Ok First the GTR then the Lancer Ralliart.....what's with companies seemingly replacing a traditional 5 or 6 speed manual gearbox with these hybrids? Aren't these systems more expensive to manufacture, easier to break and not as involving as a traditional manual gearbox? So why is it companies are putting these in so many cars and in some cars making this an only option?


I mean the closest i've come to using one was in a friends m3 and although it was fun it didn't seem to have the same effect as a traditional manual gearbox....

 

I have the SMG in my M3 and I love it. Clutch pedals are for cavemen! I havent had any issues with my trans and I drive it pretty hard.

 

So you feel that the SMG is a definite replacement for a regular manual gearbox? Also do you feel it will eventually "replace" a manual gearbox as the next technological step up?

 

I think it will. They are pretty hardcore now. Eventually, all decent performance cars will have one that shifts in under .001 of a second or something ridiculous like that. By the time you put the clutch in, the other guy is in the next gear already.

 

I dont know, I know the one in the rx8 kinda sucks. The only cool thing about it is that it doesnt shift for you at redline, you can bounce it off the rev limiter if you want. I dont feel near the control that the regular 6spd has.

 

My Auto Z does the same. Most decent automatics can be brought up to this new level of performance by simply getting a valve body upgrade and in some cases a better torque converter.

 

Both autos becoming much more efficient, but the second reason I'm pretty sure is that we're all big dumb lazy americans. Only 2% of the new car market is for a "sports car" and even then not everyone wants a traditional manual.

Cars like the E46 M3 with the SMG and paddle shifters are cool, but in turns, the paddles are pretty much useless. Also, the SMG I drove felt like a girl was operating the clutch for me...sloppy, wrong, and miss-timed. I actually prefer the Z4 auto with the paddle shifters in that in my experience, it shifts faster, more smoothly, and just all around better.

Admittedly the Z4 was a newer car (05/06) and probably hadnt adapted to the driver whereas the M3 was an 04 and definitely already had.

I think that manuals will end up sticking around because they are plenty lighter (plus no need for transmission cooling), tend to get better mpg, and have the auto start/stop function on the new MINI, 1 series etc.

 

I think 'standard' transmissions will become a thing of the past.

 

take a look at what audi/vw is doing. their auto tranny shifts within milliseconds of input. & launch control. Auto/SMG trannies are a lot better than it was years ago. many sports cars are auto as well with paddle shifting. What do you think F1 cars use, paddle shifting (or was indy...either way) one of them use it lol. Ferrari uses paddle shifting as well...so can't go wrong with that.

But either way...aut/smg/tip...whatever you wanna call it...is coming up

 

I know you lose the "in control" feeling a little but a human will NEVER be able to keep up with an automatic done right.