harry7 your fact is agreable. Age is a factor and ready or not.

My personal opinion, when I got my first car, I just want to feel total in control. Am not saying that we are not in control when we have auto. Of course during the first few rounds driving, I got lil clumsy and as if someone is just out there watching every move I made. After awhile, I got the hang of it. Its just the feeling of it. Being able to decide and navigate and the feeling of the gears in my palm, the feeling of stirring and so on and so form. Its like .. in fact it is, the feeling of life in my hands.
Nonetheless, I am prepared in say about 5 years time or so, I will have auto and WILL enjoy driving in a different manner. Maybe I will have set back of used to driving manual. When and if I experience those.. bone defective as I grow older, let say in ....50 years time, perhaps....just perhaps by then, someone will be driving for me...my boyfriend...or my hubby...or my son or daughter.
Anyway, its just my personal opinion. Whatever the choice is, am sure we will have fun.

 

Shifting gears doesn't change with an autostick it just is quicker and easier!

And since this is about a DC BENZ 6sp stick that is not a Porsche tranny or BMW I'll take the better 1.

 

Get the Manual. Be a driver not a rider.
Chris

 

Hi
Get the autostick---then you have control & choice.

Joe Parisi Salem Ma

 

I've never driven anything but the 6-speed. I agree that 1st gear is too short but 4th gear is awesome...lots of range.

 

i have to say the worse automatic gear i ever drove was on a Smart Car, i not sure you have them in america, but i found them totaly jumpy!, i hope the XF automatic is smooth?

Niko

 

We don't have the Smart...yet.The trans in the XF is very smooth.

 

is the automatic gear the one that was fitted to the Merc A class 2001 upwards??

 

No. It's from the slk and C class.

 

thanks, as i was thinking they put it across there range.

what u think harry on the auto v stick ??

niko

 

I bought the stick, I like it, but if I bought another, I would opt for the autostick. It's nice to have the option of shifting of not. It used to be (many years ago) that you lost significant performance with an auto, thats not as true today. I have driven the autostick and its a very good tranny, with all things considered buy the auto and enjoy yourself.

 

Well, as I said before, I've always had stick. I've been having joint problems, and forced myself to get the autostick. As it turns out, it was a good thing. It's a really fine box that you can fiddle with if you want, or just sit back and let it do the work. The longer I have it, the less I fiddle. The performance of the trans. is that good. It's a learning system, it evolves with the way you drive.

 

Since you are from the UK I can see your question I lived there for 2 years and it seems very few cars were automatics, and the ones that were had troubles. I love the Autostick!!! The nice thing with all DaimlerChyrsler automatics is they have what are called "adaptive transmissions" which means that over time the transmission automatically adapts to how you drive. My wife can always tell when Ive been driving the XF hard and fast with the autostick because when she gets in and drives in normal automatic mode (my wife isn't much for the autostick) the car is quicker off the line and accerates at a high rate of speed.

 

Would have picked the stick, just because I used to be a heel and toe junkie. The lady of the house, who will drive "Nasty" on occasion, said automatic. Surprise! We got an automatic. I use the autostick a lot, and you can redline it in all the gears if that's what you want. I will concede, too, that the automatic is a lot less fiddling around in city traffic. The only drawback is a sllght delay after the shift in autostick. It has to do with fluid pressure in the transmission (as I remember) but why mess with the warranty? It's a fairly fast car. It'll do for now.

 

see all i hoped against was that the auto stick was going to be a let down that the acceleration would have no feeling and there would be jolts in changing the gear, but what u say jay sounds good!

sounds like some honest posting

thanks

Niko

 

my first 14 cars were manual, my last 8 were auto..i am 61 years old...and when i decided to go back to a 6 speed manual i was worried...will i regret...but after 2 month driving my xfire i feel like i'm 35 again...a sport car has to be manual...

 

The space shuttle is automatic...

 

Just my input on the Xfire's auto vs manual...
Originally I was a HUGE fan of the automatic... then I realized it lacked something that almost all other sports cars that come with the "fake" SMT styled trans... it doesnt hold redline ... it will shift for you at key points that can critical for autocrossing and for just having fun on the highways... I would definatelly have everyone consider the manual over the auto in the crossfire's case... The power the Xfire lacks in hp... can somewhat be made up with someone who's good with a clutch and driving the car... But with the auto you have to brake torque really high for even a decent launch...

go with the manual

 

I tried both the automatic and manual before leasing my 04 and in my opinion the difference is like night and day. I have owned some high performance sports cars and have always felt that there is nothing better then the power and control of a manual. This car is no exception. First gear maybe short but if you bring the rpms up a little when launching you will get a quick take-off and it only gets better from there. Just bring it close to the red line before shifting to the next gear and you will feel the car pull strong. I found the automatic to be very smooth shifting but it just does not have the grunt of a manual. If you have the experience of driving a manual and know how to shift one you will love this choice.

 

Consider this too...............not only is the 6 spd more fun to drive, it makes the xfire less expensive to purchase, and I will bet, will be worth more when and if the vehicle is sold!!!!!!