Manual vs Automatic Transmissions

And what makes you think that an automatic would not last as long as a manual? In the wrong hands, a manual will be trashed in 100,000 miles just like an automatic. In the right hands, an automatic will last as long as a manual. Your gift for the dramatic really speaks volumes about your bias.

 

Ah give him a break! He wants to look cool taking off from a stop light and hit 5 mph by the time he is 1/2 way through the intersection.... LOL

Do I want a true automatic? Hell no!
Do I want a manual? Maybe
Do I want an automated manual? Leaning towards it.

What people tend to forget is that an automated manual is still the same transmission, only the computer does the shifting for you. In the right hands, I think that an automated manual transmission will actually last longer. That's just my opinion though.

This way I can set the cruise and not have to worry about shifting on a hill while I am in the back making a sandwich. (Just a joke) But people have done it....

 

Do a search and read about all the problems associated with automatic transmissions. The only negative about a manual is that people are too lazy to figure it out. In an OTR application there is literally NO effort to a manual. If it's work, you're doing it wrong. Geez.

 

U.S. Army ergonomics research, starting way back around WWII--the same research that proved that women multitask better than men.

Each race lasts about 2 hours, give or take. During the course of a race they have to endure ≈5g decelerations into each turn, ≈4.5g lateral forces during the turn, ≈2g acceleration, and generate about 2-3000lbs of downforce. The engines have to last 4 races now (1.5 liter turbo V6 putting out between 800 and 1000hp); the trans has to last 4 races as well.

Good advice, except the human brain cannot react as quicky as an electronic computer, especially when considering the mental command can take up to two seconds to turn into a result (moving the hand). Toss any form of distractions into the mix (attention diverted for any reason, listening to music or talk, and the mere act of talking which takes up to 40% of our available brainpower), and that reaction gets worse.

 

This same kind of discussion goes on in auto circles. There are the one that swear by manuals, and the one who swear by autos. Both are viable solutions. Doesn't make one better than the other. Of course, those that are opposed to something will always go out of their way to show any negatives. But for each negative you can show for one style of transmission, you can find a negative for the other style. All of that is purely academic anyway. The real fun part to these discussions is the "you just ain't a real trucker" mindset if you don't fall into some old school group. Those that use that argument have insecurity issues that they need to work on. I suggest they seek out some therapy.

 

Tell that to the guys with bad knees and shoulders.

 

If I'm not mistaking they still shift via paddle shifters. Just eliminated clutch pedal and electronically shift the transmission.

 

Yup, just like racing tech (where it came from). I'm sure they have a full-auto no-touch mode as well.

Come to think of it, passenger car/truck automatics have had either paddle-shift or button-shift capabilities for years. There's a kit out I can put on my Lightning to make it a full demand-shift paddle-shift box, and still retain the full-auto mode. With pretty much all automatics now being computer controlled, it's just a matter of programming it to do what you want it to do.

 

No full automatics in racing my friend

 

Guess again: F1 actually has a full-auto mode, if they need it; autocrossing, drag racing, and even 24 heurs dude LeMons...



Edit: I meant the automanuals in big trucks. 