RANT: I HATE Automatic Transmissions.

[mrbigstuff]

i like the tiptronic style on the lexii. they are pretty quick shifters and i'm told that you can fool with the computer in teh car to make it shift quicker. have not tried, it's not my car.

my volvo turbo with borg-warner auto used to outperform the manual version. turbos are very sensitive to engine speed and the manual would apparently cause some hesitation in the turbo spooling up.

[vision63]

Greg the dogsitter Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> vision63 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Spend a couple of hours on the I-405 in
> bumper to
> > bumper traffic everyday. Your left foot
> pumps
> > about 2 thousand times. You'll be glad at
> that
> > point that they created an invention that
> > eliminates the ridiculous and unnecessary
> manual
> > shifting of a vehicle.
>
> Maybe...you...should...LEAVE!!
>
> "I"-405?

I don't get the joke.

[Racer X]

they don't make manual transmissions that can handle 800 lb/ft of torque on a regular basis for automotive or light truck uses. How can people say they brake more frequently?

As for shifting, stock ones are pieces of crap. But if they are set up properly, they are a dream. Note to Chip....you can MANUALLY shift an auto too, especially if it is set up for it.

[RAMd®d]

[ ]He's not a car guy yet, and has little to no real life experience. Most of his rant is baseless in fact, but you have to allow his preferences.

At some point he'll also learn to apply context.

My rule:

Primary Car- auto
Second Car- stick

I've done a lot of driving on both, and yes, a manual is fun. Sometimes. But for most of those who have to commute daily, and for any other number of reasons, an A/T is preferred.

GtDS got tired of traffic, and left.

He doesn't seem to regret it one bit and for several reasons, is very happy were he is in life.

[OWC Jamie]

Greg the dogsitter wrote:
-------------------------
>You can do that ?

Absolutely.
The 'trick' is to do it without grinding.You can grind gears even WITH the clutch.
Try it going downhill sometime.
At some point, as your engine rpms are dropping the input and output gears in the tranny will be rotating at the same speed. The synchros will allow it to slide right into gear. You should 'feel' it in the stick. With some practice, you'll be able to do it by second nature.
First, downhill only , but 2->3->4->->5 <-4<-3<-2<-1 is a piece of cake.

I've only driven a 13 speed Kenworth once, and only on the highway hauling Fritos to Montreal with a friend,but the clutch isn't necessarily necessary once rolling there either.

It doesn't damage anything, unless you miss.

If you are coordinated enough to shift WITH a clutch without thinking about it, it can be done WITHOUT it.

[Grateful11]

I've had a few manuals in the past. I learn to drive on a '72 Chevy
PU with 3spd on the column. My first car was a '66 VW Beetle
naturally with a 4spd manual, put 60K on it . I paid $700 for it with
105K already on it. I could live with or without Automatics. The
most fun to drive Manual I ever drove was a my sisters '80 Prelude. I
remember coming down out of the Blue Ridge Mtns doing about 90-95mph
on Hwy. 321, it was blast. A friend of mine had a Spitfire, fun to
drive but rode like a go-cart.

I'm seriously thinking of getting a Honda Insight with a manual.

[M A V I C]

The automatic transmission was invented in Seattle for the main purpose of being able to start and stop on hills with ease. There are now cars with locking clutches but I am only aware of Subaru and Mercedes using them.

Go to a steep hill, stop, have a car pull up to 1' behind you, then you try to go again... let me know if you would rather have an automatic or the crash.

I personally like sticks. My last two cars have been autos (though the current is a triptronic.) I like sticks, especially in snow. I also like not to have power steering in snow and ice.

I've done 60mph up mt baker highway... could only do that with a stick and 4wd. I tried it in my last car (auto) and the traction control and stuff really made it impossible to drift around the corners. Ahhh, so much fun...

[vision63]

RAMd®d wrote:

>>GtDS got tired of traffic, and left.

>>He doesn't seem to regret it one bit and for several reasons, is very happy were he is in life.

Oh, I didn't know he moved from L.A.

[Grateful11]

My wifes '04 Explorer has a feature that disengages the automatic
transmission while idling. It doesn't hold on a slight slope like
automatics used to do. It's supposed to save on fuel. I read about
this feature somewhere but I can't remember where.