Gearboxes

[FarmerPug]

autoboxes with 3 speeds are useless they rev too much on the motorway.

[lozz]

Auto boxes are for lazy people ithink

ihate the numbness you get in the left leg with an Auto,
oh and the thought of running out of fuel in a auto is bad too it plays havoc on them so ive found out,
iwouidnt have another one idont think,

there ok for disabled people or those that can only drive Rev & go Go carts a spose

[plod]

I think i've only ever drove one auto, and that was a Austin 1300 Vanden Plas

[sirwiggum]

The clutch pedal on the 406 had my left foot going numb at times, especially last xmas when the temperature froze my feet and xmas shoppers meant my drive home was a stop-start-stop-start for an hour and a half.

Loving the automatic, for big lazy cars it suits the driving style.

4 speed with an option on the selector for D3 for downhills, as well as a semi-auto 1-2 which I assume will come in handy in winter time.

[FarmerPug]

i wouldnt completley ignore an auto, some cars just suit them, a big old jag or a merc, my old merc was such a handful in the corners that it would have been impossible to change gear you needed both hands on the wheel when the back end felt it wanted to go somewhere else. It was a pleasure to drive though you could do the wafting properly manuals are too harsh and inconvenient for wafting.

[sirwiggum]

Automatic C6 would be living the dream.

[FarmerPug]

thats an example of a car where a manual is not allowed.

[DiscoPol]

manuals are too harsh and inconvenient for wafting.

I beg to differ, the new C5 has so much torque that wafting is possible in any gear above 3rd

[omega]

it also depeneds on what size tyres/wheels you are running.
but of course if you have some spare cash you can whip your gearbox down to a expert and get diffrent ratios but in.
a few years ago i use to race minis on the grass and i had a gearbox modified so that 3rd and 4th where long ratios 1st and 2nd so i had a set up for short tracks and long tracks.
then of course you can always change your final drive ratio as well to give you more options

[ToddM]

manuals are too harsh and inconvenient for wafting.

I beg to differ, the new C5 has so much torque that wafting is possible in any gear above 3rd

How my dad drove our old 3.0 v6 when it was Sunday and there was no chance of going anywhere around town - Start in first, flick to second at 2k, flick to fourth at 3k, fifth at 2k and coast as much as possible

[DiscoPol]

Start in first, flick to second at 2k, flick to fourth at 3k, fifth at 2k

if im just wafting about its very rare to get up to 2k rpm, the torque is there from down as low as 1100rpm and at 1400 it pulls like a train, it red lines at 4,500 but you never need anything above 3k even if you are giving it stick, the 6 speed box ensures that

[ToddM]

Start in first, flick to second at 2k, flick to fourth at 3k, fifth at 2k

if im just wafting about its very rare to get up to 2k rpm, the torque is there from down as low as 1100rpm and at 1400 it pulls like a train, it red lines at 4,500 but you never need anything above 3k even if you are giving it stick, the 6 speed box ensures that

You've done well for yourself, sir. Leave the rest of us poor ones alone

[FarmerPug]

i dont remember when the old merc changed gear, it was very undepowered only the 250 in the estate which should have got the 300 but the kickdown still worked on it for when it was inconvenient to waft, although kickdown just increased the revs, forward momentum did not change, acceleration didnt really occur

[sirwiggum]

Kickdown in the Honda is useful for getting up hills.

Still getting used to the second or so delay between putting the foot down, and the car taking off

[OdinEidolon]

errrm, what's this kickdown?