Buying auto geared cars in Finland...

bkkalyan · Post by **bkkalyan** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 1:50 pm

Hi,

Is there any drawbacks of buying a car with auto gear system in finland? My friend says it does not work well in the winter conditions but I could see many taxis are using auto gears. Can you pour some opinion on this?

-Sri

**Sponsor:**

Kupcake · Post by **Kupcake** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 5:57 pm

I can't help you with technicalities, but i do have an automatic car - had it for 3 years now and haven't had any problems with it at all.

onkko · Post by **onkko** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 6:07 pm

More breaking parts and km/l is probably reasons. Finns arent just used to autogears. To example i have no idea how "rock" automated car if its stuck in snow. I have driven automated only once and managed to use clutch pedal only once and then twisted my left leg under chair (you do know what happens when you use clutch in autogear car)

Mattlill2000 · Post by **Mattlill2000** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 12:05 am

In my opinion there is no disadvantage in buying an automatic nowadays. The gas mileage is almost the same and nowadays the fancy cars have semi-automatics where you can decide to drive in either an automatic mode or clutchless standard. The development of the automatic transmission has been steady while the standard transmission has pretty well remained the same. You can rock a automatic but its not as easy as with a standard.
Yet for "sporty" driving, standard rules. IMHO.

raamv · Post by **raamv** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 12:28 am

bkkalyan wrote:Hi,

Is there any drawbacks of buying a car with auto gear system in finland? My friend says it does not work well in the winter conditions but I could see many taxis are using auto gears. Can you pour some opinion on this?

-Sri

Drawbacks: Automatic gear costs at least €1500-€3000 in cars...compared to the same models with manual shift..
Otherwise, if you dont have a problem driving either...then both are the same..
We have 1 automatic and 1 manual and we change cars ( with ma SO, of course) depending on who is travelling the furthest..given the convenience of our van or car..

Flossy1978 · Post by **Flossy1978** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 6:52 am

I can only drive an automatic car due to having an automatic only license.

I've had no problems whatsoever with my car and it's 20 years old. A Honda Civic that was imported from Canada a long time ago. No problems whatsoever.

But I do know that eventually there will come a time when the automatic transmission will fail and when that happens it's time for a new car because it's insanely expensive to fix an automatic car. Either that or the computer will eventually die, whatever comes first in such an old car LOL.

I do know automatics cost more than manuals.

jas_rho · Post by **jas_rho** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 11:08 am

Driving an automatic in the winter here is no problem. Both my wife and I now have automatics and I like them even more now that I am driving in Helsinki and Espoo everyday. Having an automatic in the traffic here is nice and makes it easy. Not that manual is hard or anything.
Oh another thing is that I have seen many inexperienced drivers having trouble with a manual transmission trying to go uphill from a still position in the winter (icy roads). I think an automatic actually makes that easier. When it comes to sportiness though, manual is the only way to go.

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 11:24 am

My other half and I both have automatics. His car is 20 years old and still has the original gearbox (approx 350 000 kms).

I used to prefer a manual but I find driving is a bit boring here, so I am happy to use an automatic.

Ravvy · Post by **Ravvy** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 4:22 pm

Heh heh, reminds me of summer 2007. Rental agent in Helsinki had saved an automatic transmission car for me because I was an American. However I had driven a manual/ stick shift for 30+ years here in the states.

BTW, my biggest problem with that auto trans car was that the headlights did not go on automatically when the car started. For 10+ years I had driven VWs at home & the lights just came on when I started the car; didn't have to think about it. Then they gave me this darn American car in Finland, and I kept forgetting to turn on the headlights (while stomping my left foot down on the floor where the clutch pedal was supposed to be).

Jarkka · Post by **Jarkka** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 10:47 am

I cannot understand why people still buy stick shifts at all. I'm driving my second automatic now and certainly wouldn't go back to manual again.

Ravvy · Post by **Ravvy** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 4:39 pm

Jarkka wrote:I cannot understand why people still buy stick shifts at all. I'm driving my second automatic now and certainly wouldn't go back to manual again.

Typically they cost less and get better gas mileage. And people who grew up with them often think they are more fun to drive.

nerakrose · Post by **nerakrose** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 7:10 pm

Ravvy wrote: And people who grew up with them often think they are more fun to drive.

Yes.

That and I'm maybe too stupid to drive an automatic car. I've never driven one, but I'd be confused like hell about not changing gears... and I've understood in this thread that there are different pedals as well? O.o way too complicated for me.

donald · Post by **donald** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 10:41 pm

Jarkka wrote:I cannot understand why people still buy stick shifts at all. I'm driving my second automatic now and certainly wouldn't go back to manual again.

That's good for you, apparently your taste. I have driven both automatic and stick shift quite a lot and my choice is clear: stick shift!

Automatics with "trafitional" technology using a torx converter certainly use more fuel. But if the car has eg. a DSG or multitronic gear, then the fuel consumption is about the same (or even lower) as with stick shifts.

umit · Post by **umit** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 3:56 pm

Hi! When I came here in Finland 6 months ago, I tried to do market research on driving preferences of the Finns, before buying a car... Because of the limited time and sources it was not a scientific or fully reliable one, but I don't see any problem to share the results here

1- Finns continue to rely on benzine, rather than diesel.

2- Smaller engines seems to be preferred more and more, though you can still see many large-engine cars on the streets (actually it was a big surprise for me to see the ultra-environment-conscious Finns driving large-engine cars)

3- Automatic is becoming popular

4- German cars dominate the middle-class.

In my opinion, if you are living in Helsinki (I haven't been to any other city, that's why I can't make a comparison) driving an automatic is the best. The traffic is slow and requires lots of stop&starts. There is almost no chance for sport/aggressive driving. The fuel consumption should be close to each other with a manual. Even if it is a little bit higher it is worthy for its comfort.

Flossy1978 · Post by **Flossy1978** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 4:37 pm

Come to Klaukkala....

All the rich ex Helsinkians and rich farmers (who sold their land to 'rivitalo' builders LOL) drive huge honking SUVs. There is even one of those American Hummers driving around the streets. I see it all the time. And someone owns a whole collection of those other huge FORD kind of trucks with the tray on the back, see them all the time too.

Finland Forum

Find information about moving to, living in and life in Finland