Dual Clutch Transmissions Facts

[DavidJS]

Originally Posted by jparnes1

+1 I see some MT drivers writing with an elitist attitude. What's the big ***ing deal? You drive what you like the way you want to drive it. ... Let's just give this divisiveness a rest and practice a little more courtesy and inclusion.

I agree. I've been driving sporty MT cars for 40 years. Two factors caused me to change to DCT with my newly ordered Z4: 1) I have a condition that resulted in some nerve damage that makes it difficult for me to use the clutch on my current 6-speed Mini, and 2) The car I want, the Z4 35is, is only offered with DCT. I don't believe I will be any less of a sporty driver or enthusiast because of the DCT.

Nobody has a patent on the term "enthusiast", and I won't be defined by someone else's idea of what one has to drive in order to be one. Let's just move on.

[Baremeg55]

Originally Posted by stickshifter69

Only in the US are automatics more preferred. I would never have an automatic car unless it is luxury sedan like a 7 series. True enthusiastic drivers will opt to drive manuals!

That is the biggest load of crap I've seen written in a while! LOL. So I guess I'm not a true enthusiast now that I've purchased my 35i with the DCT? This car is as much fun to drive as my earlier cars! Wouldn't even consider a MT in Houston traffic!!!

Hmmm, let me reflect down memory lane.... from the first car....

'63 Impala SS with a 327 and special Hurst 4MT
'70 Chevelle 396 MT
'75 Trans Am 400 MT
'76 442 with 454 AT
76 Vette 350 AT
A series of different family and work vehicles from 1979 to 2001
Four Avalanches from '01 to '09
2012 Z4 35i with DCT

[az34]

Originally Posted by Baremeg55

That is the biggest load of crap I've seen written in a while! LOL. So I guess I'm not a true enthusiast now that I've purchased my 35i with the DCT? This car is as much fun to drive as my earlier cars! Wouldn't even consider a MT in Houston traffic!!!

Hmmm, let me reflect down memory lane.... from the first car....

'63 Impala SS with a 327 and special Hurst 4MT
'70 Chevelle 396 MT
'75 Trans Am 400 MT
'76 442 with 454 AT
76 Vette 350 AT
A series of different family and work vehicles from 1979 to 2001
Four Avalanches from '01 to '09
2012 Z4 35i with DCT

you'd owned a lot of great cars, but that 76 442 should had a 455,400or350 but never a 454.ci.

[Baremeg55]

AZ34,

You are correct, my finger hit the wrong key. Big block 455. And I shouldn't fail to mention the swivel bucket seats...

[teagueAMX]

Originally Posted by jparnes1

There's plenty of professional racers who drive DCT's when the race sactions it. You can't shift faster than with a DCT. And you get to keep both hands on the wheel with the paddle shifters, which can be a safety issue at times.

You make a very good point, but strictly speaking, most race cars, including paddle shifting F1 cars, use sequential manual transmissions. These transmissions are blisteringly fast and shift up or down through the gears only sequentially (sort of like a DCT).

But you are absolutely correct, in the world of street cars, a DCT is very fast and certainly much faster than a human can shift. Living in the country, and driving at about age 12 or 13, I grew up driving MT so it's quite natural. On the other hand I really like DCT tek.

Sequential manual transmission

F1Technical.net

[stickshifter69]

Originally Posted by 35iDriver

Some DCT owners groaned when they read your post, some let out a big fat, "Oh Puleeeeease", other asked themselves: "WHAT did he just say?" or
"I can't believe what I JUST read" and the others just chuckled at you and moved on. None of which happen to result in a post. Initially, I just happen to be the only DCT owner that decided to call you out on what you said....and now a couple more have decided to respond to you.

If you were going to pedal a heavily biased statement like that, directly in FRONT of a bunch of DCT users, then you should have been prepared for responses of all kind.

You don't get to tell us who is a "true enthusiast".

Ok, I re-read my original post and apologize to all who I had offended with my comment about "a true enthusiast driver". What I meant to say is "a true enthusiast MT driver will always opt for an manual transmission cars." I'm one of those people. I left the MT part out. I've tried SMG and DCT and I could not get used to it that I had to go back to MT.

[35iDriver]

Originally Posted by stickshifter69

Ok, I re-read my original post and apologize to all who I had offended with my comment about "a true enthusiast driver". What I meant to say is "a true enthusiast MT driver will always opt for an manual transmission cars." I'm one of those people. I left the MT part out. I've tried SMG and DCT and I could not get used to it that I had to go back to MT.

OK - On behalf of the "true enthusiast" DCT drivers.

[DavidJS]

Yes, apology accepted. No harm done.

[Baremeg55]

Originally Posted by stickshifter69

Ok, I re-read my original post and apologize to all who I had offended with my comment about "a true enthusiast driver". What I meant to say is "a true enthusiast MT driver will always opt for an manual transmission cars." I'm one of those people. I left the MT part out. I've tried SMG and DCT and I could not get used to it that I had to go back to MT.

No harm - no foul. Wasn't offend, amused would more correctly sum it up!

I consider myself an enthusiast WITH the DCT! My Fatboy has a manual tranny, does that count?

[DavidJS]

Interesting article:
http://www.insideline.com/porsche/91...rbox-only.html

[Dr Stig 2]

Originally Posted by Baremeg55

Four Avalanches from '01 to '09

Where they all replaced under warranty?

[shadowfax777]

Do most people in NA learn driving in a car with manual gearbox?

[jparnes1]

Originally Posted by shadowfax777

Do most people in NA learn driving in a car with manual gearbox?

Definitely not. that's why so few manuals are sold here. It's a dying skill.

[stickshifter69]

Thanks all!!

[35iDriver]

Originally Posted by shadowfax777

Do most people in NA learn driving in a car with manual gearbox?

My guess would be most learn in an automatic. I learned in an automatic, but 6 years later I learned to drive manual. I then owned a mix of manuals and automatics for the next 22 years, until I broke the mold with the DCT.

[shadowfax777]

If you pass your driving test in an auto, you can only drive auto but not manual in US/Canada. Is it correct?

[jparnes1]

Untrue in US.

[az34]

Originally Posted by jparnes1

Untrue in US.

same for CANADA

[army_men]

Originally Posted by shadowfax777

If you pass your driving test in an auto, you can only drive auto but not manual in US/Canada. Is it correct?

untrue in Canada, I passed with a auto, and driving a MT now. has no limits on that, altho taking a MT to the driving test isn't the best idea because you get tested on more items, if you coast you pretty much just failed. So you have to gear down like a proper school boy.

[Dr Stig 2]

In Australia we still have manual and automatic licenses.
I'm told by a few people who have gone through the process in recent years (Soooo long since I had to do this) that if you apply for a manual license, and rock up to the test in an automatic, they often still give you the full license without the automatic vehicle restriction.

In my day, (oh my god, here I go again) they used to strictly enforce the license condition because automatics were a lot rarer. Almost everything was a manual and only the luxury cars had an auto.
These days in Austrlaia, most vehicles are bought with an automatic gearbox, and it is only those who really love a manual or who dont want to pay the extra to get an automatic gearbox (its usually between a $500 and $7000 option depending on the car - except those cars that are auto only anyway - eg X3, X5, X6, 7 series, etc) who end up with a manual.

I will still force my kids to learn to drive a manual and the first car I buy them will be one, but after that I'll let them do what they want.

[35iDriver]

Originally Posted by shadowfax777

If you pass your driving test in an auto, you can only drive auto but not manual in US/Canada. Is it correct?

Yes, we have special police equipped with the latest in xray cameras. If they see a manual they can stop you without probable cause, then ask you if you learned to drive on a manual or an auto. If they have the slightest hint that you are lying they can throw you in jail. As punishment you have to drive an old K car automatic for a month.

[shadowfax777]

In UK, you are only allowed to drive auto if you pass your test in an auto. Passing the test in manual allows you to drive car with all types of gearbox.