AT owners in here please

[Moto-P]

Originally Posted by sticky

Hey peeps. I've got a technical question:

When you shift at high RPMs with a manual you obviously wear the clutch but how about with an auto? I realise with a torque converter there isn't really much 'wear' (apart from the friction from the transmission fluid?) but what about in the auto gearbox? Not too familiar with planetary gears so some advice would be appreciated

Since the AT on this car is still torque converter based (but with lock-up in each gear but 1st) the wear is virtually non-existent in terms of anything like a clutch disk. Wear on the gears itself should not be any more than that on a Manual.

Since the system inherently by nature of torque converter system, is buffered in driveline shock at each shift, the driveline shock is minimal and very smooth (and ultra-quick on this particular AT unit). Which means extremely smooth undisturbing shifts.

This trait of jolting shock is however, what most MT lovers miss about the AT's but in practical racing terms, it is good that it's smooth, and that is what MT racing drivers must strive to do at the very limits of adhesion with a clutch pedal anyway. (Unless of course, the whole reason for shocking the driveline is to induce a sudden loss of adhesion as in "clutch kicking" for drifting.)

As for speed and performance, the posted results in various tests are dependent on many factors. I've come to note that the FRS's FA20 engine systems, is pretty protective of the engine, and with high water or ambient temperatures, the engine does retard injection and ignition timing on the 4D-S quite a bit. So 0-60 times for example might differ quite a lot depending on the conditions and how hard the car has been run up to the point before testing. With Direct Injection, and 12.5 compression rate, and for it to be utilized with pump gas, this is actually a good safety measure, so as not to destroy the lightweight components like the con-rods, that are critical in allowing this engine to rev quickly and high.

Having said that, another very BIG variable is the driver and his ability to shift and engage clutch quickly and effectively with nice even force on the tire contact patch at launch and each shift when using a Manual transmission. This is especially true in milder stick tires like the OEM Premacy that is on the FRS.

So with a very talented driver, theoretically, will beat the AT each time, but an average Joe will have a hard pressed time trying to out-clock a AT where only difficulty is the launch, timing the torque converter delay's split second against the start light.

On the AT, from 1st-4th, the gears are slightly more spaced out and taller, giving the MT a fraction of a second advantage as well, theoretically given the perfect driver.

Again, I prefer the MT for performance driving where clocks count for trophies, but I chose an AT as it was something that was just as fun to play with in a different way, and pretty impressive , and thoroughly entertaining little gearbox at that.

[sticky]

Thanks Moto-P! Exactly the answer I was hoping for. I am glad I've decided to go with AT. :happy0180:

[SUB-FT86]

Originally Posted by mechaghost

The cool thing about AT is that I can pick when I want to deal with shifting gears.

Traffic you say? Leave it in Camry Mode

Twisty roads ahead? Slap that AT lever into M and click Sport.

This is what I have been trying to tell folks on this forum for years. Lol

[dietz]

Does anyone think that there will be a taller sixth gear available that we can swap out that will match the AT's final drive ratio so that we can get better MPG on the highway?

[sticky]

Originally Posted by dietz

Does anyone think that there will be a taller sixth gear available that we can swap out that will match the AT's final drive ratio so that we can get better MPG on the highway?

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7190

[Grateful Dave]

My Asphalt AT is 4 days away and I want it even more after hearing about the good experiences with the auto trans.:happy0180:
It puts me more at ease, for not ordering the manual trans. It sounds like I made the right choice for me.
Thanks AT FRS drivers and Thank you Moto P for the technical info about the AT.

[the_3d_man]

This thread really puts my mind at ease. Now if my car would just get here already! The wait is killing me and all these people getting theirs already is making me really jealous!

[rikdrt1]

the sport mode in full auto and the sport mode in paddle shift mode is just way too much fun on this AT. I felt soooo good also when at the last minute i TOO changed to AT from MT. Its so smooth when you want to just drive and sip your coffee... very coo.

[Neziah]

How does it work with downshifting into corners?

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Neziah

How does it work with downshifting into corners?

Not sure what you mean fully. According to Moto-P and others, there is intelligence built into it so that when you are cornering hard, it will not do a disruptive downshift in certain modes, but I have not tried it myself. In normal street driving, including spirited mountain driving, I have not run into any issues.

[Neziah]

Hey thanks for replying. I was just reading your thread about your car! Among others as well. I am having that debate about getting a MT like I have always had, or to finally go with a AT and relax a bit. I want to Autocross and hit up track days once in a while for fun, so I was curious how it did with down shifting while trying to hustle through corners. From what I have read it works pretty well.

[Pake1]

Quick question for you AT owners.

In Manual mode, is it possible to be in neutral? Asking this in stop-and-go traffic, where I wouldn't have to keep my foot on the break to roll into the car infront of me.

[Spd229]

Has anyone really noticed a slight bump when shifting manually sometimes with the auto? In full auto mode it seems to rarely do this if ever, but I tend to notice it quite a bit while shifting manually. Makes me somewhat nervous about it when it happens.

It's also a pretty rough swap from 2nd to 1st at lights if you're slightly rolling to a stop.

Just wondered if anyone else felt the roughness / jerks / bumps / whatever you would like to call them so far.

Thanks.

[feldy]

So I did a full weekend of autox and we had issues downshifting into first.

So last night I wanted to know why....

First goes to about 36 and you have to shift into 2nd. 2nd goes to 63mph.

You cannot shift back into 1st until 33mph due to over reving. Not sure how the other gears though.