What still blows my mind is how these dual clutch systems handle creeping stop
and go traffic without burning out.
I'm also amazed by the cars that shut off each time you stop. I could never
imagine our old starters and ring gear could ever survive a week of that.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
-----Original Message-----
From: "Mark Rense" <mark44124@gmail.com>
To: <tigers@autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: [Tigers] Manual Transmissions
The future of the manual transmission is in doubt for several reasons. The
endless pursuit of better mpg and performance will drive the manufacturers
towards higher gear counts as engines get smaller and narrower in their
power band. As witness, the latest Audi A4 T2.0 went from a six-speed to an
eight-speed and lost a second 0-to-60 as well as gaining a couple MPG. The
sub-liter class engines now coming in small cars, both gas and diesel,
require lots of speeds to keep them on the boil. Traditional automatics had
more power losses than the equivalent manual versions, but today's new
designs with quick lock-up and integrated engine management achieve better
fuel economy than a manual. The CVT transmissions are finally getting close
to manuals in efficiency and cost as well. The dual clutch systems,
potentially the most efficient of all mechanical energy transfer systems,
are expensive to build and manage but are getting cheaper by the day as
volumes go up.
Then there are the social issues. Yes we Americans are fat and lazy and can
barely lift a left leg to push in that nasty clutch pedal, but why should we
in the Land Of Plentiful Petroleum? Our cities are bumper-to-bumper, our
highways are wide open and vast, and who wants or needs a manual in their
minivan? I mean, after all Dude, how can you text your BFF when you have to
bang third in the on-ramp??
In the near future efficiency requirements will push the gear count higher.
Really, who will want to row an 8- or 9-speed in the daily grind? I have one
car with a 6-speed and, track days excepted, its hard enough to keep track
of the gear count in mundane daily commuter driving. No, I don't text while
driving!
On top of it all is the newest generation's lack of enthusiasm for cars in
general and sports cars even less so. We all learned to drive stick out of
necessity, I did not own a manual transmission vehicle for the first 23
years of my driving life, the only automatic in the family being Mom's
ubiquitous land-barge station wagon. Today, as previous posters have
mentioned, you are hard-pressed to even find a manual car, and usually they
are the stripped loss-leader versions.
Unfortunately I think the manual transmission will follow the path of the
buggy whip, our great-grandchildren will simply chuckle at the notion. Too
bad for them...
Happy Thanksgiving!
Bugz, waiting for the family to descend upon us for the feast...
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