so why doesnt the GT350 come with.....

[Hughespj47]

Yes, an automatic has many advantages with today's digital controls. F1 is a showcase of the latest in automotive technology. But, any monkey can push a button for a WOT up shift or a rev matched downshift. Which is why most of us auto enthusiasts appreciate a driver that has complete control of his car and can execute a perfect heel and toe downshift. That takes skill. I for one am extremely happy that the GT350 is available exclusively with a manual transmission. It weeds out some of the wannabes.

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[Trackaholic]

The problem is trying to use the word "better" to describe something that is in large part subjective.

An automatic is faster - true
An automatic can be smoother - true
An automatic requires less effort from the driver - true

A manual is more engaging - true
A manual requires more effort - true
A manual offers more control - true (most auto's allow control of the gear, but not of clutch engagement, so manual therefore offers more control).

Depending on priority, one or the other may be better for your application.

For a race car driver, a dual clutch automatic or sequential manual is probably the best.
For someone with annoying traffic, a dual clutch is probably best, followed by a torque converter automatic.
For someone looking for driver involvement, a manual is probably the best.

-T

 

[GoBlues38]

I agree with many. It is supposed to be s special track car. Not a daily driver.

Too many creature vomforts make the car not as special.

 

[bluebeastsrt]

Because racecar

That just happened!

 

[10splaya22]

The problem is trying to use the word "better" to describe something that is in large part subjective.

An automatic is faster - true
An automatic can be smoother - true
An automatic requires less effort from the driver - true

A manual is more engaging - true
A manual requires more effort - true
A manual offers more control - true (most auto's allow control of the gear, but not of clutch engagement, so manual therefore offers more control).

Depending on priority, one or the other may be better for your application.

For a race car driver, a dual clutch automatic or sequential manual is probably the best.
For someone with annoying traffic, a dual clutch is probably best, followed by a torque converter automatic.
For someone looking for driver involvement, a manual is probably the best.

-T

I agree with this. There is no "better" transmission. It depends on what you are using the car for. A weekend driver may be more interested in being involved with the car and will choose a manual. Another driver may want a DD and has to deal with a lot of traffic and will therefore choose an auto. Yes autos are faster but manuals are more fun to drive IMO.

 

[Grimace427]

Automatics... ARE... BORING.

Fixed that for you.

 

[Grimace427]

DCTs and paddle-shifted sequential gearboxes are not automatics.

If they can shift on their own, they are automatic.

 

[DrumReaper]

I apologize for the confusion with my prior posting but as kt22 said, there appears to be some confusion btw what is being considered as an "automatic".

The word "automatic" is ambiguous. The word, for some, conjures up the thoughts of C6's and FMX's... For some PDK's and Tiptronics. Porsche even one time used the term "manumatic"... Lol.

Let's be real. If a Porsche 911 comes across the line at Barrett Jackson with a true 6-speed manual, the announcers will declare it a 6-speed manual gearbox." If the same 911 were to venture across be BJ block with a PDK or an SMG/DCT, the announcers would declare it just that... A PDK or SMG tranny. There is no way is hello that they would trip and call it an automatic 911 lest they fall in the sword or bite a cyanide tooth and die. It's sacrilege to refer to an SMG or PDK as an automatic.

 

[Process]

I'd rather see a DCT in it, like the Tremec 9007 vs. this TR3160.

 

[Grimace427]

I thought you were better than that Grimace.

By that logic, because I can manually select gears in an automatic transmission, that makes it a manual.

Hydraulically or pneumatically actuated sequential or dual clutch manual transmissions (even those with programming to control shifting) are still that. Manuals. It has to do with the design and internals of the gearbox.

0.02

No you cannot manually select gears in an automatic transmission. Those paddle shifters are merely a request to the trans control unit. The trans is still shifting itself, therefore is an automatic transmission. A manual transmission requires the driver shift gears, it is incapable of shifting on it's own.

 

[wproctor411]

No you cannot manually select gears in an automatic transmission. Those paddle shifters are merely a request to the trans control unit. The trans is still shifting itself, therefore is an automatic transmission. A manual transmission requires the driver shift gears, it is incapable of shifting on it's own.

I agree...but... my dad said his new F150 is an Auto and a Manual because you can manually shift the gears. So that's that! LOL

 

[Bullitt2065]

In my opinion, unless you are MANUALLY operating the clutch and gearbox, physically, you are driving an automatic.

Yes, dual clutch gearboxes do operate similarly to a manual, but computers and hydraulics are doing all of the things that make a driving a manual transmission equipped vehicle engaging. They may shift faster than a human ever could, and I'm all for them if you're unable to drive a stick, or are going for ultimate lap times with a track car, but at the end of the day, they are not, and never will be a manual transmission.

As far as I'm concerned, you either drive drive a manual, or you drive an automatic. That's as complex as this conversation needs to get.

 

[Hughespj47]

In my opinion, unless you are MANUALLY operating the clutch and gearbox, physically, you are driving an automatic.

Yes, dual clutch gearboxes do operate similarly to a manual, but computers and hydraulics are doing all of the things that make a driving a manual transmission equipped vehicle engaging. They may shift faster than a human ever could, and I'm all for them if you're unable to drive a stick, or are going for ultimate lap times with a track car, but at the end of the day, they are not, and never will be a manual transmission.

As far as I'm concerned, you either drive drive a manual, or you drive an automatic. That's as complex as this conversation needs to get.

Careful, I just realized Tesla's don't have a transmission is the sense we have been discussing it in this thread. You select forward or reverse and that's it. There is no upshifting or downshifting.

 

[radelow]

In my opinion, unless you are MANUALLY operating the clutch and gearbox, physically, you are driving an automatic.

Yes, dual clutch gearboxes do operate similarly to a manual, but computers and hydraulics are doing all of the things that make a driving a manual transmission equipped vehicle engaging. They may shift faster than a human ever could, and I'm all for them if you're unable to drive a stick, or are going for ultimate lap times with a track car, but at the end of the day, they are not, and never will be a manual transmission.

As far as I'm concerned, you either drive drive a manual, or you drive an automatic. That's as complex as this conversation needs to get.

I don't agree. The conversation has to be expanded to include the dual clutch. A dual clutch is not an automatic. An automatic uses a torque converter which means there is no direct physical contact between the engine and the wheels. There is a liquid connection...aka the torque converter. The dual clutch and manual both offer a direct physical connection which no matter what you do behave differently than the automatic transmission. The world has just expanded to include THREE definitions.

 

[SkapeGote]

The lack of an automatic transmission for the GT350 is a glaring omission which all but precludes purchase by anyone who lives where there is stop and go traffic. Plus, a good automatic can shift faster than any human, so even the GT350R is held back by not having an automatic, at least as an option.

Sometimes it isn't about the speed of a shift but being able to shift exactly like you want and when you want. It is like the argument about torque. How much torque you make matters, but where you make it is just as important. I understand not wanting to drive a stick shift, I get it. Enthusiast level cars do not need the extra weight or complexity. If this was a drag car, your argument would be far more valid.

Skape

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