Economical commuter, with a tolerable slushbox?

General Discussion
21

@jtsanders - you really would knock a car off the list because it downshifts going up a long steep hill? We have a hill with about a 6-7% grade approaching our house for the last 3/4 mile up that road. Our 1998 Camry doesn’t downshift on the hill. Our 2010 Mazda6 does. Which would I rather have on the hill? The Mazda any day. Why? Well, the Mazda is downshifting because the speed limit on the hill would require the car to be lugging in 4th gear, where it normally cruises on the street, but in 3rd it runs fine. The Camry’s gearing, being different, lets it run along in 3rd the whole time.

What’s the difference in feel, though? The Camry has VERY little responsiveness going up the hill. It struggles to accelerate, and has for many years. The Mazda, on the other hand, is seemingly eager and ready to go. Nudge the gas a bit and the car starts accelerating very nicely.

22

@eraser1998: The car has to well into the power band on that hill. The car has to slow on the hill and downshift, indicating it is underpowered. For me, anyway.

23

galantFebruary 7Report
Don’t the Nissan Versa’s have CVT? No shifting to worry about.

When my vehicle downshifts under power, it is instanttaniously., no lagging.

24

find one with a manumatic, an auto that lets you shift it yourself when you want to

25

My '09 Caravan has the “manumatic” as you call it, with the - and + shifter. When you move it to the left it downshifts and when you move it to the right , it shifts up. All shifts are smooth. Everything is so smooth, I wonder if it is alright. It had 46K on it when I bought it. Now has 52K.

26

See if these 2 links can help

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/powerSearch.jsp Very powerful search engine: 1984 to present; Edmunds MSRP 2010 to present; OEM; Fuel Type; … and a bunch more stuff including mpg (city, combined, or highway)

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/mpg/MPG.do?action=browseList