No More manual for A4?!

[Mark R]

Taka,
I've driven both the 360 and 430 (not a scud) with the "F1" paddles.  I
was impressed by both.  Both were on the track and I never felt the chassis
was unsettled.

Mark Rosenkrantz

On Fri, Aug 22, 2008 at 2:49 PM, Taka Mizutani <t44tqtro at gmail.com> wrote:

> Mark-
> What generation F1 system? I don't know about the latest F430 and F430
> Scuderia versions, but the ones prior to that are, IMHO, not civilized at
> all.
>
> Head toss on every shift, even in the softest, "automatic" mode. This holds
> true for the Maserati versions as well- in the Gran Sport and the
> Quattroporte.
>
> DSG, on the other hand, is totally seamless, which I do like, in terms of
> efficiency. However, I find it to be completely characterless and like a
> video game. With the lack of tactile involvement, I end up keeping the
> transmission in automatic mode and drive it like a slushbox. I never have
> this problem with a 3-pedal car (however I hate driving heavy trucks with a
> manual).
>
> Twin clutch automated manual transmissions are definitely the future- BMW
> has switched and Porsche has introduced their own street PDK as well. That
> would work nicely in a Cayenne. I still prefer a manual with a gear lever
> and three pedals for street driving. C'mon, there is nothing like that
> clunky "clank clank" action of a Ferrari gated shifter going through the
> gears. Very deliberate, stiff and slow, but very unique among modern cars
> and part of that "Ferrari mystique" which one only understands when you have
> had seat time in them.
>
> Taka
>
>
> On Fri, Aug 22, 2008 at 1:27 PM, Mark R <speedracer.mark at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I have to say, paddle shifts ARE the future of manual transmissions.
>> Ferrari's F1 system is simply magnificent, and the VAG DSG is very, very
>> good.  Personally, I'm a 3 pedal guy, but when a transmission shifts
>> perfectly every time, blips the throttle on downshifts, AND allows you to
>> downshift at redline of the lower gear.... well... what more can you ask
>> for?
>>
>> Sometimes your hands aren't in the right postion (retrain the driver or
>> add
>> longer paddles), and some systems (VAG, BMW come to mind) could use some
>> software tweaking for the enthusiast, but they're really quite good and
>> shock load the drivetrain less.  I can tell you from personal experience,
>> rear wheel lockup (due to rev limiter) on a downshift at corner entry sure
>> does get exciting!
>> The systems with small little shift buttons are just poor ergonomically.
>>
>>  I think a lot of thier confusion (or hatred) is that people either
>> perceive
>> them as an automatic, or want to drive them as such.
>>
>> But drive a DSG (or another similar system) and I think everyone would
>> come
>> to the same conclusions.  I still like my 6 speed manual transmissions,
>> but
>> I'd drive a good paddle shifted car.
>>
>> Mark Rosenkrantz
>>
>
>