idea for new transmission
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Posting Guru
Joined: May 2003
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From: Nowhere, SE OK
idea for new transmission
just kind of random thought...
I was looking at a one of the new Volkswagon Toureg SUV's, and it has a six speed auto transmission. It has park, neutral, reverse, overdrive, sport(stays in gear longer), and then Triptronic mode. In Triptronic mode, you manually electronically shift gears. In other words, you bump the shifter up to shift up, down to shift down, so you can choose where to shift at.
Why doesn't Ford put a transmission with something like that in their trucks. And the Volkswagon isn't the only one set up like that. To name another is the Lincoln LS. There are more, but I can't think of them. It wouldn't replace the bulletproofness of manual transmissions, but it would give you the freedom to choose where you want to shift of a manual when you wanted it and the ease of an automatic when you wanted it.
One reason I would want it would be because I like the ease and fastness of an automatic, but with our straightpiped PowerStroke the exhaust doesn't really start to sound good till about 2100 RPM. And cruisin' down a road you are revving an average of 1400 RPM.(Not highway speeds, but like going down dirt roads and stuff.) I want to be heard!
What do you think?
I was looking at a one of the new Volkswagon Toureg SUV's, and it has a six speed auto transmission. It has park, neutral, reverse, overdrive, sport(stays in gear longer), and then Triptronic mode. In Triptronic mode, you manually electronically shift gears. In other words, you bump the shifter up to shift up, down to shift down, so you can choose where to shift at.
Why doesn't Ford put a transmission with something like that in their trucks. And the Volkswagon isn't the only one set up like that. To name another is the Lincoln LS. There are more, but I can't think of them. It wouldn't replace the bulletproofness of manual transmissions, but it would give you the freedom to choose where you want to shift of a manual when you wanted it and the ease of an automatic when you wanted it.
One reason I would want it would be because I like the ease and fastness of an automatic, but with our straightpiped PowerStroke the exhaust doesn't really start to sound good till about 2100 RPM. And cruisin' down a road you are revving an average of 1400 RPM.(Not highway speeds, but like going down dirt roads and stuff.) I want to be heard!
What do you think?
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
The triptronic is kind of sloppy IMO. I have driven a couple triptronic models, toyota celica and an 04 BMW 530I. Both of them the triptronic didn't shift as well as I wanted it to. Say I floor it and rev it out to 4500 rpm....when I click to upshift the next gear, the delay is too long (takes a second or two for it to shift) and the actual shift is not very smooth. It's actually slower than if you let the tranny shift itself. The only advantange is being able to downshift on your own, or holding a gear for a little longer. It doesn't work very well for straight line acceleration. It would be nice if they had a manual transmission (clutch and all) which could operate without the clutch to shift gearing. It's possible, powershifting, but with todays syncros it's hard on the tranny.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
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From: Atlanta GA
You probably have not driven the new Freightliners, but, they have a manual with no clutch pedal. I think it is only for Class 8 trucks so it probably will not be found in a FL80 series for a while. I really do not know how they work and I have not had one off pavement, so I cant say how it really is, just that it is neat set up.
Super Moderator
Joined: Apr 2004
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Seems like there are a couple of systems like that out there in cars as well.
I think eventually the automatic with all it's pumps and backwards spinning barrels of junk and planetary gears and waste heat will go the way of the buggy whip. A rather conventional looking manual tranny with two computer controlled clutches and a computer controlled shifter may be the answer.
I've got a CVT in my new car---takes some getting used to. The motor just goes to 5500 RPM and the speedo catches up. Feels a little like you're starting in 4th and slipping the clutch.
We'll see.....
Stay tuned.....
I think eventually the automatic with all it's pumps and backwards spinning barrels of junk and planetary gears and waste heat will go the way of the buggy whip. A rather conventional looking manual tranny with two computer controlled clutches and a computer controlled shifter may be the answer.
I've got a CVT in my new car---takes some getting used to. The motor just goes to 5500 RPM and the speedo catches up. Feels a little like you're starting in 4th and slipping the clutch.
We'll see.....
Stay tuned.....
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 306
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From: Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Audi's new transmission is a 6 speed automatic-manual with 2 clutches. One clutch used for 1st, 3rd, 5th and the other for 2nd, 4th, 6th. This way it it doesnt have to wait while the tranny shifts gears since the second clutch already has the gear needed...so it can shift faster than the fastest manual and does it very smoothly. You can leave it in Auto or shift it manually with paddles. Every car magazine that has tested one, loved it. It's supposedly going to replace all manual transmissions in the near future.
And for Clutchless manuals. We have a little 1999 Mercedes A-160 that has a manual with an automatic clutch. (Not tiptronic) Its a very nice system, it even lets off the clutch if you slow down in gear or come to a stop (but will warn you to downshift before accellerating again). Very fast too, you can even make the tires bark when shifting into second. (surprisingly easy with a 99horsepower 1.4L 4cyl). You get used to it really fast. After driving it around a bit, i would get into my brothers car with a manual and grind gears cause i didnt push the clutch in.
Btw, I found this while browsing the net one day. Scroll down to Number 6 http://vehvac.com/
And for Clutchless manuals. We have a little 1999 Mercedes A-160 that has a manual with an automatic clutch. (Not tiptronic) Its a very nice system, it even lets off the clutch if you slow down in gear or come to a stop (but will warn you to downshift before accellerating again). Very fast too, you can even make the tires bark when shifting into second. (surprisingly easy with a 99horsepower 1.4L 4cyl). You get used to it really fast. After driving it around a bit, i would get into my brothers car with a manual and grind gears cause i didnt push the clutch in.
Btw, I found this while browsing the net one day. Scroll down to Number 6 http://vehvac.com/
