Old automatic cars

[Deleted member 26715]

[QUOTE 3789074, member: 9609"]it does sound very similar to what is in modern tractors, they can have 40 gears and 7 clutches, virtually no drop off in power when changing up - I am surprised the car DSG doesn't go into neutral on the over run to save fuel - this is a big thing in lorries now, I guess it will be coming to cars soon..[/QUOTE]

DSG does go into neutral when you've got it on the Eco setting.

That does surprise me especially with lorries, it sounds dangerous in that at least with an engaged gearbox there is some slowing effort if the brakes fail, I would choose a DSG over manual every time IF the finances stacked up which unfortunately they don't. Watching Fifth Gear last night Infiniti have introduced a car with fly by wire steering, just seems wrong to me, but then again I am old.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I'm too busy and important to change gear.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

[QUOTE 3789431, member: 45"]My dad has that attitude, but he drives a manual.[/QUOTE]

2nd gear all the way?

 

[threebikesmcginty]

[QUOTE 3789472, member: 45"]Fifth. He seems to manage it by taking the racing line on corners, no matter which direction the traffic is travelling in.

Sound familiar?[/QUOTE]

Not to me but then I'm in an automatic rather than 5th gear, that must take some work pulling away at lights and stuff or does he just not stop?

 

[Piemaster]

I soon got bored with the manual changes on the DSG box, so the choice now is 'normal' or 'sport' which seems to make very little difference apart from holding gears for a bit longer. Think it makes better decisions than me too. The difference is probably more to it being connected to a 1.6 engine in a Skoda Roomster than anything much to do with the box.

I have had cars with the older tech autos, think they were all ZF's, mated to the right engine (important that bit) they weren't any worse than the DSG. Big Mercs, a Rover V8 engined Stag and a Range Rover. The Range Rover was particularly useful for removing tree stumps and I seem to recall the Police used to use them for moving trucks and things after motorways accidents.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Not to me but then I'm in an automatic rather than 5th gear, that must take some work pulling away at lights and stuff or does he just not stop?

Depends on the car, about 20 years ago I had a Cavalier SRi with a caravan on the back, the gearbox broke & I only had 5th gear, still managed to do the last 40 miles, it was interesting at lights & roundabouts, but with plenty of observation & plenty of clutch slipping we managed to get to the campsite.Left the caravan there & was recovered home on a flatbed.