it's just my opinion, but I love the heck outta my auto stick. I had a 10&11 Camaro w/ auto-paddle and I hated them. For some reason, I couldn't feel the shifting, but with the 124, maybe because is a lot lighter, I can feel the changes in manual mode. I'm so glad I picked the Lusso over the Challenger.
It's interesting listening to your perception of the differences between the two because ironically, the automatic is actually faster than the manual. The automatic achieve 0 to 60 in about 6.30 seconds versus the manual in 6.8 even though there is a little bit more weight with the automatic
*This is true of most turbocharged vehicles.* In a manual you "loose the boost" each time you shift, and have to come back up onto boost again. *In an automatic you never let off the gas pedal* while you are accelerating, and thus the boost continues to build seamlessly.
Have never owned an automatic. My 6-speed manual is a blast to drive. An automatic, in my biased opinion, would be boooooring. However, if you don't know how to drive a straight stick and don't want to earn, get the auto. Actually, the manuals are pretty difficult to find.
+Simplex SM The auto is one thing, but there is a strange feeling between the 16" wheels of the Classica and 17" wheels on the Lusso. There is 1Lb between the two, and I'm sure the tires are a tad heavier as well. The weird thing is that the weight can be felt in the corners, that's obvious, but there's something else going on in a straight line. The steering felt less responsive and the bumpy road wasn't so much less pronounced, it was just not as sporty. I'd go so far as to say maybe that 1" wheel size affected wheel travel. I'm sure there's some Miata forum out there than can explain the differences and effects of wheel sizes and track performance. I just can't explain it, but I know that it felt completely opposite from the Classica, which I would buy if I had the room.
You really should try an Abarth. I could have gotten either the manual or the automatic in red and I chose the automatic with the paddle shifters. I have driven manuals for many years, but when you get older (I'll be 64 next month) and you want a beautiful car like this, and you have bad knees...you are VERY thankful for the automatic. I've gotta tell you...I absolutely love my red Abarth with the automatic. If this was 20 or thirty years ago...I would choose the manual. However, old age and injuries will change all of that. On the twisties, I push the sport mode, put it in manual...and have a BLAST using those paddle shifters! Try it...I think you'll like it better!
+Tinstar2 I drove the Abarth recently at Circuit of the Americas. It was a manual but I'll take your word for it in regards to the auto. I know there are some people out there who can't have a manual I have nothing against that. The Abarth has a different setup than the Lusso and Classica. I drove the Classica manual back in October 2016 and the Lusso automatic in February 2017. I don't generalize the cars I drive and I give specific reporting on the model I'm driving rather than drive one car and read through some press release and rattle off stats. My Abarth review from COTA will be live soon. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I just bought my 124 Spider Abarth With a manual transmission. And have been driving manual transmission Since 16 yrs old. Now at 64 still think The manual transmission is the only way to go. For example my 2019 Elantra 6sp manual transmission gets 45MPG all day long, Before that my Kia Manual transmission Also got 45MPG.
If anything, a larger wheel usually enhances the driving Dynamics in terms of handling so I'm confused... it's not like the suspension setup is different from the Classico to the Lusso Maybe your automatic tester was a lemon LOL
Press cars are driven like rental cars. While some writers may feel it's their job to drive hard, the press fleet people are always on top of maintenance, tires, and brakes. In fact, most new press cars don't even have a new car smell. The cars are always clean and most are free of issues. If there is even an issue with a press car, I can make a call and it is usually replaced.
John Grytbakk even though that's true, automatics are so good these days and multiple reviewers of this car with automatic said that it's very fun and it doesn't take much out of the experience. Sometimes it can add to the experience because it's a different driving dynamic
@@gordonbrittas4842 cant tell if that is a joke or not but manual cars are often much faster..you will have autos in racing or semi...Nasscar use manual trans .Pro Touring Cars often use sequential transmissions ..at the end of the day they pretty much all use a sequential transmissions apart from Nascar an a few pro turing .but they dont use full autos..also if you buy a car like an Arbath spider 124 for the driving expreance then you want a manual same with an MX5/miata
@@simoncox9689 modern DSG/ twin clutch are quicker in a car than their manual counter part.Stick shift is an outdated relic from the past. Porsche and Ferrari are not manual anymore. F1 racing (the top technology for racing) uses a semi auto no stick shift . The Abarth 124 auto box is poor but if you use the car daily and deal with heavy traffic I would chose the auto any day.
@@gordonbrittas4842 f1 may use semi auto GT 3 Porsche 911 is also uses sequential and refering to manuals being a relic..it is a bit hard to say when many new cars are still using stick shifts..true the trend is more automatic focused but it also depends where you are from .more automatics in the US but Europe seem to prefer manuals ..an if buy a car for a driving exprence then a manual is the way to go..but city driving i agree auto saves the hassle
Test drove all 124 models before buying and each was truly exciting and maybe the most fun of any of the myriads of cars I have been fortunate to have had in my garage. Purchased the Black Abarth auto with paddle shifters. In the past, we have found that the excitement of most high-performance and higher-end sports cars often starts to wain after several months....this has yet to occur with this lower performance low-end pseudo-Italian roadster with its pure soul and great value...highly recommended by this biased cowboy.
When I see a sports car with an automatic slushbox, I'm disappointed. Manual versus automatic is like a point-and-shoot camera versus a DSLR camera. Both produce good results but the DSLR camera (manual transmission) has more control and does exactly what you want. In a manual, if I want to downshift and skip a gear, I can unlike an automatic that has to go through each gear. A manual just looks sportier and looks right in a sports car; that's why you see automatic shifters mimic the look of a manual shift knob.
Thankfully, you can get a Fiat 124 Spider with a manual. In fact the bare-bones 124 Spider is my top choice! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-aCuDFNSPjGs.html
Plenty of people just want to cruise, hair in the wind. For them, the AT is fine. More choices is a benefit for customers. If you wan't the manual, go with it and stop trying to argue with people that ENJOY a car differently !
