| LSxJunkie |
02-25-2012 10:16 AM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by madfast
(Post 141808)
yes. but the significance is the fact that they are doing this from the factory to begin with. it represents a first step towards performance automatics. yes the ZL1 is a musclecar, but is it that big of a stretch that the ZR1 may see an auto in the very near future? perhaps because of the AT ZL1's success? and is it a stretch to see the GT500 get an auto to compete? and the BOSS 302? and the Viper to compete with the ZR1 or next gen Vette? the ZL1 getting a good auto is significant imo, because everything i said above is not that far fetched if you consider MT's account for less than 10% of sales...
|
Yes. The ZR1 is a sports car. The blower is heavy enough and way out front. They don't want to add another hundred pounds of transmission to the back of the car.
And the Boss 302 is almost a pure track car. Ask any Boss 302 owner that actually tracks their cars. They neither want or need an automatic. I've driven one, and I've driven a regular GT Brembo. The Boss 302 would not feel right with a torque converter automatic. And clutchpack/planetary automatics really don't like being spun up to 7500. The IS-F runs a corporate 8-speed transmission developed for a 70k car, and redlines at 6800. Ford is not going to dump the money to develop that transmission. This argument applies below as well.
Plus, Ford isn't going to put an automatic in it because if you want a 420hp Mustang with an automatic, buy a GT Brembo. They could put one in the GT500, but I can tell you that that transmission is going to be expensive. It has to handle 600lbs/ft of torque, spin up to at least 190mph, be able to take some hard abuse and not overheat. And they have to be willing to warranty that transmission, so its in their best interest to overbuild it to keep from having to pay out big warranty claims.
Quote:
Originally Posted by brufleth
(Post 142060)
Everyone sort of seems to be ignoring this post. Maybe because heel toe isn't something people usually do on a daily basis. What just about anyone with a manual does do a daily basis is shift ahead of turns, use their engine to slow them down instead of just braking, and skips gears. These simple behaviors make even good semi-autos with flappy paddles or whatever seem annoying to me. I'm either counting taps trying to get into the right gear or bumping readline when I down shift going into a corner, or find myself relying on the brakes way more.
If you're drag racing maybe a good auto might be better just because shift time is all that matters. If you're actually driving a car no amount of shifting speed is going to make up for the fact that the car can only base gear choice on some basic information.
|
I heel-toed every day I drove stick. And I do now whenever I find myself in a stick car. That's where the fun in driving a stick car lies for me. However, it wasn't ever for engine braking. It was to be in the sweet spot of the powerband to come out of the corner.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Maxim
(Post 142065)
Yeah absolutely! Hell, I practice heel/toeing on the road all the time. If I'm in traffic I'll just clutch in and downshift without braking, and ease the clutch back and engine brake, but if I'm driving around, especially somewhere remote, I heel/toe before corners. It's just a good way to practice.
The worst thing about automatics is that even the performance ones, with good programming, aren't good at holding a gear at high RPM and part-throttle. The most common time that somebody would want to remain at high RPM and part throttle is around a corner....the absolute worst time to inadvertently shift gears.
|
In their defense, the IS-F automatic uses the torque converter like a clutch. When you've commanded a gear, it will hold that gear (unless you slow down too much, then the trans will downshift to keep from stalling). I drove an IS-F around a road course. It held gears at very high rpm when I was using the paddles. Never wanted to upshift. This is, supposedly, the same trans tune that is going into the FR-S/BRZ (with a 6spd version of that trans). |
