Manual vs Dual Clutch vs Sequential Manual vs Automatic

[565]

I used to be a manual purist too.  But now those paddle shifters, espeically the dual clutch gear boxes are getting better and better.

Which kind of transmission do you want in your next car?

[Raghavan]

Manual

[CJ]

It really depends on which car they're in. 

[ChrisV]

It really depends on which car they're in. 

Ditto. A '60s musclecar would be best with a built automatic, and a pure luxury car would be best with a smooth autobox (like my 740iL) but a small engine sports car or sport sedan should have a manual box (or paddle shift sequential clutched setup). Same for most small engine economy cars. Modern muscle, like the new Mustang or Challenger are equally as potent with either trans.

[2o6]

Ditto. A '60s musclecar would be best with a built automatic, and a pure luxury car would be best with a smooth autobox (like my 740iL) but a small engine sports car or sport sedan should have a manual box (or paddle shift sequential clutched setup). Same for most small engine economy cars. Modern muscle, like the new Mustang or Challenger are equally as potent with either trans.

Manual, more control, and Shifting makes pretty much any car fun.

[ChrisV]

Manual, more control, and Shifting makes pretty much any car fun.

I promise to be remarkably reserved in this thread.

[SVT666]

Manual.  I don't like the car doing my shifting for me and that includes paddles.  I feel more at one with the car with a proper manual.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

I'm interested in trying out a dual clutch. My next new vehicle would probobly have one. It does depend on the car though, in some cases i still like a manual.

I've driven manual cars since the day i got my license. They have many benefits over an automatic(semi-automatic), or used to.

More gears, less drivetrain loss, and better performance(both acceleration and fuel economy). This is what a manual always offered.

Modern Semi Automatic manuals have eliminated all of these and offer better performance than their 3 pedal counterpart. In turbo cars the benefit of having the engine under constant load therby eliminating lag between shifts makes them well suited to turbo cars and performance cars in general.

I don't see a downside to them other than you don't have a third pedal to push in, for many that isn't a big deal and not a reason to dismiss the other benefits that it has over a standard transmission.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

I promise to be remarkably reserved in this thread.

You and your crappy old 3 on the tree built hydrotorqueflightpower or whatever dinosaur transmissions.

Move into the 20th century already.

[TBR]

Depends on the situation, for my current mix of curvy road, straight highway, and light city traffic I prefer a manual, but if I was in a situation where I had to deal with heavy traffic on a normal basis I would definitely prefer a dual clutch over any of the other options. As far as I am concerned, dual clutch gear boxes are the transmission of the future, automatics and sequential manuals will soon be made obsolete.

[SVT666]

Depends on the situation, for my current mix of curvy road, straight highway, and light city traffic I prefer a manual, but if I was in a situation where I had to deal with heavy traffic on a normal basis I would definitely prefer a dual clutch over any of the other options. As far as I am concerned, dual clutch gear boxes are the transmission of the future, automatics and sequential manuals will soon be made obsolete.

Eventually, manuals may become obsolete (I hope it never happens) but automatics (of some kind) will never become obsolete.  Pulling a paddle is too much work for most people.

[etypejohn]

Both my wife and I prefer manual transmissions.  In fact, when car shopping any car not available with a manual transmission is automatically eliminated from consideration.

And we do drive manuals on our commutes in Houston.  The fact that we frequently sit in traffic working a clutch pedal is not a problem for either of us.

[TBR]

Eventually, manuals may become obsolete (I hope it never happens) but automatics (of some kind) will never become obsolete.  Pulling a paddle is too much work for most people.

Dual clutch and sequential manuals already have software modes that shift automatically.

[Raghavan]

Dual clutch and sequential manuals already have software modes that shift automatically.

It's a big waste of money to get a dual clutch transmission and never use the paddles.
Kind of like buying an SUV and never going offroad...
Oh. Wait.

[2o6]

Can anyone here drive a straight-cut manual?

[ChrisV]

You and your crappy old 3 on the tree built hydrotorqueflightpower or whatever dinosaur transmissions.

Move into the 20th century already.

lol. How many speeds do you need with real torque over a wide band... hell, my BMW has more gears in it's autobox than my manual trans Chevelle had... 4-5 gears are plenty for anything.

[Raza]

Manual.  I consider dual clutch a replacement for an automatic, and sequentials are supposedly very jerky and neither good as an auto or a manual. 

In order:
Manual > Dual clutch > Automatic > Sequential

[Vinsanity]

It really does depend on the car; the Camry I rented a few months back shifted much too early for the engine's power output. In comparison, although the Caddy's trans also shifts very early, the engine has enough torque to keep the car accelerating anyways.

I'd definitely like to try a sequential or dual-clutch gearbox someday; I didn't vote because I haven't schooled myself as to the differences between the two

[etypejohn]

Can anyone here drive a straight-cut manual?

Not really well, but yes.

[SVT666]

4-5 gears are plenty for anything.

I agree with this statement and I've been saying it for awhile.

[Vinsanity]

4-5 gears are plenty for anything.

Not the S2000. That would be like entering a daschund in a dog race

[Eye of the Tiger]

I used to be a manual purist too.  But now those paddle shifters, espeically the dual clutch gear boxes are getting better and better.

Which kind of transmission do you want in your next car?

I picked manual because you're asking about my next car. My next car will probably be a replacement for the slushcardboardbox Escort - a cheap beater to get me back and forth to school. In that case, I'd prefer a manual, especially since I plan on keeping the automatic Audi. I'm not usually happy unless I have at least one manual in my fleet.

[Raghavan]

Not really well, but yes.

How is it different from driving a regular manual?

[Laconian]

Can anyone here drive a straight-cut manual?

I seem to recall Soup has driven some commercial trucks before?

I voted manual because it's still fun for me. I also like the sharper response I get on cars w/o torque converters. Better straight-line performance isn't as big of an issue for me because I don't make a habit of driving my car at 10/10ths.

[etypejohn]

How is it different from driving a regular manual?

By straight cut I assume he meant spur gears  Its much harder to shift those smoothly.

Modern transmissions have helical cut gears.

[Raghavan]

By straight cut I assume he meant spur gears  Its much harder to shift those smoothly.

Modern transmissions have helical cut gears.

Oh yeah, I know what it means. I just didn't know it'd be harder to drive, but I can see where you're coming from.
Reverse gear on manual transmissions are harder to engage than the forward gears. It must be like trying to shift into reverse for every gear.

[Tave]

I promise to be remarkably reserved in this thread.

Yeah, that sounded familiar...

[2o6]

Oh yeah, I know what it means. I just didn't know it'd be harder to drive, but I can see where you're coming from.
Reverse gear on manual transmissions are harder to engage than the forward gears. It must be like trying to shift into reverse for every gear.

FYI, the moan and quickness of Reverse would be for ALL forward gears. Many Race Cars have this moan, not from Forced Induction, but the tranny. Less power loss, but they're all around harder to drive.


Also, AMT trannies are present on little cars. The Proton Savvy and Smart Fortwo are AMT's.

[MX793]

Manual for my daily driver.  Having direct control over both the throttle and the clutch helps to better modulate traction when trying to start on slippery surfaces (like in the winter).  Though for a track car I wouldn't hesitate to get a DSG.

[93JC]

Dual computer-controlled clutches are brilliant. If I had my own auto company I think I'd sell them exclusively. Frankly, they're at the point now where they could supplant the traditional manual and automatic, with no detriment in functionality with respect to either type.