Automatic Transmission
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Driving Angeles Crest
Originally Posted by Fanman,Jul 17 2005, 12:03 PM
One thing I haven't seen here is that Americans seem to spend much more time in traffic. In LA it's something like 2.0 hours a day. A manual would be a bear in this. I think that is THE reason we don't see manuals as prevelant. The manual is a dying breed.
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From: wishing I was in -
Originally Posted by NFRs2000NYC,Jul 17 2005, 11:29 AM
We live in a time that technology surpassed human capabilities. Manual transmissions are nothing but a novelty now. They are slower than a good automatic (ie BMW SMG) and serve absolutely NO purpose other than a good burnout. I for one, love manual, and for a road car would never purchase an automatic gearbox, but if I were to purchase something like a Ferrari, the F1 paddles are the only way to go.
Manual transmissions on sportscars are "ricey" so to speak (If a good auto is available)......take a car like the m3....
SMG vs Manual, SMG is faster in every sense of performance...faster track times, launch control flings your car off the line better than you ever could...so using this knowledge, its like getting an exhaust that makes the s2000 lose 10hp. There is NO conceivable reason to get a manual in cars like these other than burning out and showing off to your buddies.
Todays automatics, especially the Ricardo 7 speeds, audi twin clutch DSGs, AMG trannies, are not the automatics of yore (which some old 3 speeds were great as well.)
90% of todays cars given equal hp and tq....most drivers cannot shift as well as the autobox can. S2000 drivers are usually on the better spectrum of shifting, because they have to be....shorter throws, higher redline, faster thinking. (S2000 drivers are not exclusive to this, just an example)
Bottom line is, dont knock the automatics, because the SL65 sitting next to you at a light runs 11.4 stock.
Manual transmissions on sportscars are "ricey" so to speak (If a good auto is available)......take a car like the m3....
SMG vs Manual, SMG is faster in every sense of performance...faster track times, launch control flings your car off the line better than you ever could...so using this knowledge, its like getting an exhaust that makes the s2000 lose 10hp. There is NO conceivable reason to get a manual in cars like these other than burning out and showing off to your buddies.
Todays automatics, especially the Ricardo 7 speeds, audi twin clutch DSGs, AMG trannies, are not the automatics of yore (which some old 3 speeds were great as well.)
90% of todays cars given equal hp and tq....most drivers cannot shift as well as the autobox can. S2000 drivers are usually on the better spectrum of shifting, because they have to be....shorter throws, higher redline, faster thinking. (S2000 drivers are not exclusive to this, just an example)
Bottom line is, dont knock the automatics, because the SL65 sitting next to you at a light runs 11.4 stock.
The performance is up, but that's not what I always want. Most of the time I'm just cruising around down and want a nice smooth ride. A clutch is a simple device that gives me full control.
Automatics can go fast, but they can't read my mind just yet.
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From: New York
My point is, automatics are evolving. And although I get your point that SMGs are not "automatic" ....in reality they are. You have a choice of a manual m3, or automatic. Call it what you will it is missing a clutch that the driver controls, the computer controls where your shifts, its an automatic. Potato, potato. Just a few years back, only ferrari and the likes had these high end automatic transmissions. Now, they are creeping into the norm like the SMGs, DSGs, CVTs, etc....and in 5 years, most cars will have these things. Most automatic trannys allow full redline shifts, and if you know the car, you know how to trip the throttle position sensor to drop the car in the gear you wish. Granted, the civic DX auto is hardly equal to an s2000 manual, but c'mon, lets compare apples to apples. The m3 SMG is better than the manual, and say what you will, its still an automatic...granted, a technologically advanced automatic, but auto nevertheless.
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From: Berkeley
Originally Posted by watermelonman,Jul 17 2005, 09:30 PM
Automatics can go fast, but they can't read my mind just yet.
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From: Orange County
Originally Posted by NFRs2000NYC,Jul 17 2005, 10:22 PM
My point is, automatics are evolving. And although I get your point that SMGs are not "automatic" ....in reality they are. You have a choice of a manual m3, or automatic. Call it what you will it is missing a clutch that the driver controls, the computer controls where your shifts, its an automatic. Potato, potato. Just a few years back, only ferrari and the likes had these high end automatic transmissions. Now, they are creeping into the norm like the SMGs, DSGs, CVTs, etc....and in 5 years, most cars will have these things. Most automatic trannys allow full redline shifts, and if you know the car, you know how to trip the throttle position sensor to drop the car in the gear you wish. Granted, the civic DX auto is hardly equal to an s2000 manual, but c'mon, lets compare apples to apples. The m3 SMG is better than the manual, and say what you will, its still an automatic...granted, a technologically advanced automatic, but auto nevertheless.
I totally agree that if we're going out as professional race drivers, I want an SMG system in my car. The reality is that we
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I don't think anybody has mentioned the biggest advantage of the best automatic systems....They don't let you miss downshifts. Looking for 4th and get accidently get 2nd with a manual and you could blow the engine. Very bad news in a S2k and disaster in a Ferrari or Porsche. The auto system just won't do the shift until the the revs will be right.
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From: Berkeley
Originally Posted by Suzukaboy,Jul 18 2005, 03:37 AM
I don't think anybody has mentioned the biggest advantage of the best automatic systems....They don't let you miss downshifts. Looking for 4th and get accidently get 2nd with a manual and you could blow the engine. Very bad news in a S2k and disaster in a Ferrari or Porsche. The auto system just won't do the shift until the the revs will be right.