RE: American's and stick shifts

["Buchholz, Steven" <Steven.Buchholz@kla-tencor.com>]

> etc).  Anyway, a paddle shifter F355/F1 was one of the cars and there was
> an interesting little graph that compared the shift times of a standard
> stick-shift 355 and a paddle-shift 355.  The paddle-shifter was
> considerably quicker.  I still prefer to row my own gears with clutch
> pedal, but I thought the comparison was interesting.
> 
I guess that I completely expected that sort of result.  The automatic
clutch actuation system is optimized for the clutch, engine and tranny.  You
can bet that they only move the clutch out as much as is needed, and I
wouldn't be surprised to hear that the engine computer was aware that the
shift was in process and was compensating.  The clutch is only disengaged
for the minimum amount of time, and the computer is probably back "on the
gas" quicker.  I also would expect that in an automatic clutch system the
clutch would actually last considerably longer ...

On the downside, you've got the actuators for the clutch and shifter ... I
wonder if these are hydraulically actuated or electrical?  Seems to me that
it would be a bit tougher to actually do this on a car that was meant for
the street as opposed to a close-ratio racing box ...

... yes, I'd love to have a chance to try one out, but I agree with you Mark
... I'll stick to my old stick, thank you very much ...

Steve Buchholz
San Jose, CA (USA)