Nooby question

[driftersil80]

Ive been researching drifting stuff for a while now. I have the just of the type of cars used, their setups, etc...but one thing I have never figured out is this: Can you drift an automatic car? Specifically a heavy automatic car? (hint: 96' Impala SS)

[panda_3ight_6]

Please Do some more research mostly on this forum, You'll see what all the cars used are, what their set ups are and theres alot of "can i drift this" threads

[Feint]

Yes,yes you can.Why can't you?

[nissanguy_24]

I drift an automatic S13. Its pretty much like drifting a manual, except you have a drunken monkey copilot doing the shifting for you. but i usualy keep it in 2 when im shifting and the gear doesnt change out of second unless i manualy move it.

The real problem is the delay between me hitting the pedal and the wheels turning. i wouldnt sugest trying to drift one competitively but for learning its not the worse thing in the world.

as for a heavy car, yeah you can drift it, even with an auto, but then you kindof have two strikes against you, the tranny to worry about it and its problems. and the weight as well.

[pita bread]

driftersil80,

Your question was fine. Also a few posts were deleted to calm this thread.

nissanguy_24,

Thanks for responding to the question.

[driftersil80]

Thanks guys! K, now I have 2 more questions: How do you "manually" move the gear out of second if the car is auto, or am I misreading the sentance? Also: how do you put an avatar picture under your name?

[driftxtreem]

Originally posted by driftersil80
Thanks guys! K, now I have 2 more questions: How do you "manually" move the gear out of second if the car is auto, or am I misreading the sentance? Also: how do you put an avatar picture under your name?

Most automatics can be moved between gears such as 1st through neutral without any effort. It will stop in neutral so you don’t hit reverse. Some autos can be left in first and it will automatically shift to second when it reaches its peek. Hondas will do this. I have an auto S13 and I throw it between 1st and second a lot, but have never tried to see if it would shift on its own. Also if the US version has the hold button you can engage this and it will make your trannie a manual shift. This means that it will not shift unless you do it. Experiment and see what works for you. As for the avatar, go to your user cp and load it up there

[nissanguy_24]

Hold button? i heard that phrase before i bought my s13, but never actualy saw it. it does however have the overdrive button. press it and it wll go to overdrive unless you hit the gas.

On mine its like this..

1st gear. put it there, it will only use first gear, nothing to shift down to and it will bounce off the rev limiter if you dont up *Censored**Censored**Censored**Censored* it to second

second gear. it wont move up to 3rd for nothing, it will bounce off the rev limiter instead. It will only shift to first to prevent from stalling.

Third Gear. Or drive. In this gear it will shift from first to third, and back again with speed. If the over drive button is pressed it will then go from first to 4th and back gain depending on speed.

the S13 has a "sports style" shifter. meaning its the same spot as the manual tranny gear selector is. It moves up and down from first to second to 'drive' which is third, and has a overdrive selector button on the side.

anyways i hope that information helps clearify some things. Alot of autos are like this in sporty cars. especialy imports. But i cant say anything specificly for anything except the s13.

[driftersil80]

Thanks!

[FireEmblem62]

Originally posted by nissanguy_24
1st gear. put it there, it will only use first gear, nothing to shift down to and it will bounce off the rev limiter if you dont up *Censored**Censored**Censored**Censored* it to second

hahahahaha, thats funny, u were gonna spell "shift", but your finger musta missed the "f" key and u spelt "sh!t" instead, i just thought that was funny

[nissanguy_24]

LOL yeah i guess so. Oh well. i should of been more careful

[OdgeUK]

nissanguy_24

Are you saying that there's no real disadvantage in drifting using an auto box in an s13? I ask because I am thinking of getting one this weekend but am concerned that I won't be able to have the fun that you can have in a manual.

[SilverGhost]

i think that in low speed drifts, there is virtually no difference between the auto and manual, cause you can shift the auto like a manual. but at higher speeds the manual is better for 2 reasons: 1) the manual is a 5 speed, so it will have more gears to play with, and 2) like nissanguy said, once you are in 3rd or drive, you cant control what gear it goes into really.

thats just my 50 cent

[OdgeUK]

Thanks Silverghost, appreciate the advice. It will definately be an important consideration when I go to view an auto S13 today. Trouble is, good mileage, good condition S13's, in the right colour, come up so rarely that I think I'll take it anyway. But not sure it's good car-buyer ettiquette to try and drift a car on your first test drive with the owner in the passenger seat !!

Is power sliding at low speeds still just as easy in an auto? presumably you just shift the auto into second gear and power down, shifting into third/drive once you're straight and away? Does this slaughter the gear box?!

Originally posted by SilverGhost
i think that in low speed drifts, there is virtually no difference between the auto and manual, cause you can shift the auto like a manual. but at higher speeds the manual is better for 2 reasons: 1) the manual is a 5 speed, so it will have more gears to play with, and 2) like nissanguy said, once you are in 3rd or drive, you cant control what gear it goes into really.

thats just my 50 cent

[nissanguy_24]

My engine went out before my tranny did.


Disadvantages? There are some, your not able to use the clutch techniques. But for me that forced me to focus on weight transfer techniques. Like trail braking and such. More advanced techniques if you ask me.

Is it as easy to power slide? alittle tougher, because your putting down less power. But if the engine is in good shape it will work just fine.

Its not perfect, but it will let you focus on and learn other things instead of trying to fight with the clutch.. a good example is your stock seat.. you cant hold your self in with a manual but with that free foot in the auto you can plant your self and focus on driving.

As you get more advanced you will want a manual probably. but they are easy enough suposively to swap in. I am going to be purchasing a Sr20 front clip to replace my engine, and i will be swapping out the tranny at that point.

Like ghost said, higher speed drifts can be tricky, but honestly i was doing foot braking drifts at 70 miles an hour, and never had a problem with what gear i was in.

Honestly the open diff and lack of power is the biggest problem. with some more power and a LSD a auto can be pretty competitive... The auto tranny in the s13 is geared pretty well. very few times was i not in my powerband. but i had the timming advanced and the y pipe and stuff removed on my intake which really helped out my top end power, so the KA produced power alot longer then in a stocker. But those are basicly free mods, so feel free to do them.

As you get more advanced and get the basics, and even the more advanced weight transfer stuff down you may want a manual, but the auto should be fine for now.

Now as for it being as fun as a manual. probably not, S13s are fun in general, autos arent fun in general. I had a blast driving my car, and i really miss it already, dispite being the auto.. i can say the S13 auto isnt as bad as alot of Automatic transmisions can be.