I shift transmission

You get way more control with a manual transmission then a automatic or almost automatic. And that's the name of the game. CONTROL If you think it's hard driving in traffic with a manual then you are doing it wrong. (driving that is) Slow down, Make a space and enjoy the ride. Relax

 

There is no enjoying driving in heavy traffic.

 

An auto is great for local work. For OTR applications the manual is the way to go.

 

You know those Volvo drivers love the automatic I-shift....That is why you see their foot on the dash with flip flops on....lol!

I drove one for a few months and hated the dang thing!......I have done over 3 million miles and all with either a 10,13 or 18 speed....I will keep my manual trans any day!

 

I drove automatics for the last 3 months before shifting(see what I did there?) back to an 8 speed. They are great in traffic, but ultimately I would switch to manual mode any time I was on grades, which is actually most of the time for the last few months. Switching back, I really regretted having accepted an automatic until I was better at shifting first.

You can use manual mode for the Ishift, but it's still not manual. The lack of control is serious when approaching stopped traffic and the auto refuses to downshift and you're in 10th gear 300 feet or less from an explosive and corrosive hazmat tanker. Just my experience.

 

Horse and buggies, Morse code and milking your own cow were all great at one time too. Just sayin'.

 

You know what?

I just test drove an I-shift today and...I liked it...a lot...BUT...

I go this weird feeling that it kinda wanted to keep moving even after I was tryna stop @ a light. It creeped me out. It felt like the clutch was still engaged. This has not been the case with the 10spd manual I've been driving for the last 3 weeks.

What to do?...I absolutely hated DC traffic in that 10spd, and would have loved me some i-shift tho

 

Mine does that too. Not always but there are times when it just wants to take off on ya. Just gotta get on the brakes a little harder and it behaves.

I've driven a couple autos and this Ishift is pretty slick. It's got it's quirks, sure, but it's pretty darn intuitive. For those of you yammering on about control, it has a manual mode, and even when it's in D, I can still up or down shift using the buttons on the left side of the stick. I've never felt it lacked or that I could do the shifting all that much better and if my company wants to b- about fuel economy, they've no one to blame but a non sentient piece of machinery that they purposefully paid for. It's on them.

 

As with any new technology, you just have to adapt to how it works.

I'm in a '17 Cascadia with the DD15/DT12 combo, and I love it.
I've learned to adapt to how it works, so I can anticipate what it will do and act accordingly.

I can run any hill in any gear I choose, turn off the radar system to maintain control, and do anything I would do with a manual.
It isn't that difficult to learn the system.

 

A truck with an automatic ain't a truck. It's a joke.