Are We Done Adding Gears to Transmissions?
By: Mike Duff (Car and Driver)
Ford and GM raised the bar.
Honda's threatening to push it higher, but we might be approaching peak gearbox.
Here's why.
Let's have some FUN news!
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
But in the early part of the 21st century, we've seen the average shoot up as six-, seven-, and then eight-speed autos became commonplace. More recently, Ford and GM raised the bar to 10 with their jointly developed longitudinal box.
These modern gearboxes are complex pieces of engineering that allow substantial efficiency gains, especially when paired with turbocharged engines with plentiful low-end torque.
Yet despite Honda's patent for an 11-speed triple-clutch automatic transmission, we are quickly approaching peak gearbox. That's because increasing the number of speeds also increases friction and rotating mass to the point of diminishing returns, but it's also because of the growing prevalence of hybrid systems.
Electric motors can add torque to the parts of the rev range where a combustion engine might leave drivers wanting, quickening responses and covering the perceived gaps in a vehicle's gearing.
"You simply won't need as many ratios to do the same job," Andy Palmer, former head of Aston Martin and a former transmission engineer, told us recently. "Plus, if you carry on adding ratios, you get to the point where you might as well just make a CVT."
And nobody wants that.
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"Three on the tree!"
The Driving School Studebaker I learned on, and my first car (1950 Ford Custom Coach) had 3 forward speed manual gearshift (using a clutch, of course) with a steering column mounted lever After that, every car I ever owned was automatic. Only an enthusiast would want to shift through the greatly increased number ratios that have increased subsequently. However, once you've learned how to drive a manual gearshift car, you never forget.
My wife drove only manuals from twenty years old to about forty. I suggested an automatic, when a new car was due.
We had taken delivery before she tried it out.
She has never driven a manual since.
In regard to the CVT... you're absolutely right! Ford Motor Co. learned that the hard way with the CVT in the Fiestas and Focuses. I'm one of those weirdos that prefer a manual trans anyhow.
I had to order my 2012 Fiesta, because no manuals were available in the US when I was looking to buy. I get A-plan; so, it was a logical choice when a used vehicle would've cost me more per month and possibly more overall after APR was added to the cost of the vehicle. Now, I don't believe any US automaker is building vehicles for the US market with a manual in any vehicle line. I could be wrong though; I haven't looked in a while, but the last I heard is that US auto makers were getting rid of most "econoboxes" which in most instances were the only ones available in a manual that was NOT a sports car.
I already warned my union-centric family [dad and father in law retired from Ford, stepdad retired from US Steel, uncle works for FCA, etc.] that my next vehicle will either be a much older model or if newer, it will likely be a Subaru Cross Trek or a Mini Cooper. I don't want to give up my manual trans!!!
Last year, 5th gear went kaput on my way to work and I called 7 transmission shops in my area before I found one that actually still rebuilt manual transmissions. I was pleasantly surprised at the cost for rebuild; I assumed it would be $2000 especially considering it was the only place within 15 miles, but it was $1400.
Personally, I've never understood the way some people adore manual trannies. Automatics have been faster-shifting for decades, and as their shift-point management has gotten more sophisticated, they've now become more economical, too.
But... ... I know quite a few people like you, who want that manual... end of story! No argument allowed...
I suppose that's why the manufacturers produce a zillion different models every year: we each wan exactly what we want!
Me... I want quiet and comfortable. I don't care how many ratios... or even if it's continuous (as long as it doesn't buzz...)
That CVT is what caused Ford Motor Co. to recall hundreds of thousands of cars, buy backs, lawsuits, and many loyal customers were lost.
For me personally, I prefer a manual trans because of my sleep disorder. If I fall asleep at a red light driving a manual, I simply stall if my feet come off those pedals; if I fall asleep at a red light in an automatic the car moves if my feet come up off that brake pedal. Having a manual trans keeps me engaged in driving while on the road too; therefore, keeping me awake.
Seems logical...
A manual always shifts right when you want it to and never shifts when you don't want it to. Besides they're a lot more fun to drive, a manual tranny makes any car feel sportier. I would love to be able to buy a modern sportscar with no power steering, no power brakes, and manual tranny, because that would provide the most feedback and best mental connection to the road, you feel everything. It's like the difference between walking barefoot and wearing shoes. Power steering can be quite good these days with a lot of feedback and tight and precise but power brakes still feel vague compared to manual brakes. Most people these days have never even driven a car with manual brakes, they're so used to that mushy brake pedal they probably have no idea what brake feedback would feel like. If you're wondering what modern manual brakes would feel like just ride a motorcycle. with power brakes you usually hear that you rotors are bad and they're really bad by that point but with manual brakes you feel it as soon as they get even a little bit pitted or rough.
My 1984 Ford Ranger had manual brakes, all 4 were drums and I only weighed 100 lbs. Panic stops were nearly impossible; I say nearly, because I had to panic stop ONCE when a semi truck decided he needed on the freeway and cut across 2 lanes to get to the onramp. I was in that far lane and he didn't care who was there.
My 68 VW Bus had manual four wheel drum brakes and they were very good. The trick with four wheel drum brakes is they must be in perfect adjustment and they should be checked and readjusted if the pedal goes down more than factory spec. most rear drums have automatic adjusters but most four wheel drum cars or trucks need to be manually adjusted. It is a fact that manual brakes require a little more muscle but if it's a good design and is working properly they should work very well. Manual brakes and especially four wheel drums just need more maintenance.
Considering I've been a mechanic on and off for many years, I'm aware. The pedal on my 84 Ranger didn't travel further than it should, but that extra muscle includes some ass behind it too and back then, I was tiny.
I understand everything you're saying... I wonder, though, if most people are competent enough drivers to do better than a modern car's driver aids.
Lots of motorcycles now have ABS and automatic front/rear balance. ...sigh...
Most people need all the help they can get while they're texting, talking on the phone and drinking their five dollar designer coffee.
That's precisely why those "driver aids" came into existence.
It wouldn't be hard to prevent phones from working in moving cars.
I can hear the screaming, already...
I prefer manual a transmission too. Learning to drive on a manual should be required for driving schools. If you can drive a manual, you can drive anything. It blows my mind when people tell me they don't know how to drive a manual, or that they don't know what a manual transmission is.
It's a theft deterrent now. My daughter and "the adopted one" have been learning on my Fiesta. When my son is a bit older, he will too. When I was in Europe, I had to drive a couple times because my coworkers didn't know how to drive a manual... THEY'RE ENGINEERS!
Any auto thief worth their salt will know how to drive a stick. I think in some parts of Europe, people's drivers licenses specify their certification to drive a standard or automatic.
I'm beginning to wonder if anyone knows how to drive manual.
I'd like to teach my son to drive one, but nobody in my family owns a manual anymore. Even my brother, who operates heavy equipment and use to drive a tractor-trailer, has a truck with an automatic transmission. He messed up his shoulder wrestling in high school, and an automatic is just easier for him.
I do, but haven't done so in over 30 years.
That's ok. It's like riding a bike
I imagine that's why people seem to gravitate towards automatics.
LOL. As I said, once you learn how, you never forget. It just takes a short while for any subsequent car how to adjust your pressure on the clutch.
Probably not many under thirty...
It's kinda like handwriting. An art that's being lost because we hardly ever use it.... I'm typing this.
Probably. I know he liked a standard, but his shoulder isn't getting any better with age, and shifting gears was painful.
I like a standard, but it's getting harder to find one to buy anymore. Last time I was car shopping, there was no version of the car I wanted on the lot that had a stick shift.
Maybe... a lot of the "new" thieves are tech savvy, but not mechanically savvy. When there's not much reason to learn to drive a manual, why would they? If US auto manufacturers are doing away with all manual transmissions, there would be no reason for a thief to learn to drive one; not unless they're trying to steal classic cars / trucks.
Sandy, send your son to me. I have a manual!
And a hydraulic clutch is SO MUCH EASIER than cable or linkage!
I'm very glad that the school district I and my family live in still teaches cursive.
You've never lived till you've down shifted going into a curve and up shifted coming out. I learned to drive manual the easy way, when I was young I rode dirt bikes so when I drove my first standard car at age 12 on my grandfather's farm it was completely natural it was the automatics that felt weird.
Until it blows out and needs replacing an example of this is the Saturn Vue, the cylinder has the drive go through it instead of the cylinder off to the side, to replace it you had to drop the transmission. I could drive the vehicle without the clutch but my wife couldn't, so had to replace it.
And unfortunately, the Saturn vehicle line is no longer; therefore, parts are expensive and sometimes difficult to find. I loved my Saturn Vue, but knew that to maintain it would continue to get more expensive.
I've seen a couple videos of that exact thing, they're hilarious.
I've done that. I like the feel of control a manual provides. Although, starting from a stop on a hill with a standard was something of a challenge when I first learned.
There's something about the classics.
I know what you mean. Standards seem to be becoming increasingly rare, which is unfortunate.
Speaking of writing, remember cursive writing? Now there's a lost art.
Let's face it no matter how good you get with a standard when you're stopped on a steep uphill and someone pulls up to close behind you it can be stressful.
Nah.. In Detroit... I will let it roll back a bit to scare the crap out of the person behind me.
My Fiesta has a feature that when on a hill, it will automatically keep the brake on momentarily when you let off the brake pedal, giving one enough time to move forward without rolling back.
It'll last another generation.
But when I see at what age kids have phones and tablets, now....
When on a hill (and I mean pretty steep) in my '69 Nova, if someone was close behind me, I would set the parking brake just enough to hold me, release the clutch s l o w l y until it was engaged enough to prevent any rolling back and release the brake right at the right time and away I would go. Yep it probably wasn't the best for clutch life but I would rather have put a new clutch/pressure plate combo than have to pay for damage to the car behind and my insurance rates getting jacked up
And actually as time went on and I started drag racing it (IHRA street stock J) I got pretty good at holding the brake and accelerator with my right foot prior to green. (I had to do something as when staged, the car would roll slightly and I didn't want the staging light to go out if I drifted)
I can certainly understand that!
I learned to drive a stick in Morgantown, WV. The joke about how steep the hills were there was that you could tell freshmen from upperclassmen by the size of their calves. But yeah, I still hated it when somebody was behind me on a hill.
TBH, I haven't driven a standard in years. Only once or twice since I sold my Subaru Outback with a stick shift to my ex. But I like them better in the mountains or on icy roads - easier to control speed and torque.
That's one reason why I like sticks too.
I liked the 4 speed Hurst shifters In the Roadrunners I had a long time ago, My blue Charger has automatic with a pistol grip floor shifter for the 440 and it does not miss a shift. I like the 5 speed in my truck and the auto in my Jeep Cherokee.
Those Burst shifters felt like bank vaults. SOLID!
I learned at Alleghany State Park.....Funny story.....My husband drove and explained everything to me....comes to my turn, we switch places....as I was getting my footing in order and getting ready to put the car in drive lo and behold a bear comes up the embankment and stops right in front of the car....I froze....thankfully he turned, crossed the road and went up the embankment and out of sight.
If I were to get a new Hellcat Challenger with the high performance Hemi package I would get the automatic, I don't think I could shift fast as the computer does and I think that automatic has 8 speeds,
But manuals are more fun
If I were buying a Hemi Challenger it would be for FUN so it would be the manual trans. Besides long term the manual is a better investment so if you or your children sell it 20-30 years from now it will be worth more and more attractive to buyers.