[Shotimes] OT: Pontiac GTO

[Donald Mallinson]

With an automatic, the more gears seems to help with overall gear 
packaging.  But with manuals, at least the vast majority, when you get a 
6-speed, you really are just getting an old style 4-speed with two 
overdrives.  This is of ZERO help at the drags or track. 

If they would take one of those two extra gears and help spread the 
ratios out between low and 1-1 then you would have something, but I see 
NO value in having two overdrive gears.  My 540 BMW was that way so even 
the Germans seem to wimp out when it comes to gearing.  B efore you buy 
a car with a lot of gears, find out how they are used.  If you are 
getting 2-3 OD gears, then it isn't an performance advantage at all.

Don Mallinson

Juillerat, Aaron J wrote:

>I don't know if the GTO auto is a 5 speed or not, but alot of the new 5
>speed autos are running nearly the same times as a manual.  The new Mustangs
>are advertised very close to each other also.  Being able to stay in the
>peak power range with more ideal gearing is one of the major reasons manuals
>are faster, but with more gears autos are starting to keep up.  Of coarse
>they are also making them more efficient.
>
>-A.J.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: clift@chartertn.net
>To: shotimes@autox.team.net
>Sent: 9/22/2005 11:08 PM
>Subject: RE: [Shotimes] OT: Pontiac GTO
>
>Oh no doubt, but as you allude its apples and oranges.  Considering it's
>innate drawbacks, it's awfully hard to build an automatic that?s quicker
>than a manual, last 100k+ miles, and still remain affordable.  Now the
>clutchless manual Ferrari and some others have, that's the best of both
>worlds..
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net
>[mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Mike
>Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2005 10:44 PM
>To: shotimes@autox.team.net
>Subject: Re: [Shotimes] OT: Pontiac GTO
>
>As I recall, all the top dragsters use some version of ATX.  A
>purpose-built
>tranny can whip a MTX, hands down.  Not to say that GM builds such a
>tranny
>for a street car, but it is possible.
>Mike
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