I was just referencing the efficiency of the new automatics, track time was
just an example. Autos used to be sluggish and needed more engine to make
up for the weight. The gearhead argument used to always be that the autos
were slow and lacked power and a real muscle car had to have a manual
transmission. The auto transmissions have improved greatly in strength and
efficiency.
-----Original Message-----
From: mgs-bounces@autox.team.net [mailto:mgs-bounces@autox.team.net] On
Behalf Of David Breneman
Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2010 10:11 PM
To: mgs@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Mgs] wanted
--- On Wed, 1/20/10, Chad Cooper <mgb72@airmail.net> wrote:
> The new Automatics in Vettes are
> putting out better track times than the
> standards were...
> Nothing but calf workout and replacing a clutch to having a
> standard 6 speed anymore.
As always, American car companies confuse sports cars
with drag racers. There's more to a car than straight-
line accelleration. A true sports car is a balanced
machine that can be *driven* with gusto no matter
what its horsepower. MG understood this. Mazda seems
to. But Chevrolet is making midlife crisis hyper-Eldorados
for the white shoe and belt set with which to impress
their friends at the country club. If I was going to
spend that kind of money for a car, I'd want to be able
to *drive* it, not just steer it around a little.
And yes, I think that German car sompanies like BMW
and Mercedes are getting away from the concept of
drivers' cars with their emphasis on paddle-shifted
automatic transmissions (a position that many
European buyers seem to agree with).
That said, it's nice that an American car company
can still make the most affordable mega-car in the
world. It's just a shame that so few buyers of those
cars can appreciate what a gift they are wasting
with the same transmission that goes into a schoolbus.
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