OT - Anyone driven a semi-auto before?

[Bill]

I might be offered a free replacement car, as my Bravo is getting old and tired.

I won't say what it is as I'm sure everyone will say the Bravo is much better.

The main thing I'm concerned about is that it has a auto gear box or you can have it semi-auto where you change the gears but the clutch is automatic.
Are these any good, or does it depend on the particular car?

I really like manuals, and would feel like I didn't have control if I couldn't control the clutch, anyone else driven auto's or semi-auto's and have any views on this.

 

[Lee]

Go on...humour us!!

My mate used to have a Mitsubishi FTO, with a Tiptronic function, that shifted ok.

But the Smart's are bloody awful, ask Tommy K, I think he has driven one for some time before.

 

[irishbravo]

I posted a pic of my dads new disco a couple of weeks ago thats a auto box and has the triptronic option. And by god is it fun.. U can really rally it. But then i have also driven a smart and its not so good. but is still fun.

Can;t beat a manual though

 

[Bill]

It's a Rover 25 1.8.

Not great looking and yes a ROVER, but it's 0-60 time is 9.5s, so should be a lot quicker than my 1.4 Bravo.

 

[Lee]

Didnt even know they did a semi auto 25??

1.8 K-Series is a good motor though.

 

[Allan Wall]

re

i have driven a Vauxall Sigma with triptronic box,

it was weird knocking it through the gears, because you change it, then couple of seconds later it actually changes, not like a proper rally style box.

probably woudl of been fun when you got used to it!

 

[Dan]

Same engine thats in the early S1 elise, yeah good engine

 

[Stu]

My Grandad had a Rover 25 with trip tronic.

He had the 1.6 engine though.

The gear changes were quite smooth and I loved the fact that you could knock the control to one side and have it semi auto.

I had an p plate honda civic 1.4 auto. That was ok too but I got bored with that because there were no gear changes at all.

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[Cynic-al]

i really don't like them, you either want a manual or an auto. In my experience they still change when they want to and they don't let you flick them down unless they want to. Plus it just isn't like changing gear!

 

[graham NZ]

if it's free, go for it. if you've got a choice, you'll probably regret it.
you'll REALLY miss changing those gears manually, with a clutch. and will probably use the semi auto 90% of the time.

 

[Bill]

Yeh I know manuals are much more fun, but I think day to day driving will be more relaxing in an auto, and there is semi-auto for when I need more instant power.

 

[steve]

16 mile commute across Birmingham in a 1.2 bravo with a juddery clutch and reluctant 1st,2nd gear change.

I'd kill for an auto option some days.

 

[Bill]

Thats so funny, I have to drive through Kings Heath and Edgbaston couple of days of the week to get to Uni, and my clutch judders, and 1st is impossible to engage in stop start traffic, it's a nightmare for me as well. Auto here I come lol.