If They Made One That Worked

I saw some spy shots today of the real new Mustang interior. One of the pictures showed paddle shifters. I caught myself thinking that I'd go for that if it worked. But what does that mean? I have no particular fondness for clutch pedals. But I want the control that a manual trans offers.
So the question is, if you were going to buy a car that was offered with a manual or an automatic trans, and you were set on buying a manual equipped version, what would the automatic have to offer before you'd consider it along with the manual trans version?

The automatic wouldn't override my inputs unless it would cause a massive over-rev.

So if i want to leave it in 2nd and bounce the rev limiter, let it be. But if i want to have a seizure when downshifting from 6th and land in 1st, then please save me from myself.

Other than that, it's gotta be fast as HELL and make cool noises. Bonus points for cutting spark between shifts for that cool crackle spit pop.

I hate to go straight into vagueness, and maybe we don't even have to answer this, but where are you putting automated manuals in your categories?

What I want is no "torque converter mush" feeling, no revs dropping to idle just because I'm off the gas, I want compression braking (not for the braking, I just want the engine keeping pace with the drivetrain).

I actually liked the DSG TDI I test drove, and would consider it for a DD (except mostly for the reliability fears, but let's not tangent on my feelings about VW). I didn't shift it myself extensively, but that's one of the big ones; if it's ponderous or clunky when I ask it for a different gear, that's going to be awful.

The automanual the Car2Go Smarts is awful. It's really bad, and the short wheelbase amplifies all the pitching and wallowing it induces, just to give an example of a non-auto auto which misses the mark.

But let's forget for a second how the auto does its thing (automanual or "true" auto). What I want is no mushiness, instant response, crisp shifts. If I were going to actually drive it in auto mode (instead of using paddles or whatever), I would want it to be telepathic about always being in the right gear, and never ever shifting at an inopportune moment (no midcorner kickdown).

I imagine a fair number of modern cars probably do pay attention to G-sensors and don't downshift while you're cornering hard, and/or soften an upshift... I haven't driven them. I've been inclined enough toward manuals that I probably have missed a lot of change in autos.

Not drive like a 2012 Audi A4 S-Line, that's for damn sure.

I want the paddles to work like a manual valve body in a drag car. You shift right when I damn tell you, and I don't want any lip, even if you think it's wrong. It also needs a launch control like a trans-braked car on slicks. Then I might consider it.

I think a VW DSG with an aftermarket tune to allow total control of upshift/downshift is about perfect likely.

I'll add that I want it to be as reliable as a manual.

I've never played with Paddles before.

Javelin wrote: *Not* drive like a 2012 Audi A4 S-Line, that's for damn sure. I want the paddles to work like a manual valve body in a drag car. You shift *right* when I damn tell you, and I don't want any lip, even if you think it's wrong. It also needs a launch control like a trans-braked car on slicks. Then I *might* consider it.

Basically, you want a megashift?

I kinda want to play with one. Especially on a small 4cyl turbo car - keep it in boost all the time

I'd never buy a slushbox, with or without paddle shifters. A robotized manual would be good for a serious track car, but for a street car I'd pretty much always go with a traditional H-pattern manual, unless I were sharing the car with someone who can't work a stick and would use the robotized manual's auto mode.

So the answer is a further developed, cheaper, more reliable and more refined SMG-II?

IDK what route ford is going, but several of their current offerings have robomanuals currently.

I've test-driven a couple paddle-equipped cars that I thought were reasonable (E92 M3, Audi B8 S4), except for where they put the paddles. They need to be mounted on the steering column, not rotating with the wheel! Mounting them on the wheel is fine for an F1 car where it only goes 180 degrees lock to lock, but on a door slammer it's stupid because you can't find them unless the wheel is pointed straight.

Converter, if so equipped locked past 10mph. Needs to react and shift at least as fast as I can row gears myself. I don't care how its done. I'm also a bit of a fan of the plain steering column, so put it on the floor. It should also last 200k and not run some crazy expensive fluid.

codrus wrote: I've test-driven a couple paddle-equipped cars that I thought were reasonable (E92 M3, Audi B8 S4), except for where they put the paddles. They need to be mounted on the steering column, not rotating with the wheel! Mounting them on the wheel is fine for an F1 car where it only goes 180 degrees lock to lock, but on a door slammer it's stupid because you can't find them unless the wheel is pointed straight.

+1, I'd have to paint the paddles different colors if I owned such a car.

See Porsche's PDK trans.

doc_speeder wrote: I think a VW DSG with an aftermarket tune to allow total control of upshift/downshift is about perfect likely.

This.

I've driven my cousins Audi A3 with a DSG with a reflash. That trans responds very well. It shifts when I ask it and it will hold the redline until I shift it.

If anything, I think the VW/Porsche group has the dual clutch automatic market cornered.

I think part of the problem out there is that the companies don't want to spend the money to develop new transmissions, or maybe I should say pay someone else to develop the transmissions.

Honestly I can't see how the sludgebox (as a whole) hasn't been replaced with a DSG style transmission yet.

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: Honestly I can't see how the sludgebox (as a whole) hasn't been replaced with a DSG style transmission yet.

I think eventually they'll be replaced with robotized manuals, but right now slushboxes are cheaper (because they're more established tech & built in greater numbers) and most drivers don't mind the awful feeling of driving one.

In reply to GameboyRMH:

All the new 4cyl ford "Automatics" are robomanuals......times will change in a hurry.

yamaha wrote: In reply to GameboyRMH: All the new 4cyl ford "Automatics" are robomanuals......times will change in a hurry.

I heard their Dual Clutch trans wasn't great.

Swank Force One wrote: The automatic wouldn't override my inputs unless it would cause a massive over-rev. So if i want to leave it in 2nd and bounce the rev limiter, let it be. But if i want to have a seizure when downshifting from 6th and land in 1st, then please save me from myself. Other than that, it's gotta be fast as HELL and make cool noises. Bonus points for cutting spark between shifts for that cool crackle spit pop.

all of this

I liked the old tiptronic on in the 968's Really an automatic that shifted manually but once you got it it was a really nice drive. I am in fact on the lookout for another.

The cutting spark may be an issue with the emissions police.

dean1484 wrote: The cutting spark may be an issue with the emissions police.

There's a few cars that already do it.

Porsche PDK or BMW DCT would have me sold.

Terry Fair is also intimating the 2015 Mustang should be 100lbs lighter, and hopefully the Coyote will get a power bump to go along as well.

That package with less weight, more HP, "better" rear suspension and brilliant automated manual? Oh man would the wife murder me.

dean1484 wrote: The cutting spark may be an issue with the emissions police.

Or more immediately, your cylinder walls...I know it looks and sounds cool and it's a little quicker, but you don't want that on an engine you aren't going to rebuild in a few hours anyway.

In reply to SyntheticBlinkerFluid:

They're having issues, but......that wasn't the point. The point was, those mass production cars don't have slushboxes now.