No More manual for A4?!

[Taka Mizutani]

I said drive one on the street, Mark. Not the track.

Taka


On Sat, Aug 23, 2008 at 6:57 PM, Mark R <speedracer.mark at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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
>>>
>>
>>
>