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...I thought Carlos did a good job explaining why he prefers a manual gearbox even over a PDK.
The gentleman is absolutely right. But more importantly, he is driving a performance-car, that has been optimized to be successful for performance-purposes, with both the manual and the automatic. Importantly, the automatic has performance-oriented features, such as launch control. Those features are going to be more consistent and more efficient than even the best human driver.
Now let's step back from performance cars.
An older automatic at least had the “feature” where the brake and gas could be held at the same time, revving the engine. That enables a burnout – or if luckier, a strong launch. A modern non-performance automatic don’t do that. It won’t rev past some minimal point. In my Camry, I can hold both pedals depressed, but the rpms might top-out at something like 1800. There is no advantage to trying to be cure to game the computer. The computer will always win.
The point is that a manual transmission allows the aggressive driver to extract maximum performance from a car that’s relatively slow, poorly built, not suited to performance, or any combination of the above. With a manual transmission, it is possible to make an old Opel or Corolla burn rubber (at least on one tire), despite having all of 70 hp. Can’t do that with an automatic.
But back to the modern era. There I am, sitting with my 268 hp V6. It’s a beautiful engine, stout and throaty. But it and its transmission are automatically controlled, programmed to do very different things, from what I’d like to do. And there ain’t a darn thing that I can do about it. Frustrating, no?
The point is that a manual transmission allows the aggressive driver to extract maximum performance from a car that’s relatively slow, poorly built, not suited to performance, or any combination of the above. With a manual transmission, it is possible to make an old Opel or Corolla burn rubber (at least on one tire), despite having all of 70 hp. Can’t do that with an automatic.
But back to the modern era. There I am, sitting with my 268 hp V6. It’s a beautiful engine, stout and throaty. But it and its transmission are automatically controlled, programmed to do very different things, from what I’d like to do. And there ain’t a darn thing that I can do about it. Frustrating, no?
Yet you have cars like Ferrari’s, Porsche’s, Mustangs, etc with manual gearbox dating all the way back to the 60s. I do agree about slow cars having a manual gearbox over a automatic. I drive a MK 4 Golf with a five speed. It’s the standard 2.0 N/A engine. 115 horsepower less then that at the wheels. The gearing is VERY tight and it’s always in it’s power band and so it feels MUCH faster then it really is.
My wife’s car was hit from behind a few weeks ago tore her bumper right off. They gave her a 17 or 18 Camry to drive it had the paddle shifters on it and the four banger. Fun little car would of been more fun with a manual gearbox though.
I've driven sticks over the years... but when I bought my 2015 Challenger RT I researched it and the 8 speed automatic had rave reviews... and still does.
5 years and 48k miles later no regrets passing on the 6 speed manual. These 400 horses can still scoot...
He’s not talking about a PDK or a DCT . He’s talking about the Tiptronic transmissions which was slightly better then a standard transmission. They still didn’t offer the control of a good manual gearbox.
Hate to break it to you but the 7-speed transmission in the A6 is a DCT. The 8-speed is a conventional torque-converter automatic... but it too is lightning-quick and there's no way you're gonna out-shift it. Maybe you're thinking of the clunky 5-speed POS "tiptronic" they used about two decades ago. They've come a long way since then.
Hate to break it to you but the 7-speed transmission in the A6 is a DCT. The 8-speed is a conventional torque-converter automatic... but it too is lightning-quick and there's no way you're gonna out-shift it. Maybe you're thinking of the clunky 5-speed POS "tiptronic" they used about two decades ago. They've come a long way since then.
Guess it depends on what year ones talking about. I looked the specs of an Audi A6 and there’s no mention of a a DCT. It is a seven speed automatic gearbox. That’s for a 2020 model.
Location: Formerly Pleasanton Ca, now in Marietta Ga
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What people forget is that in some cars like the Ferrari 360 and newer the transmission is the same. One can have a stick or an f1 shifter. Same gearbox, stick or computer driven mechanisms that do the same as the clutch and stick, but faster. In some cases a few have taken off the computer driven mechanisms and put a stick and clutch pedal back in. The automatic is not hydraulic like the what people imagine autos to be.
I've had high performance sports cars all my life with sticks and there is no way I can shift faster than my now considered slow and clumsy f1 shifted car. It's still fun to shift using the paddles, but nice to go into full auto on the way home or in traffic.
Guess it depends on what year ones talking about. I looked the specs of an Audi A6 and there’s no mention of a a DCT. It is a seven speed automatic gearbox. That’s for a 2020 model.
Then I guess you missed it. I just checked Audi's A6 specs page and it clearly specifies "Seven-speed S tronic® dual-clutch automatic transmission with quattro® all-wheel drive with ultra® technology" (whatever the hell "ultra® technology" means).
Then I guess you missed it. I just checked Audi's A6 specs page and it clearly specifies "Seven-speed S tronic® dual-clutch automatic transmission with quattro® all-wheel drive with ultra® technology" (whatever the hell "ultra® technology" means).
My mistake then, it, means it’s really expensive If it breaks lol.
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