
Originally posted by RichardRichard
What do you reckon to an Automatic Haynes Locost build?
The donor car I'm looking at buying has an auto box. I do actually like driving an auto but was wondering if anyone else has done one and do you
wish you'd gone manual? wouldn't be much trouble to convert to manual anyway.
Cheers
It's been done in an MK http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=179418
jacko - 18/6/13 at 08:34 PM
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=179418
There you go
jacko
Bare - 19/6/13 at 02:06 AM
Sighhhh. I'm currently driving an Auto box car. Basically got tired of dealing Clutch ans Hydraulics issues.
BUT the damned thing.. while great in urban traffic gridlock. there is NO comparison to having a driver selectable gear ratio.. On Demand.
Much like having an Auto box Motorcycle.. WHY ??
Slimy38 - 19/6/13 at 07:35 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
In my experience the vauxhall autos are some of the best I used.
Really? I'd consider them to be the worst. Unless you're extremely good with the throttle there is quite a jerk as it shifts gear. And the
delay before it engages reverse is just obscene, I was literally counting the seconds. I reckon an average car park shuffle must take about three
times as long as normal.
Compare that to a sweet Mercedes box, where the only time you know it's changed gear is because the rev counter has dropped down. Mind you, it
could partly be the size of the car, going from an Astra to an E class there is a fair bit of metalwork to smooth out the ride.
I can see the appeal of an auto box, but personally I think it would take a certain 'something' out of a lightweight 7.
Mr Whippy - 19/6/13 at 10:39 AM
Like I said it takes practice with a car to get the best out of it regardless of a manual or autobox. My experience discussing them with folk who said
they didn't like automatic cars had only a few (if that many) goes and then proclaim them to be like driving a car possessed 
I tried treaching my wife to drive mine but she could not stop slamming the brakes on, in the end I decided she would be dangerous in an emergency and
she is just sticking to manuals. When i was a city bus driver 90% were autos but some were manual some even with upside down gate patterns 
then
home in either a manual or auto car just have to drive what your given. But still vastly prefer the autos
RichardRichard - 20/6/13 at 11:44 AM
I'll be sticking with a manual, the seller never accepted my offer for the auto mx5.
It looks like it'd been round hednesford hills raceway judging by the panels, roof split, pas pump gone, tatty interior but the bits i needed
were ok, anyway, he reckons with a new roof its worth a bag of sand so i wished him good luck.
I'll keep looking for a cheapie donor