XRS auto vs 6 spd

[Franko]

)Hi everyone,

I'm thinking to trade my Xterra for a Matrix, because since my daughter was born (19 months), I don't use 4x4 anymore .

I was thinking XRS auto ( ), that's the classical wife doesn't like standard case. I would much rather have the 6 speed, but sometimes we have to make compromises...

After reading some comments here, many people feel that XRS is wasted in auto configuration because it doesn't or barely gets in lift. I wonder if these comments are from experience or from a guess. I mean, even my Xterra (auto) gets to the red line or very very close to it if I floor it, why would the Matrix be different? Also, if I drive an auto and I want to race or just plain take off on my own, I would start from 1, and shift up myself anyway, that's the only way to get going fast with an auto. So can't you redline it by doing this? I beleive so, and I don't think it's unusual at all to drive like that (for performance that is).

That said, I would think that the auto would be slightly slower than the 6 speeds only because of the gear ratios are longer (just 4 gears) , not because it doesn't go in lift.

Please correct me if I'm wrong! But if I'm right, then the XRS auto is not a waste.

ps: it would be very cool if you guys would post your times to do 0-60mph in the 6 spd and the auto version.

Take care!

[mistamatrix]

Solution: Teach your wife STICK!

I was in a similar situation as you when I bought my XRS 6spd. I had a 95 Civic Si and needed more room. My wife begged for an auto (good thing she can drive manual) but since I was going to be driving it 90% of the time, I got my way and the rest is history.

[Franko]

Thanks anyway, I realize the 6 spd is the way to go, but it won't happen for me. I more hoping to hear from people with experience with the auto and redlining it (shifting manually) and see how much slower it is compared to the 6 spd. I'd bet it's about 0.7s from 0-60mph, no more.

Now 0.7s is quite a bit really, but again, what's the difference in times between the 130hp and the 180hp? I'd like to know that too... Anybody knows?

It seems to me that lift is not an issue even with the auto, just shift it yourself.

take care!

[Deep]

For the Celica, the Auto GTS is slower than the manual GT. Its a pretty shitty deal for the extra 8g's you drop for the GTS.

There isn't as big a difference between the auto and manual GT, but keep in mind that these are high revving motors with not a lot of torque so a 5/6 spd is a necessity to take advantage of the peaky curve.

[REN69]

For real man... TEACH YOUR WIFE THE WAY OF THE STICK!! my cousin did.. he taught his wife, his niece, his daughter, and if my aunt could drive, he would have taught her too!! that's the difference in being from another country though.. most foreign countries prefer using the manual transmissions over autos, so the ladies don't have a choice but to learn the way of the stick if they want to drive. trust me, she'll love it.. only drawback is.. you might never see your car again.

I'll end up doing it too when I get married.. there's no way in hell I'm driving auto again... unless its a high $$$ luxury car.

[mistamatrix]

The thing with shifting the auto "manually" is how long before you get tired of shifting it in that manner?
It's possible you'll get bored of driving it that way end up putting it in "D" all the time which then you'd be better off with the XR.

How often will you be driving and how often will your wife be driving? If you're going to find yourself driving at least 75% of the time, TRY TO CONVINCE the wifey to go with the 6!!!

[Dredd2099]

just to add to the above
yes, just get the car in manual
then she'd have no choice but to learn to drive one
tell her all the positive points of getting a manual
i.e. better fuel mileage no matter how small, better control, more fun, it makes u happy, etc
downplay any negative ones u see
i.e. harder time eating while driving (on city streets, probly be impossible)
u get the idea

[Franko]

Hahaha! You guys crack me up! You keep trying to tell me to convince my wife to learn stick. It's just not the point of my post! I understand the auto is better, beleive me!

Also, my wife is japanese and had to learn stick there. Our 1st car together was a stick (precidia V6). She can drive stick, she just hates it. Also, she can read me like an opened book... I tried all the possible ways to convince her already, including fuel economy and anything else under the sun, but she just knows me too well, she told me that the ONLY reason that I want stick is because I want to have more fun. She's right. Enough for that!

To answer mistamatrix' last post (which is more in tone of what I'm after), I would say that I agree with you. I would end up leaving it in D. But, don't you guys tell me that you are constantly redlining your cars all the time! Short life for your car! But anyway, I get it, auto is half wasting money on the XRS. I wouldn't say completely wasting money, but half wasting yes. But that goes with any cars, auto is not as quick as shift, unless you have a shift kit in it, then it's faster. But no car comes stock with that of course. Even on the XR auto isn't as quick as stick.


This brings me to this question: Is the XRS auto quicker than the XR stick? My guess is yes, but it's just a guess, anybody with facts?

[rezzle]

I have never driven a Matrix but I can share my experience with out 2000 Echo.

With electronically controlled automatic transmissions (which is almost all that is made now) the car shifts nearly at redline every time at full throttle. I borrowed a tach and put it on our Echo not too long after we got it to check that out. When I shifted by hand the governer kicked in less than 500 rpm from when the car shifted automatically. The only performance advantage when shifting by hand vs running in D is that I can keep the car's rpm closer to the sweet spot when rounding corners. Not that it matters much in an Echo anyway

The real performance hit auto VS standard is off the line in all the energy that can be stored in a revved engine/flywheel. This is *VERY* noticable in our car compared to standard Echo's. Once rolling however I usually stay with or can beat a standard echo nearly every time. I lose a bumper length then gain it back when they shift.

As for gas savings I am inclined to think that the auto is actually better on gas in the city. Sure a standard can be driven in a way that gets better milage because there is no torque converter loss but with an auto the car always changes as needed to the highest gear avoiding uneccessary RPM's

Oh, and I don't have to worry about changing the clutch in a year.

[Franko]

Thanks Rezzle.

That's about what I thought. Ah, btw you can store energy on the start with an auto. I'm not sure about all those front wheel drive cars, but I know that with my good old '76 Monte Carlo I was able to rev it and hold the brake pedal. It was actually design to take some abuse like that, but maybe front wheel drive can't whitstand that, I'm really not sure. There actually was a spec where the damage could be done if you rev higher. It was something like 3000rpm. That wouldn't do much on the XRS anyway (needs the high RPM), but on the old 454 it did something alright!

Thanks again for your post!

[Deep]

Since most braking is biased to the front and in FF the fronts are the drivewheels then you're putting a lot of stress on your motor by revving it against the brakes. If you overdid it in a FR car then you'd simply break traction because the force of the engine exceeds the amout friction you have on your drivewheels, the lesser biased wheels. You could still store some energy in the fronts but only negligable amounts.

[Franko]

Sounds logical Deep, thanks.

[Xenon]

I thought the XRS didn't come in Manual? Did they already intoduce the 6spd. XRS??

Is it AWD and 6spd.

[boroEF]

Originally posted by Xenon
I thought the XRS didn't come in Manual? Did they already intoduce the 6spd. XRS??

Is it AWD and 6spd.

i always thought xrs was stick only cos it's the gts drivetrain!!

and awd+no torque? that would be a bad combo...only comes in FF

[Xenon]

I think they're talking about the XRS 6spd. FWD, because from what I know the XRS AWD only came in Auto.!

Anyone?