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A “recent” trend that has been going on for a while has always bugged me. It is only becoming more prominent these days and that is the “automated manual” as I call it. It has no clutch..just “flappy paddles” or in GM’s case “tiptronic” switch or the like. What is the point of one of these complex systems? while I know how to work on them and understand how they work, I can’t understand why they are being shoved down customers throats. Most people I talk to say that if they have a manual, they WANT a CLUTCH. Nowadays, you can’t get a manual in the traditional sense anymore here in the US unless you opt for an econobox or a high performance car…unless it’s an Italian exotic like Ferrari or Lamborghini who have also went to the stupid flappy paddles. Look, when I drive I want to actually DRIVE. Without a clutch which is a direct link to the vehicle from your left foot, it ain’t driving to me. These imposter manuals don’t have a clutch and defeat the purpose of a manual transmission. If I wanted to switch gears manually on an automatic, I can do so already with the shifter through the manual valves in the valve body. Why make it more complicated than it has to be when the point of a manual is control and simplicity?
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Formula 1 cars have paddle shifters. So, if you have paddle shifters you have a race car. Why do cars with automatic transmissions have tachometers when the transmission won’t let the engine rpm get into the red. We are a bunch of Walter Mitty’s. So, yeah, it is dumb.
[quote=”barneyb” post=123254]Formula 1 cars have paddle shifters. So, if you have paddle shifters you have a race car. Why do cars with automatic transmissions have tachometers when the transmission won’t let the engine rpm get into the red. We are a bunch of Walter Mitty’s. So, yeah, it is dumb.[/quote] People will just buy into anything nowadays. Part of it I’m sure is lazyness though. Personally, if my left foot doesn’t have anything to do, it feels wrong.
For me if it doesn’t have a clutch, it’s not worth owning. I drive a cargo van for a living and I end up wishing that it had a 3 on the tree most of the time…even heavy traffic…I don’t mind!
I had the chance to drive a ‘semi-auto’ chevy express van about 2 or 3 months ago and the thing just pissed me off something awful. It had that litte +/- switch on the gear selector stalk to move up or down through the gears. Long story short, it was so unresponsive that I just gave up on it completely and went back to ‘auto’ mode. There’s something wrong when you can work kickdown on the gas pedal more effectively than using a switch that’s supposed to make it quicker/more convenient. I’m pretty sure it’s an illusion of control VS actual control type of situation.
[quote=”Shanazon” post=123267]For me if it doesn’t have a clutch, it’s not worth owning. I drive a cargo van for a living and I end up wishing that it had a 3 on the tree most of the time…even heavy traffic…I don’t mind!
I had the chance to drive a ‘semi-auto’ chevy express van about 2 or 3 months ago and the thing just pissed me off something awful. It had that litte +/- switch on the gear selector stalk to move up or down through the gears. Long story short, it was so unresponsive that I just gave up on it completely and went back to ‘auto’ mode. There’s something wrong when you can work kickdown on the gas pedal more effectively than using a switch that’s supposed to make it quicker/more convenient. I’m pretty sure it’s an illusion of control VS actual control type of situation.[/quote] My thoughts exactly. No clutch means a vehicle ain’t for me. I’ve been in plenty of the newer “semi autos” they are unresponsive in comparison to rowing your own gears. Even the kickdown nowadays is lacking, thanks to electronic throttle control.
AND FURTHERMORE!
What’s up with not being able to get full-sized pickup trucks in manual? The only one that I’m pretty sure is still available is a a 3500 Ram with a 6spd Allison mated to a Cummins. I certainly like the idea of THAT truck, just not its pricetag.
As far as the compact pickups, I think the Colorado and the Tacoma are the only ones that you can still get in stick. What’s the world comin’ to? 🙁
[quote=”Shanazon” post=123282]AND FURTHERMORE!
What’s up with not being able to get full-sized pickup trucks in manual? The only one that I’m pretty sure is still available is a a 3500 Ram with a 6spd Allison mated to a Cummins. I certainly like the idea of THAT truck, just not its pricetag.
As far as the compact pickups, I think the Colorado and the Tacoma are the only ones that you can still get in stick. What’s the world comin’ to? :-([/quote] Couldn’t agree more.
if it wasn’t for that style of transmission the new Corvette ZO-6 wouldn’t be doing 10.9 second quarters and 2.9 second 0-60s… but there is just something satisfying about pushing in the clutch in between gears.
[quote=”13aceofspades13″ post=123324]if it wasn’t for that style of transmission the new Corvette ZO-6 wouldn’t be doing 10.9 second quarters and 2.9 second 0-60s… but there is just something satisfying about pushing in the clutch in between gears.[/quote] You mean a dual clutch automatic? And ya, nothin like a perfect rev match!
yes but that transmission is not a true manual, it is considered a automatic you can shift manually with the paddles, but it has 8 gears like a F-1 race car, and allows the Corvette to stay within its already aggressive power band which allows flesh tearing acceleration.
[quote=”13aceofspades13″ post=123330]yes but that transmission is not a true manual, it is considered a automatic you can shift manually with the paddles, but it has 8 gears like a F-1 race car, and allows the Corvette to stay within its already aggressive power band which allows flesh tearing acceleration.[/quote] Right so it’s what we are talkin about here…although a “dual clutch tranny” is a fancy name for an automated manual as well.
[quote=”barneyb” post=123254]Why do cars with automatic transmissions have tachometers when the transmission won’t let the engine rpm get into the red. We are a bunch of Walter Mitty’s. So, yeah, it is dumb.[/quote]
I can control what gear my car shifts into buy letting off the accelerator at the RPMs I want it too shift, sometimes its nice too have it shift at say 4,500 or just 4,000RPM rather than 5,750RPM, that’s where the Tacho on my grand prix is nice… its also nice to observe where my engines idle is, or what RPMs its doing when cruising at what speeds, its just nice, do I need it no… but I have a better idea of what my engine is doing, and that makes me more comfortable.
[quote=”Chevyman21″ post=123332][quote=”13aceofspades13″ post=123330]yes but that transmission is not a true manual, it is considered a automatic you can shift manually with the paddles, but it has 8 gears like a F-1 race car, and allows the Corvette to stay within its already aggressive power band which allows flesh tearing acceleration.[/quote] Right so it’s what we are talkin about here…although a “dual clutch tranny” is a fancy name for an automated manual as well.[/quote]
yes
[quote=”13aceofspades13″ post=123333][quote=”barneyb” post=123254]Why do cars with automatic transmissions have tachometers when the transmission won’t let the engine rpm get into the red. We are a bunch of Walter Mitty’s. So, yeah, it is dumb.[/quote]
I can control what gear my car shifts into buy letting off the accelerator at the RPMs I want it too shift, sometimes its nice too have it shift at say 4,500 or just 4,000RPM rather than 5,750RPM, that’s where the Tacho on my grand prix is nice… its also nice to observe where my engines idle is, or what RPMs its doing when cruising at what speeds, its just nice, do I need it no… but I have a better idea of what my engine is doing, and that makes me more comfortable.[/quote] Tachs are a great diagnostic and tuning tool too!
[quote=”Chevyman21″ post=123335][quote=”13aceofspades13″ post=123333][quote=”barneyb” post=123254]Why do cars with automatic transmissions have tachometers when the transmission won’t let the engine rpm get into the red. We are a bunch of Walter Mitty’s. So, yeah, it is dumb.[/quote]
I can control what gear my car shifts into buy letting off the accelerator at the RPMs I want it too shift, sometimes its nice too have it shift at say 4,500 or just 4,000RPM rather than 5,750RPM, that’s where the Tacho on my grand prix is nice… its also nice to observe where my engines idle is, or what RPMs its doing when cruising at what speeds, its just nice, do I need it no… but I have a better idea of what my engine is doing, and that makes me more comfortable.[/quote] Tachs are a great diagnostic and tuning tool too![/quote]
yes, it can be.
[quote=”13aceofspades13″ post=123336][quote=”Chevyman21″ post=123335][quote=”13aceofspades13″ post=123333][quote=”barneyb” post=123254]Why do cars with automatic transmissions have tachometers when the transmission won’t let the engine rpm get into the red. We are a bunch of Walter Mitty’s. So, yeah, it is dumb.[/quote]
I can control what gear my car shifts into buy letting off the accelerator at the RPMs I want it too shift, sometimes its nice too have it shift at say 4,500 or just 4,000RPM rather than 5,750RPM, that’s where the Tacho on my grand prix is nice… its also nice to observe where my engines idle is, or what RPMs its doing when cruising at what speeds, its just nice, do I need it no… but I have a better idea of what my engine is doing, and that makes me more comfortable.[/quote] Tachs are a great diagnostic and tuning tool too![/quote]
yes, it can be.[/quote] I still think the ultimate in diagnostics and tuning is a vacuum gauge. But aids of other gauges certainly helps.
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