[Tetralin]

OK, I'm getting the same flack I gave for decades on the auto vs. manual issue. I was more outspoken than most on the issue. For most of my adult life, my opinion was automatic transmissions were a complete joke in performance cars.

Well either I'm in the early stages of Alzheimer disease, or I had an "epiphany".

I'm going for the latter, and to back it up I made a video to try and show what Dodge accomplished with the new TorqueFlite 8 Speed. Please post your opinions why or why not, to help those who are shopping.

Thanks all Challenger lovers!

http://youtu.be/F6ipZhUhaC0

 

[RichR]

There's no question that the best modern automatic transmissions are at least as good as (often better than) manuals, not only for fuel efficiency but also for performance. Otherwise, you wouldn't see, for example, Porsche making their 911 GT3 and 911 Turbo automatic-only (no manual available!?)

Sadly, the manual is going the way of the dodo bird. Personally, make mine with 3 pedals and a stick-shift every time. "From my cold, dead hands!"

 

[Tetralin]

God bless the devoted

There's no question that the best modern automatic transmissions are at least as good as (often better than) manuals, not only for fuel efficiency but also for performance. Otherwise, you wouldn't see, for example, Porsche making their 911 GT3 and 911 Turbo automatic-only (no manual available!?)

Sadly, the manual is going the way of the dodo bird. Personally, make mine with 3 pedals and a stick-shift every time. "From my cold, dead hands!"

Nicely put. I will admit I'm gonna have to get me another fast car with a manual to get my fix.

 

[245pacer]

I have never owned an auto before I bought a ram a month ago but have ordered the 8 speed . I drove a 2014 manual with some exhaust work at it was a pretty unruly beast . I'm going to drive this car a lot and do some trips in it so because you can't really test drive to decide and I haven't heard a bad word about the 8 speed that's the way I've gone . The other reason being the stats say it's faster . My last car was a three on the floor manuel I must admit I've been really enjoying the hemi powered ram .

 

[cdahl383]

To me stick shifts are much more fun to drive. Nowadays the automatics are typically faster and just as efficient as the sticks. It's just a matter of preference. I've owned only autos prior to my Challenger and I just had to have a stick shift this time around so that's what I got. It's just plain fun to drive it anywhere!

I can understand getting the new 8 speed auto though, that's a nice trans! A Scat Pack with an 8 speed will be tough to beat.

 

[ScatPackMan]

I have had many manuals including the 2014 6 speed manual R/T and now I have the 8 speed auto Scat Pack. I said "I would never buy an auto performance car". The auto performs great and probably better than the stick HP aside of course but I still miss the manual it's just more fun. I spend most of my time in the manual mode and sport mode. It barks nicely upshifting and downshifting. I can still get a true shifting fix with the Busa, although not quite the same thing. I drove the 392 manual before buying the automatic so I made a clear headed decision. Even though I don't race I would say if you want to race get the auto and for the shear fun of it get the manual. I know some people that just hate to have to shift. I think the Scat Pack is the best car and the most fun of any car I have ever owned. I love it. I hope this helps. I have a tendency to ramble on, forgive me.

 

[GTWJR]

auto all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Bubba J]

just my $.02, coming from a car with a sequential auto with sport and manual mode, I now prefer an auto, and the new 8A is probably one of the best out there. However, after owning 45+ cars, many of the stick, I bought my Scat Pack with the 6spd. For me, it wasn't really one better than the other. It was way more of a toss up, and since my dealer had an incoming 6spd car equipped the way I wanted other than the trans, that is what I got. If he had an 8A coming with the same equipment, that is what I would be driving now. the trans was very much a non factor, as both are pretty nice. I know, not much help, but that is how it went down in my thought process.

 

[cdahl383]

Yep, I agree. Whatever trans you have it's still an awesome car. Just changes the driving experience some depending on what your preference is.

 

[Renaikan]

OK, I'm getting the same flack I gave for decades on the auto vs. manual issue. I was more outspoken than most on the issue. For most of my adult life, my opinion was automatic transmissions were a complete joke in performance cars.

Well either I'm in the early stages of Alzheimer disease, or I had an "epiphany".

I'm going for the latter, and to back it up I made a video to try and show what Dodge accomplished with the new TorqueFlite 8 Speed. Please post your opinions why or why not, to help those who are shopping.

Thanks all Challenger lovers!

http://youtu.be/F6ipZhUhaC0

Ordered mine last Friday. Sticking with the 6 speed. Reason being I feel I have more control over the car, and she isn't a daily driver.

 

[TikiMan]

6-speed all the way !

 

[Mysty1]

Second that motion; 6 speed all d way! Michel

 

[Tetralin]

God bless you!

just my $.02, coming from a car with a sequential auto with sport and manual mode, I now prefer an auto, and the new 8A is probably one of the best out there. However, after owning 45+ cars, many of the stick, I bought my Scat Pack with the 6spd. For me, it wasn't really one better than the other. It was way more of a toss up, and since my dealer had an incoming 6spd car equipped the way I wanted other than the trans, that is what I got. If he had an 8A coming with the same equipment, that is what I would be driving now. the trans was very much a non factor, as both are pretty nice. I know, not much help, but that is how it went down in my thought process.

No one wants the manual to go the way of the hand crank start, which would be a cool option on the scat. But things evolve. It's hard to let go. But thank the lord for classic enthusiasts who keep the cool factor on high for future generations.

I work at a chemical plant down a bumpy road that runs thru Exxon's multi- billion dollar chemical plant build in Baytown, Texas. I need alternate trans to work.

My Scat is in the shop now for a pothole hit on the lowered by 1/2" chasis. Damaged something. Got her home and are now seeing drops of Scat blood (coolant) on the ground. Coming from the underside. I calculate it at 2-3ml/24hr. I love her and it's likely fixable for under a grand.

Notice the disappearing drop in the bolt hole between the 2 pics.

These cars are for fun, not for daily driving in industrial areas. I'm gonna pay what ever it takes to solve the issue. Be careful out there in the scat. She is pure muscle, and mostly unbeatable, but not like the General Lee.

 

[Tetralin]

Posted 2 "permanent" videos

When you try and make a decision over a pretty long period of time, and the 2 options you are deciding between both have obvious and overpowering cool factors. Eventually you have to pull the trigger.

I did the pull, and I understood that because of that, one dominating cool factor was set aside for the other. This pretty much describes life...

1 for advantages in driving in manual sport mode with the 8 speed...

http://youtu.be/N8m2wh7uBBs

And 1 for controlling the 8 speed with pedal taps in full automatic sport mode...

http://youtu.be/1szjRPaylPU

Either way I'm still slightly kicking myself for making the unimaginable switch to a real muscle car without the manual. I just have to weigh it out at this point and say the manual and the automatic are both excellent choices. Both have fantastic advantages over the other. Flip a coin and pick one. Both will rock your world in the Scat!

 

[cdahl383]

I daily drive my R/T in the Detroit Metro area in Michigan where the roads are horrible, no issues so far luckily. There have been some pretty wicked potholes too on some of the roads during the winter when the snow plows lift up the patches, etc. Hopefully you can get your car fixed and back to normal again soon. That's what insurance is for.

The 8 speed auto will definitely be faster and more consistent for racing at the dragstrip and would be the better choice for someone who hit a lot of stop n go traffic on a regular basis, but the 6 speed is definitely more fun to drive, at least to me. Paddle shifters are cool but it's just not the same as a shifter and clutch. This is all opinion of course, some people hate shifting and therefore think manuals are horrible.

I can't see manuals going the way of the hand crank, etc. Car enthusiasts will always demand a manual in sports/muscle cars as an option. They won't ever be mainstream again or even available in everyday regular type vehicles, but I think there will always been a demand for them in certain sports/muscle cars.

 

[RichR]

... I can't see manuals going the way of the hand crank, etc. Car enthusiasts will always demand a manual in sports/muscle cars as an option. They won't ever be mainstream again or even available in everyday regular type vehicles, but I think there will always been a demand for them in certain sports/muscle cars.

I hope you're right but, as the die-hard population continues to shrink and fewer enthusiasts demand it—partly due to drastic improvements in automatic transmission technology and performance—I remain pessimistic about the future of the manual transmission.

Back when Porsche decided the 911 GT3 and 911 Turbo would ONLY be built with automatics, ... The writing is on the wall, I guess.

 

[cdahl383]

I think there will still be a niche market for manual transmissions, at least for a little while longer. Everything changes over time but I think there will still be a demand for it for a while. Who knows in another 30-40 years, but for now I think we're safe.

 

[Tetralin]

Update Videos on Auto-auto and Auto-manual

Keep pulling down videos after coming back to reality. I have 2 that try and show what you can do with the automatic. Some others are new as well. Moving more into Challenger Eye/Ear candy and legal videos. I'm trying for several per week, till the inevitable tree takes me home far away. lol

Merry X Mas to all!

https://www.youtube.com/user/HDRoadTripper/videos

 

[dz302]

OK, I'm getting the same flack I gave for decades on the auto vs. manual issue. I was more outspoken than most on the issue. For most of my adult life, my opinion was automatic transmissions were a complete joke in performance cars.

Well either I'm in the early stages of Alzheimer disease, or I had an "epiphany".

I'm going for the latter, and to back it up I made a video to try and show what Dodge accomplished with the new TorqueFlite 8 Speed. Please post your opinions why or why not, to help those who are shopping.

Thanks all Challenger lovers!

http://youtu.be/F6ipZhUhaC0

Mine is a 6 speed because it's my preference for fun and nostalgia.
I don't race, and I don't care which one will give a better time slip at the track.

My thoughts to you would be if you are going to race and wish to extract every single ounce of performance, go with the 8 speed.
If you want a car that is "fun" to drive and puts a smile on your face, go with the manual.

Just just my take on it.....

Either way, have fun and enjoy. Don't let others persuade you either way.

 

[xena1]

I have been driving over 45 years and have always bought stick shift vehicles. My new SP will be the 6 speed. Best advantage is that the jerk car thieves will pass on them because most can't drive them.