Why is a 10 speed auto so appealing?

[PJR202]

Why are so many people interested in a 10 speed automatic? What's the advantage or appeal, etc? Other than maybe gas mileage I fail to see the awesomeness.

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[MSMStannyl]

I'm not at all an auto guy but I have to agree. When is it too much? I don't really see the appeal either. Maybe 8 speed?

Ultimately, the only thing that would turn me to an auto for a car (besides manuals simply going extinct!) is a dual-clutch. I'm assuming the proposed 10-speed will NOT be a dual-clutch setup, right?

 

[SVT Wylde]

From what I understand it keeps the engine in the meat of the powerband longer so it takes full advantage of your horsepower and torque peaks.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Why is a 10 speed auto so appealing?

If you think that's bad, the Spinal Tap package ups it to 11.

 

[18psi]

Gearing is a torque multiplier. The ideal gearbox keeps the car at optimum output, in each gear, every time. It becomes that much more difficult to achieve this when the manuf has to meet emissions standards as well as gas mileage/efficiency standards.

A well executed 8 speed will be better than a 6 because it can do all of the above more efficiently. Just like the 6 was better than 5, 4, 3, etc.

Just like fuel injection was frowned upon by the carb guys "because there are fast carb cars, therefore........."

 

[Coconut]

Faster acceleration, better gas mileage.

 

[Gibbo205]

Instantaneous shifting when uses paddles and ability to hold onto a gear even if bouncing of the limiter, essentially it drives and feels just like a sequential when in track mode. Race car ya know!

 

[BoomBoy]

10 gears seem like too many gears to change even if you use the paddles. I think the majority of people will not bother with the paddles and just drive it like any auto.

 

[Armen]

Apparently it performs pretty amazingly in the ZL1.

 

[18psi]

10 gears seem like too many gears to change even if you use the paddles. I think the majority of people will not bother with the paddles and just drive it like any auto.

This is an interesting observation, and I have to agree at least in part.
I have the A6 now, and when buying it I thought I'd be using the paddles all the time, but use them way less than expected. If I want the car to go fast, or am at the track, putting it in S firms up the shifts and car is 10/10 shifting perfectly right before redline and never hitting the limiter. When I try to use the paddles while racing I sometimes hit the limiter, or it takes too long to shift 2 gears. When in D or S the trans just jumps 2 or 3 gears as needed and takes all the guesswork or delay out of it. I find myself using the paddles only when I want to just mess around and be able to floor it in any single gear without the car automatically upshifting.

I would expect the 8sp or 10sp boxes to be even more so.

 

[armykyle1 [HACKED ACCOUNT]

The 10spd and 8spd autos have the ability completely skip gears on down and up shifts. They also shift incredibly fast. The 8L90 in the new z06, with a tune will shift faster than most DCT transmissions. I was watching a video of a local cats tuned 8L90, it was absolutely insane.

 

[TNcoupe]

Have you driven one with an MT82???

 

[16MustangVet]

Apparently it performs pretty amazingly in the ZL1.

New ZL1 ripped off some pretty excellent times around the ring without even touching the shifter or paddles.

IIRC the GT350 is supposed to get a DCT auto too isnt that the 10 speed aswell?

 

[Petroleum Jesus]

Have you driven one with an MT82???

Biggest regret of my life was buying one. It's a complete piece of trash. Supposedly, with $1500 worth of upgrades, it's manageable...:frusty:

 

[toplesstripcruiser]

Problem I have with all those speeds is when it's in sport mode. Let's say you're cruising in 10th gear. The you need to down shift say 5th gear, you'll be busy flipping 10-5, which will take a few seconds. If it's in full auto then the computer will jump.

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