Automatic Manual Transmission
I notice that a lot of vehicles have what they call an automatic manual transmission. From experience, which is the better transmission to get? I understand that it can have a jerky feel at low s...
Forum Discussion
My truck and my car (Equinox) both have this feature. Both are simply called "Manual". Basically, it allows you to shift to the next gear at the RPM level you want. Why? Well, for quicker pick-up for one. From a dead stop you can RPM the engine to 5000 before hitting second gear. Whereas normal automatic shifting may shift to second at a much lower RPM.... say 1500. When shifting to the second gear, face it, you don't have a much quick UMPH! So, I suppose if you are a speed racer and like to drive with Jack Rabbit starts and race the engine and dream you are a race track, this feature works pretty well.
But when you turn 60, I think it's a waste of technology. Let the dang machine shift itself... I'm to dang old to pretend I'm in a race car any more. Besides... I grew up in the day when manual transmissions were the standard, 3 on the column to 5 on the floor, to 16 of them in a semi truck!
I suppose the best use of manually selecting a gear would be in mountain driving when you need the car to stay in a specific gear, either up hill or down hill. My car has only 1 option ... "D". And it will shift where it wants.
Put in "M" and it will stay in the gear.
Good technology? Well, considering there is only a "D" option, it's not a bad feature to have, especially if you live in hill or mountain country.
But when you turn 60, I think it's a waste of technology. Let the dang machine shift itself... I'm to dang old to pretend I'm in a race car any more. Besides... I grew up in the day when manual transmissions were the standard, 3 on the column to 5 on the floor, to 16 of them in a semi truck!
I suppose the best use of manually selecting a gear would be in mountain driving when you need the car to stay in a specific gear, either up hill or down hill. My car has only 1 option ... "D". And it will shift where it wants.
Put in "M" and it will stay in the gear.
Good technology? Well, considering there is only a "D" option, it's not a bad feature to have, especially if you live in hill or mountain country.
