Left leg left

LET'S TORQUE

Let me get this load off my chest: I am beginning to enjoy driving cars with automatic gearboxes. Okay, not all cars, only powerful ones, but the key word here is automatic, not powerful.

To most enthusiasts, letting the car do the shifting is a big no-no. It was the case with me too, as there is nothing that comes close to a crisp, timely upshift or downshift well-matched to the revs. But what made me look at automatics with new respect was a car that I spent some quality time with, the Honda Accord V6.

With 221 bhp on tap from a massive 3000cc V6 and over 28 kgm of torque, there is no lack of oomph. Which is why you don't experience too much lag from the five-speed automatic.

Automatic gearboxes have been accused of sapping power from the engine, but when you have more than adequate horses on tap, it's not the case anymore.

Though the torque peaks at 5000 rpm and bhp at 6300 rpm, you can stay on the inside of 2000 rpm and yet cruise between 70 and 80 kph blissfully "" it's at one of these serene moments that I fell in love with the Accord V6's drivetrain. And not, as one would expect, in cumbersome stop-and-go traffic. Or when blistering past other road users with the engine singing.

Today, automatics are becoming smarter and shift as well as a good driver does. And if you are in the mood, some of them helpfully have a manual override option.

And no one can deny that they are incredibly convenient to drive. Yes, automatics make cars thirsty and expensive, but in some cases, they make the extra expense worthwhile.

srini@business-standard.com