[s-cars] Mmmm, shifty business...

[QSHIPQ at aol.com]

We just don't get to do that as often anymore Taka, a lot of reasons for  
that other than where one lives...  I like a driveline that is correct to  the 
chassis, not sure I care if it's auto or manual.  Like the 83 gearbox  in the 
urq has goofy spacing, but the 85 box is dead nuts on.  The merc  autobox in the 
928 I enjoy, but that same gearbox sucks when hooked up to the  merc 6 
cylinder tanks.
 
The 91 v8 quattro is one of my favorite autoboxes, as you can choose  butter, 
bang or DIY.  And after many years with one, it's about the most  predictable 
shifter I've been in.  And, when all those turbo cars are doing  the bobble 
shift, you put your foot all the way to the floor and that poochy 3.6  with 
chip runs right to 6500 and bangs the next and the next.  With less  than 300 hp, 
it runs with many turbo quattros without embarrassing itself, and  at speed 
passing maneuver, a really big turbo is needed to show it tail.
 
I found similar enjoyment in the S8, and the X5 sports.  The S600 I  could 
barely hold my lungs from hugging the seat, and the 750il does a decent  
imitation in grand style as well.
 
Get an autobox right with the engine and chassis, fun isn't missed.   Miss 
the engine and chassis with a slush, it's like ruining your next month with  one 
piece of bad sushi at lunch today.
 
SJ
 
 
In a message dated 4/23/2007 5:49:40 P.M. Central Standard Time,  
t44tqtro at gmail.com writes:

Paul-
I like playing with the stick shift too much to give it up.  Now that's an
invitation to all sorts of abuse! :-)

Nothing like  doing a perfectly executed downshift, blipping the throttle
just-so,  getting the gears engaged smoothly and getting the timing between
shifter  action and clutch engagement perfectly. With the short gears of  both
Japanese cars in the garage, there is a lot of shifting going on. I  have the
option of taking a really curvy and fun road home- when traffic is  light,
there is the opportunity for lots and lots of up/downshifting,  nailing the
apexes, getting on the throttle at the right point, etc. IOW,  pure driving
enjoyment.
...
Taka


 



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