do you drive a car with a sequential transmission?

[Deleted member 1]

I've only ever driven the manual. I'm still about 1 year out from purchasing another car. But I see that getting a manual is starting to become a limiting factor in which cars I could choose. Also, the performance benefits of the sequential transmission like a dual clutch system is hard to ignore.

Any car guys made the leap? it is still fun and leaves you connected to the vehicle?

 

[ThatOneDude]

I've never owned one but driven one multiple times.... You'll hate it, atleast I did

 

[Morpheushasleftthebuilding]

I've only ever driven the manual. I'm still about 1 year out from purchasing another car. But I see that getting a manual is starting to become a limiting factor in which cars I could choose. Also, the performance benefits of the sequential transmission is hard to ignore.

Any car guys made the leap? it is still fun and leaves you connected to the vehicle?

you mean a semi automatic, where you shift without a clutch?

 

[BJTT-Rizzo]

I'm not familiar with this. I didn't even know there was a third option.

 

[Deleted member 1]

you mean a semi automatic, where you shift without a clutch?

Yes. But specifically it must be an automatic clutch system vs a normal automatic that has a torque converter. So an automatic that has up and down arrows is not it.
Its transmission is a manual that doesn't require a clutch press but does go through the gears in largely the same way.

There are lots of types of sequential transmissions but really I'm talking about a dual clutch automatic which is the only type of sequential transmission you are likely to find in a consumer car as far as I know.

Examples.

VW DSG
Porsche PDK

 

[Deleted member 1]

I'm not familiar with this. I didn't even know there was a third option.

Look here

Dual-clutch transmission - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[IschKabibble]

Are you into performance driving? I feel like I wanted to drive a manual transmission when I was teenager, but I can't be bothered now. Automatic is the way to go.

 

[IschKabibble]

And if you're referring to what I think you're referring to, it's an option that is available in a lot of automatic transmission cars, but there is really no point in shifting manually unless you encounter specific terrain that would require shifting into low gear.

 

[Morpheushasleftthebuilding]

Look here

Dual-clutch transmission - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

that's what they use in F1 and sports cars, there is no time delay when shifting.

 

[seekntruth]

I drive very high end cars about 30 hours a week at one of my side hustles, and drive some with a dual clutch tranny and I'm sort of meh on them......it's nothing like a "real" manual trans imo, but kinda cool in it's own way.

 

[girlandcoconut]

IMO if you're about feel and connectedness with the car for performance, etc....nothing beats a manual. There is no comparison to engaging the clutch, learning the sweet spot between it/gas for whatever application you choose and shifting a stick. I have been wanting another manual for SO LONG but I just don't want to spend $ on a 2nd car and mine is paid off. I did almost jump at a 76 Celica GT the other day tho, torquey little buggar! I guess I'm a bit more for nostalgia when it comes to autos.

 

[IschKabibble]

IMO if you're about feel and connectedness with the car for performance, etc....nothing beats a manual. There is no comparison to engaging the clutch, learning the sweet spot between it/gas for whatever application you choose and shifting a stick. I have been wanting another manual for SO LONG but I just don't want to spend $ on a 2nd car and mine is paid off. I did almost jump at a 76 Celica GT the other day tho, torquey little buggar! I guess I'm a bit more for nostalgia when it comes to autos.

Depends on your commute really. I would hate to deal with constantly shifting gears in rush hour traffic. Would be nice for a Sunday afternoon joyride on the highway though.

 

[ThatOneDude]

My soon to be ex wife has a dsg.... Fuck that

 

[Punch]

My favorite is manual in a sports car. Automatic in a luxury car. I haven't tried this third option yet @Splinty.

 

[Wintermute]

I've always driven a manual. My wife has an Infiniti with one of those training wheels clutchless sequential shifting sticks. I always thought it was a cheesy gimmick to make people that couldn't drive a stick feel like they're in a sports car... am I wrong? Are there real benefits?

 

[Deleted member 1]

am I wrong? Are there real benefits?

VW and Porsche make nice dual clutch automatics.
In both cases, their respective cars (GTI, 911, Cayman) are faster with the dual clutch automatic over the manual.
Further, in most cases the initial power handling of the transmission is better on the dual clutch. So if upgrading up to about 450hp it requires only a computer flash electronically instead of a whole new clutch assembly like the manual.

But you can't go 4->2 or slip the clutch a little for control.

 

[La Paix]

My how things have changed.

Chrysler wrote in 1954: “PowerFlite, which requires no clutch pedal, combines a torque converterand a two-speed planetary gearbox in a smooth-flowing driving operation. It is 100 pounds lighter than the heaviest competitive unit, and contains 110 fewer parts than the most complicated of these. Dodge engineers claim it will deliver more accelerating power more smoothly than any other transmission. Neutral and drive are on one level of the selector level. Reverse and low gears, on a higher level, are selected by a slight lifting of the lever and sliding left or right. This makes it possible to select a driving range by feel. Also, because reverse is next to neutral, it eliminates the dangerous practice of switching directly from drive to reverse.”