I think the perfect solution is a system that I have seen articles done on
prototypes, but nobody has the spherical globes to build... It's basically
a 5-speed (or 6) manual, with a hydraulic actuator for the clutch, and
actuators for the stick... basically it's a true auto-stick, that will take
over all aspects of shifting when you want it too, or you can take over when
you want... either shifting, clutch, or both... one I read about had
pressure sensors on the stick.. when you pushed it to go to the next gear,
it put in the clutch, and when you got to the next gear, it let it back
out...
this could be done with or without engine rev control (computer could
attempt to match RPM's if it was sophisticated enough for smooth running, or
let the engine hit the limiter & speed shift it)
I think it was in Popular Mechanics, or Popular Science.. but have never
seen a system for sale anywhere, for any price...
Gary Shook
P.S. FWIW, I didn't think that my '96 Ram 1500 CC 5.2L Stick was that hard
in traffic.. the torque band was so wide, I was able to minimize shifting (I
think VLAD said that 5-6 shifts was too much work for each stop-go... I did
it with 1 shift many times... start in second, and let it rev pretty good
(30 mph) and shift right to 4th... which was good to 55 with no problems...
any faster than that, and the traffic's not that bad..
P.S.S I used to handle traffic w/ my '68 charger 4-speed (maybe that's why
I thought the truck wasn't that bad) NO power steering, very heavy 12"
clutch, looooong throw Hurst shifter... and no A/C (in Phoenix)
>
>I got to go with Rich on this one. I had a Dak 5spd (14.1's) and
>believe me it would blow my R/T(14.8s) to pieces. There is something
>about having INSTANT throttle responce to the tires, instead of the
>DUMB torque converter sucking up my horsepower. Not to Mention being
>able to step in on the clutch and give a nice loud Dak bark to the
>'stangers. GRANTED, I love my R/T and it WILL be faster, imagine an
>R/T with a manual. (CRINGE. That will be one Nv3500/week please.)
>
> Manually Automatic -
>
> Eric 99 R/T
>---"Wisotzkey, Rich" <Rich.Wisotzkey@gsc.gte.com> wrote:
>>
>> The only thing I can agree with is the heavy traffic issue.
>Personally,
>> 95Kmi. is the very least I have ever gotten out of any clutch (and
>this was
>> on a truck). The best was 155Kmi (this was a car). Granted, this all
>> depends how you drive them. Actually, it depends on how much you
>slip them.
>> I was forced to have my auto tranny rebuilt at around 110-115Kmi.,
>and it
>> cost me 6-8 times as much as any clutch job ever would.
>> I may not get an additional $600 dollars when I sell a stick, but I
>didn't
>> pay $1500 more for it either. But then I don't trade in vehicles, I
>drive
>> them into the ground. Commuting vehicles are all a waste of money, no
>> matter what they are. I know of no quicker way to effectively waste
>umpteen
>> thousands of dollars.
>> There's my .03 cents. :'B
>> Rich - Ashburn, VA
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Shaun.Hendricks@bergenbrunswig.com
>> [mailto:Shaun.Hendricks@bergenbrunswig.com]
>> Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 1999 7:00 PM
>> To: dakota-truck@buffnet.net
>> Subject: DML: Auto vs. Stick (Holy War)
>>
>>
>>
>> Ah, this is such a fun subject. Having driven both kinds of
>tranny's for
>> daily drivers, I would buy an Auto over a manual any day of the week
>in
>> Southern California with one exeception: having a turbo charger on the
>> vehicle. Traffic SUCKS with a stick shift. By the end of your
>drive you
>> are
>> dead, your leg is dead, your arm is dead, and your clutch is
>screaming "Help
>> ME!!!". In the past, sticks ruled the towing world, now it's autos.
> Most
>> new
>> big rigs use autos now, and towing with a stick shift really sucks
>at times.
>> So here's my winner comparison:
>>
>> Effiency of Power Transfer: Manual
>> Ease of Use: Auto
>> Reliability: Toss Up
>> Less Cost over 200Kmi (no breakage): Auto
>> Less Cost over 200Kmi (service costs): Toss Up
>> Less Cost over 200Kmi (entire vehicle considered): Auto
>> Less initial Cost: Manual
>> Higher Resale Value: Auto
>> Distance Driving: Auto
>>
>> The whole point it, Automatics don't require you to baby sit
>them. You
>> can't make a mistake in a shift and blow your engine or tranny all
>over the
>> pavement. You can with a stick. When an auto runs out of life, you
>buy a
>> re-build kit and it's immediately re-born. With a stick you have to
>> re-purchase the whole damn thing cause even the case gets worn out
>by the
>> gears. You can own an auto and never do anything to it execept
>change the
>> oil. I guarantee a stick will need a $500 clutch job every 50K
>miles unless
>> you baby the heck out of it and you can get 70K. To be honest, the
>costs
>> are
>> about the same for the tranny itself over their lives, but the real
>damage
>> is
>> what they do to the truck. Autos are softer and easier on the
>drivetrain
>> components than the sticks are. When you stick folks are slamming it
>> through
>> the gears you're killing your engine, differential, driveshaft, axles,
>> tires,
>> frame, interior components... etc... etc...
>> Essentially, Autos are easier on the driver, the vehicle, and in
>the end,
>> your wallet. In So. Cal. an auto is worth about $600 more in resale
>value
>> compared to a stick. That's really what you paid for it in the
>first place
>> so
>> you don't lose anything overall.
>>
>
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