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
I thin what's being talked about is a conventional torque-converter plus planetary gear automatic with the option of shifting it manually, either with some type of floor shift lever or paddles on the steering wheel.
Two other things that might be referred to:
A computer-controlled gears-on-shafts manual transmission (which might involve more than one gearbox in tandem), with a single clutch between engine and transmission. Examples include the six-speed autoshift Fiat uses in the Ducato (we get it in the Ram Promaster diesel), and autoshift motorcoach and heavy truck transmissions. Most have automatic clutch actuation from a standstill.
Double clutch gears-on-shafts manual transmissions controlled by computer, usually with electronic selection among several shifting profiles (names like economy, city, sport, track, insane). Most have double gear trains as well as double clutches. These have worked their way over from racing technology, and can be as smooth as the smoothest automatics, or faster than all but the best drivers can consistently shift really good manual transmissions. Sometimes there is still a "manual" program option but the clutch pedal is gone. This is often the only transmission now offered for premium GT cars and high performance sport sedans, but the technology has also worked its way into economy cars, particularly where engines are too small and MPG standards too tight to allow for the inefficiencies of torque-converter automatics. The other alternative for automatics in economy cars now is the CVT.
Two other things that might be referred to:
A computer-controlled gears-on-shafts manual transmission (which might involve more than one gearbox in tandem), with a single clutch between engine and transmission. Examples include the six-speed autoshift Fiat uses in the Ducato (we get it in the Ram Promaster diesel), and autoshift motorcoach and heavy truck transmissions. Most have automatic clutch actuation from a standstill.
Double clutch gears-on-shafts manual transmissions controlled by computer, usually with electronic selection among several shifting profiles (names like economy, city, sport, track, insane). Most have double gear trains as well as double clutches. These have worked their way over from racing technology, and can be as smooth as the smoothest automatics, or faster than all but the best drivers can consistently shift really good manual transmissions. Sometimes there is still a "manual" program option but the clutch pedal is gone. This is often the only transmission now offered for premium GT cars and high performance sport sedans, but the technology has also worked its way into economy cars, particularly where engines are too small and MPG standards too tight to allow for the inefficiencies of torque-converter automatics. The other alternative for automatics in economy cars now is the CVT.
