3.8GT - Auto or Manual?

[DrDaveS]

I am looking into trading my Veloster Turbo for a 3.8GT. Initially I was excited about having an automatic again with paddle shifter, but after reading some reviews I am second guessing. I am hearing that the automatic is sluggish in comparison to the manual.

Those of you with automatic, are you happy with the performance or do you wish you had gone with manual?

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Welcome! The automatic IS a little sluggish but not so bad if you shift manually in manual/sport mode. You'd probably like the manual transmission a little better but you really need to drive both before you buy. That's the only way to be 100% certain which you like best.

 

[Top Gear]

The slushies in the Coupes are overpowered by the 3.8, and got worse when they went to 8-speed. Plastic flappers mounted on the steering wheel do not make a true dual-clutch racing auto, and so it's just another minivan-grade slushie. Get the manual R-Spec or Track/Ultimate for a true sports car, IMO

 

[dbx]

The slushies in the Coupes are overpowered by the 3.8, and got worse when they went to 8-speed.

I agree, that the 8spds are sluggish. In fact, lethargic. Having said that, I still enjoy driving an automatic (first time in over 30yrs!) for a change.

Plastic flappers mounted on the steering wheel do not make a true dual-clutch racing auto, and so it's just another minivan-grade slushie. Get the manual R-Spec or Track/Ultimate for a true sports car, IMO

I rarely use mine (paddle shift), but it's pretty cool to switch from "auto" to paddle shift when coming into a curve (where braking is "the usual") and switching over to paddle...and accelerating, instead