Which "cheap" car has a surprisingly good automatic transmission? 

"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-) 01/17/2017 at 19:29 • Filed to: None

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So every car I’ve owned has been a manual. I’m to the point I’m kind of intrigued at the prospect of owning a car that shifts it’s own gears. So what cheap cars (either new entry level or flat out cheap) have surprisingly good automatics?

jkm7680 > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/17/2017 at 19:32

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Cheap cars generally have poopy automatic transmissions.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > jkm7680 01/17/2017 at 19:33

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But there must be one that at least has a decent one.

Wacko > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/17/2017 at 19:36

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None.

Sure they are better than the 4 speeds of the 90s and early 00s. If you actually only owned manuals, it really none. Unless you go with the DSG, but that ain’t cheap. Most are at least 6 speeds by now, they are all geared to save fuel, not make you smile. They still don’t always shift at the right time.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/17/2017 at 19:36

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[insert turbo-hydramatic or 4L here]
I make fun of GM all the time, but if you want an auto and to never have to think about it again, they’re the way to go, or at least were. No idea about their current offerings.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/17/2017 at 19:37

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My LS400 has a pretty good transmission and it’s cheapish

404 - User No Longer Available > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/17/2017 at 19:37

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My old Cavalier and G6's Hydramatic 4-speeds were pretty good. Ancient as they are, their shifts are decent. My friend who had a Mercedes in their family commented how smooth the automatic was.

Twism > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/17/2017 at 19:39

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The cheapest car with a ZF 8-speed (the best torque converter auto in the business) would be a 2012 Charger V6. Or a similar Chrysler 300.

Both can be had for around 12 k.

If we go cheaper, you can probably get a Mercedes S-Class W220 for nothing (less than 5K). The 5-speed in these are unbelievably smooth, but the whole car might be a ticking time bomb.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/17/2017 at 19:40

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Any late ‘60s Ford with a C4.

It may have only three speeds, but they’re bulletproof solid-shifting AMERICAN speeds.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 01/17/2017 at 19:41

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But what is it in and is it cheap? (Although I think that’s what they put in every GM for like 60 years?)

InFierority Complex > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/17/2017 at 19:42

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I had a pretty good experience with a couple automatic 2014+ Mazda3s I’ve recently test driven.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/17/2017 at 19:43

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‘80s El Camino.

404 - User No Longer Available > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 01/17/2017 at 19:45

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GM’s autos were good, even BMWs used them.

OPPOsaurus WRX > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/17/2017 at 19:50

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If you wanted something smooth and self shifting go for a CVT. You’ll be much happier

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > OPPOsaurus WRX 01/17/2017 at 19:52

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But then why do people always say that they’re worse than Hitler?

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > 404 - User No Longer Available 01/17/2017 at 19:57

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Now that I think about it. I drove my friends G6 a couple times. It’s nice and was pretty good about holding gears to when you accelerated hard.

LongbowMkII > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/17/2017 at 19:57

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Because they are.

DarkCreamyBeer > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 01/17/2017 at 19:58

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I’ve had a couple of Cruises as rentals lately, and there’s nothing wrong with its transmission. Better than the ubiquitous Hyundai Elantra rentals.

LongbowMkII > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/17/2017 at 19:58

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b-bodies. /thread

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > LongbowMkII 01/17/2017 at 20:00

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At smoothness or ratio selection or both?

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > LongbowMkII 01/17/2017 at 20:01

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Ok. Go home everyone!

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/17/2017 at 20:02

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Everything, and yes.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > DarkCreamyBeer 01/17/2017 at 20:04

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While Hyundai 4 cylinder autos (no major experience with the V6s) are lethargic and easily confused, it’s overbuilt and will take anything you throw at it. The one I sold for scrap after 180k miles of school pickup lines, three people learning how to drive (myself included), road trips all over the country, multiple moves, and 20k miles of “just die already” abuse is still on the road like six years later and most people I know have had similar experiences with them. They’re not the smartest things in the world, but they’re solid which I think is the same argument I’m making for the TH or L4. Ultimately, you’d rather have a manual in most applications, but it’s perfectly fine and you don’t need to worry about it. Can’t say that for most.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/17/2017 at 20:04

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Performance wise they leave a bit to be desired.

But for normal driving they’re pretty hard to beat when they don’t really rev or have rough shifts

daender > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/17/2017 at 20:05

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Because they tend to slip horribly. They also tend to have a noticeable lag between throttle input and putting power to the wheels. My mom’s 120k ‘03 Murano (first year, first gen, thank you CarMax extended warranty) picks up the revs 2-3 seconds before it starts accelerating, and that’s after a 1 second lag from pressing the accelerator. Also, CVTs (at least Nissans) are horribly designed that they’re not supposed to be opened up...ever, I don’t even want to know what dumb engineer came up with that idea because nothing that complex lasts forever.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > LongbowMkII 01/17/2017 at 20:09

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I seriously will own a Roasmaster wagon. It’s the perfect vehicle for me. I can move all of my sound kit, I can tow my racecar, it eats highway miles, it can be fixed with parts found on the side of the road, and seats eight. I mean, what more could I possibly need? It does everything practical.

Nibbles > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/17/2017 at 20:09

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pretty much any GM since ever until the late aughts had a TH-numbers or a 4L/4T-something

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/17/2017 at 20:11

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Ratio selection mostly. Most take forever to figure out what you’re doing, making you correct, so sound and perform in underwhelming waves. They’re okay if the car’s underpowered enough though. It’s fun in the Mirage. You put your foot down and just hear that three banger hanging at like 6k as the speedometer... doesn’t do much. It’s absolutely adorable. It’s just trying so hard. Getting to speed feels like a triumph and you applaud it and are happy for the thing. It might actually be the most characterful car on a dealer lot right now.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > daender 01/17/2017 at 20:18

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A Subaru mechanic posted a floor full of reman Subie CVTs because they’re non-serviceable. They just replace them.

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > jkm7680 01/17/2017 at 20:23

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Scoob automatic transmission

OPPOsaurus WRX > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/17/2017 at 20:27

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Cuz some people think there can be nothing but manuals. They can’t handle as much power but in an econobox ur not going to have to worry about that. Id take a CVT over an auto.

jkm7680 > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) 01/17/2017 at 20:27

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I CHALLENGE YOU TO FISTICUFFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Nibbles 01/17/2017 at 20:28

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Unless they have a 700R4, which can be built properly by a transmission shop with modern resources but from factory is basically as high quality and endearing as a drag Lucille Ball impersonator.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/17/2017 at 20:31

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The 4Txx in my brothers Grand Am is really smooth. Even shifting at full throttle it’s buttery.

On the other end of the spectrum, the transmission in my ex’s Taurus was trash. It felt like you were getting rear ended almost every time it shifted.

Sir Halffast > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/17/2017 at 20:32

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Subaru CVT is actually pretty decent and quite livable. Nissan’s not so much.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 01/17/2017 at 20:42

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I see. The only CVT I’ve driven was the Civic, but it never really would “hang on” to one rpm. I really liked it, but I figured it was an exception.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > Sir Halffast 01/17/2017 at 20:45

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Even though I’ve never driven one. An imprezza sounds like the ulta, resonable, DD. NA 4 cyl that’s decent on gas, AWD for bad weather, and now a good CVT? I can’t take this much excellence in mediocrity!

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/17/2017 at 20:52

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They do that when floored, but otherwise I feel them like float all around regardless of what you want from them. I do like the super-low highway rpm though.

HammerheadFistpunch > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/17/2017 at 21:04

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The 5 speed tiptronic in the b4 passat was great...The rest of the car? No, but I liked that trans

Sir Halffast > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/17/2017 at 21:23

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I have a Forester, and I really do love it, despite the CVT and all. They’re just good cars, and enjoyable to drive.

Sir Halffast > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 01/17/2017 at 21:30

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Also, the sound of a boxer engine at full chat is just musical.

LongbowMkII > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/17/2017 at 21:32

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Input =/= output. Need to make a right turn? Sometimes you start instantly other times you wait 2 seconds fucking up everything. It’s unpredictable. Also any throttle input at highway speeds kills your mileage.

I know the Nissan xtronic is an early example, but it’s pretty annoying. It wastes the torque of the low output VQ’s.

wafflesnfalafel > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/17/2017 at 21:56

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Our old Altima 2.5 had the best 4spd auto I’ve ever driven - solid, good shift points, good shift feel, knew when I wanted to kick down, would hold a lower gear well when appropriate, never had any problems with it. It was oddly psychic actually. SOOOO much better than the CVT Nissan now specs instead....

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > jkm7680 01/17/2017 at 22:43

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Meet me at the corner of jalopnik hq. We’ll duke this out like grown manchildren

jkm7680 > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) 01/17/2017 at 22:45

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Alright, I’ll be on my way.

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > jkm7680 01/17/2017 at 22:55

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No tag teams

ranwhenparked > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/17/2017 at 22:57

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Good old Torqueflite - rock solid reliable and fairly smooth.

jkm7680 > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) 01/17/2017 at 22:59

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Well fucking shit then. Gimme another hour.

Nibbles > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/17/2017 at 23:00

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Fun fact: The 700R4 was a Turbo Hydra-Matic (THM700R4). It came out in 1982 and, in 1990, was renamed 4L60.

DanimalHouse > InFierority Complex 01/17/2017 at 23:54

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Yeah, I really like the automatic in my ‘14 Mazda 5. And the +/- selector is arranged properly too (+ pull, - push)

Khalbali > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/17/2017 at 23:55

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My wife’s Kia Rio has a pretty decent dct, way better than the fiesta she looked at.

Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S. > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/18/2017 at 01:32

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Mine.

pip bip - choose Corrour > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/18/2017 at 05:22

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none

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > pip bip - choose Corrour 01/18/2017 at 05:44

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There is one. And I will find it!

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Nibbles 01/18/2017 at 08:46

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I didn’t remember what it got renamed. I only remembered that it was a TH family, but *at the time* got named something comparatively wacky. I don’t know why, but they just don’t seem to have a normal THM level reliability. My brother had one in an Astro behind a 4.3 - barfed itself, have had a whole series behind a 6.2 diesel for my mom - barfed themselves, given time, even with heavy duty clutches etc. etc.

ateamfan42 > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/18/2017 at 10:21

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I’ve yet to drive an auto in either cheap or expensive cars that I thought was worth a damn.

My friend had an early 90s Crown Vic that at least was pretty good about not needlessly slamming down a couple of gears going up hills. That made it more stable driving in slippery winter weather. But I’ve yet to drive an auto that I wasn’t either swearing at to shift (when it refused to do so) or to stop shifting (when it shouldn’t be)-- usually both at different times.

ateamfan42 > InFierority Complex 01/18/2017 at 10:23

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If I’m not mistaken, I believe that generation Mazda 3 actually has a manual gearbox (and clutch) that is fully computer controlled. Someone I know was very confused when his dealership told him they were replacing the throwout bearing under warranty, and that’s when he learned the auto wasn’t a traditional torque converter + planetary gearset.