Re: That little button on the floor

[Robert W Obrien <rwo@u.arizona.edu>]

On Sun, 5 Oct 1997, Michael Williams wrote:

> >I always thought an automatic in a turbo car was pretty stupid, but my 
> >friend's father's Saab 9000CDE turbo proved that
> >very, very wrong :)  That car is a rocket...very impressive for a little 4 
> >banger that sounds like a sewing machine :)
> 
> I would think that an automatic would be slightly superior, if it were 
> able to actually shift quickly.  Think about it, a good automatic can 
> shift much faster than a man in a manual transmission, therefore, wouldnt 
> it be easier to keep the boost up?  I dunn, maybe i am just delusional.  
> Talk to you all later.
> 
This was, in fact, Audi's position WRT the early 5000T. They said that an
automatic was the way to go with a street turbo. So, no manual was
available in these until 1986. If you think about it, boost pressure
is lost on each upshift with a manual, but an AT can shift at full
throttle without pressure drop. With my experience with an AT Saab 9000t
as well as a Maserati Biturbo AT, I concur that, given an efficient 
gearbox, an automatic turbo might well be quicker- see the Buick GN of the
'80s? Wonder what a Tiptronic 911 Turbo would do in comparison to the
6-speed?

Regards,
Rob
87 5kt
BTW, the factory specs show the 5kt 5-speed 1 sec quicker to 60 than the
AT version.... Hmmm?

> Michael Sheridan Williams
> 
> My new one: 1985 4000 S Quattro
> 164,000+ miles, and going like a new car
> 
> 1985 Coupe GT
> 163,000+ miles
> 
> http://members.aol.com/daserde2
> 
> 
>