5spd vs auto

[NJsolaraguy]

Ive seen many posts here with people saying that the auto v6 are alot slower than the manuals. Are they really that much faster?(never road in one)lol someone even said they did 17 in the quarter mile with auto v6.

[nkx1]

The manuals are faster than the auto's because the manual transmission tranfers power to the drivetrain more effectively than the automatic does. I know that seems a little obvious, but I don't have a good enough technical understanding of transmissions to explain why this is the case. The stock V6 automatics seem to be a good 1 or so second slower than an equivalent manual.

[20SoLaRa02]

auto's are approx 1 sec. or less slower depending on drivers but don't let that discourage you, just look at joeB....he has one of the fastest solara's on this board if not the fastest and his is an auto!!!

-michael

[all_red]

As stock, yes, the manual is a better. Keep in mind auto transmissions with torque converter are BadA$$!!!

[impactX]

The manuals are faster than the auto's because the manual transmission tranfers power to the drivetrain more effectively than the automatic does. I know that seems a little obvious, but I don't have a good enough technical understanding of transmissions to explain why this is the case. The stock V6 automatics seem to be a good 1 or so second slower than an equivalent manual.

With today's technology, auto's drivetrain loss is minimal already. The manuals on our platform are way faster because they have closer gear ratios while the auto's is very long.

[impactX]

auto's are approx 1 sec. or less slower depending on drivers but don't let that discourage you, just look at joeB....he has one of the fastest solara's on this board if not the fastest and his is an auto!!!

-michael

It would have been faster with the same mods on the manual.

[dan99solara]

i have a 5 speed V6 and my mom has an auto V6. my car is way faster. you can feel more drivetrain loss in the auto, as well as the really long gears (auto only has 4) manuals have 5 so they are quite shorter. 1 more gear might not sound like much but it revs so much faster and puts more power to the ground.

[Sentinel]

When I was looking for cars, I was told by a Dealer Salesperson that the Solara didn't come with a stick. I also have never seen one for sale with a 5-spd. Is this 'cause the auto is standard on an SLE? There was no way I was going to deal with a 4-cyl (sorry guys) so I thought I was stuck with an auto... I'm not too pissed 'cause I got my 2000 SLEv6 for $4k less than the 2000 SEv6 (and it ONLY has 100k on it ) But I wish I would have known... there's no doubt that a stick will pull harder. There's no Torque Converter getting in the way, and another gear sure helps too!

'00 SLEv6
Trunk Badges removed (+0 H.P.)

[JoeB]

I think I still lose a little to the manuals. The trick is to do the right things to the auto transmission to negate the differences. I know it isn't quite equal still but I NEVER miss a shift and my shifting is VERY consistent . The difference is it cost me more money to get there because I had to have Level 10 recalibrate the valve bodies and install a high-stall torque converter. I forget the exac numbers but I seem to recall about a 20% loss for the automatics transfering power to the wheels vs. a 7%(?) loss for the manuals or was it 13%? Does that sound right? Either way, the torque converter helps to equal the equation (not quite) and the valve body recalibration is because the slush bucket won't handle the punishment. -JoeB

[WTF??]

i have a 5 speed V6 and my mom has an auto V6. my car is way faster.

Thats cuz you got your K&N Drop in Filter!!
Wow I thot Missy ws the only one that has her mom with the same car!

[cdssolara]

I think I still lose a little to the manuals. The trick is to do the right things to the auto transmission to negate the differences. I know it isn't quite equal still but I NEVER miss a shift and my shifting is VERY consistent . The difference is it cost me more money to get there because I had to have Level 10 recalibrate the valve bodies and install a high-stall torque converter. I forget the exac numbers but I seem to recall about a 20% loss for the automatics transfering power to the wheels vs. a 7%(?) loss for the manuals or was it 13%? Does that sound right? Either way, the torque converter helps to equal the equation (not quite) and the valve body recalibration is because the slush bucket won't handle the punishment. -JoeB

13% drive train loss is probably more like it for the manuals. I always use 20% for auto and 15% for manual as a rule of thumb, but it could vary depending on the car.