GT Cars and the automatic transmission

"KatzManDu" (KatzManDu) 10/31/2015 at 15:42 • Filed to: None

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Why is it more acceptable that some GT cars have automatic transmissions and others don’t?

Personally, I can’t fathom a Jaguar XJS, Porsche 928 or BMW 8-series with an automatic in my garage. Unfortunately the majority of those models out there are autos. But, if I were ever to get a 928 or 850/840 I’d require it to have a manual transmission. At the same time other competing GT cars like the Mercedes SEC were automatic-only and I’d love to have one of those despite the slush box. If I view these cars empirically there is a cognitive dissonance. Instead of outright rejecting the SEC because of its lack of a third pedal I accept it, while I reject XJS, 928s, and 8-series which are autos. I’m far more troubled by this than I should be.

bob and john > KatzManDu 10/31/2015 at 15:47

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kinda similar to the ‘sports touring’ category of motorcycles. some are more sports then touring.
same with cars. GTs...come are more for bombing down the autobahn at 120mph, and others are more for winding your way through the alps listening to that motor bouncing of the cliffs.

Brickman > KatzManDu 10/31/2015 at 15:48

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Where the magic happens :D

TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H! > KatzManDu 10/31/2015 at 15:50

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Not helping in your question, but if I spent 80% of my time in O/D, I wouldn’t mind having an auto. To me, GT cars are more about comfortable mile eating than having fun on the back roads.

MultiplaOrgasms > KatzManDu 10/31/2015 at 18:04

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Well since the term is relatively broad the question of Manual vs. Automatic can be asked until eternity. My personal definition of a GT car is something with a noticeable emphasis on comfort and handling but without focusing on outright performance, or in other words a car that has just enough performance and handling to be enjoyable to drive but also has enough comfort and space for... things... that it is not tiring on long road trips or in daily driving. Historically the term has either referred to sports cars with a certain focus on endurance racing (Ferarri 250GT SWB and so on) or large, comfortable and fast coupés (Bentley R-Type Continental, Lancia B20GT etc.). The XJ-S, E31 and C126 fall into that last category, while the 928 is more of the former. If you happen to believe in the manual masterrace, go ahead I won’t stop you, but in my opinion these cars (except the Porsche) wouldn’t gain much with a manual transmission.

HarperT5 > KatzManDu 11/01/2015 at 07:16

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Perhaps the answer partly lies in the acronym - GT - Grand Tourer or Grand Touring. Indicates to me that this is a car to be driven comfortably over long distances - As Multipla suggests, some cars with this moniker are more sporty, and some less so. if I was setting out on a 500 mile plus trip, the preference for a commfortable ride would be strong. (having said that, I have done 900 miles in my Type 5, 6 speed manual...)

Considering all of this, the advances in gearbox technology make the choice almost insignificant.