GM to spend $260 million on Toledo Plant: 8-Speed Tranny READ TO GO!!!!

[Zabo]

Originally Posted by a_Username

Everyone's an economist.

Welcome to the 2010's..

[Cmicasa the Great XvX]

Originally Posted by speedster

...and our Oshawa Camaro Team !!

Good point.. but in reality I am of the thought that Canada is actually a territory of the United States. We just keep it a secret.

[Cmicasa the Great XvX]

Originally Posted by a_Username

Everyone's an economist.

NO... Everyone should give a shit about their own..

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by Libertyforall1776

Wow, does that mean an 8-speed manual -- that's a LOT of shifting LOL.

Seems like the plant is setup for automatics, not manuals.

[fielderLS3]

Not sure I like the idea of an 8-speed transmission. The 6-speeds I've experienced hunt enough, and take long enough to reach the right gear when more power is needed as it is. I know there is a performance/efficiency argument, but how many more gears before they hit a point of diminishing returns?

At some point, the number of shifts (and the time those will take) to make a pass will negate the advantage of the closer ratios, and the efficiency gains won't be worth the annoyance of having a transmission that is constantly shifting.

[truth411]

Originally Posted by fielderLS3

Not sure I like the idea of an 8-speed transmission. The 6-speeds I've experienced hunt enough, and take long enough to reach the right gear when more power is needed as it is. I know there is a performance/efficiency argument, but how many more gears before they hit a point of diminishing returns?

At some point, the number of shifts (and the time those will take) to make a pass will negate the advantage of the closer ratios, and the efficiency gains won't be worth the annoyance of having a transmission that is constantly shifting.

IMVHO adding 2 more gears to your traditional Slushbox is about as useful as a pair of Tits on a bull. Now if it is uses a Wet clutch with 8 speeds then that would be awesome.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by fielderLS3

Not sure I like the idea of an 8-speed transmission. The 6-speeds I've experienced hunt enough, and take long enough to reach the right gear when more power is needed as it is. I know there is a performance/efficiency argument, but how many more gears before they hit a point of diminishing returns?

At some point, the number of shifts (and the time those will take) to make a pass will negate the advantage of the closer ratios, and the efficiency gains won't be worth the annoyance of having a transmission that is constantly shifting.

On the other hand ... more gears means that it will be more likely to have an acceptable gear and won't need to hunt as much, and if they are spaced closer together then each shift will be less noticeable.

That said ... I would guess that 6-8 gears would probably be about the useful limit for manual transmissions. Automatics, I don't think it really matters. The limit for them would be at what point is it better to go with a CVT vs individual gears.

[Russell James]

Hopefully they will spend some of those millions on engineering support to program the things to shift properly. I've had 2 FWD 6 speed SUVs and they both shifted horribly, the most annoying transmissions I've ever driven. But if you drive an Audi or Lexus SUV, the transmission is hardly noticeable - smooth, smooth, smooth.

[Number 3]

Originally Posted by truth411

IMVHO adding 2 more gears to your traditional Slushbox is about as useful as a pair of Tits on a bull. Now if it is uses a Wet clutch with 8 speeds then that would be awesome.

Welllllllll, I guess tits on a bull are more useful than I thought. Allows for better all around gear ratios. Lower 1st (if you want) taller top (if you want) and the ability to better optimize drivability in between. So if you want, better launch and better highway mpg. Is that useless?

Originally Posted by DGthe3

On the other hand ... more gears means that it will be more likely to have an acceptable gear and won't need to hunt as much, and if they are spaced closer together then each shift will be less noticeable.

That said ... I would guess that 6-8 gears would probably be about the useful limit for manual transmissions. Automatics, I don't think it really matters. The limit for them would be at what point is it better to go with a CVT vs individual gears.

I think somebody is working on a 9 speed, but you are correct, you get close to the point where you just want a CVT. But CVTs haven't been demonstrated to handle much more than a V6 (Nissan) that I know of.

Originally Posted by Russell James

Hopefully they will spend some of those millions on engineering support to program the things to shift properly. I've had 2 FWD 6 speed SUVs and they both shifted horribly, the most annoying transmissions I've ever driven. But if you drive an Audi or Lexus SUV, the transmission is hardly noticeable - smooth, smooth, smooth.

Which vehicles? Very early Lambdas had some drivability issues that have been fixed. Most of the FWD 6 speeds autos I've driven have been pretty smooth.

[FenwickHockey65]

There have been some reports of Theta-IIs with transmissions that seem like they're constantly searching for gears. I think those have been fixed.

[Zabo]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

There have been some reports of Theta-IIs with transmissions that seem like they're constantly searching for gears. I think those have been fixed.

Meanwhile Ford's transmissions still just.. suck. The Milan was BANGING through the gears when I was hammering it to work. It was about as smooth as what would equate to an automatic trying to powershift.

All our Fords did this.

It could be worse, kids.. could be worse. Only advantage Ford has over here than anything: Better paint choices. Tuxedo Black on a 5th gen would be soo friggin win.

[LOWDOWN]

Predominantly, 7- and 8-speed automatics are currently featured in larger vehicles with bigger V6-V8 engines that need to "hunt" less frequently because of their greater torque output. Mecedes/Lexus LS...s-q-u-e-e-z-e the pedal, away you go. As #3 mentions, CVTs tend to be less efficient the bigger-engined/heavier-chassis'd you go, with the singular exception (that I can think of) of the Lexus RX 450h/Toyota Highlander Hybrid. S-m-o-o-t-h and efficient for a heavy vehicle with CVT, which Toyota mates to all their Hybrid systems.

[fielderLS3]

Originally Posted by Zabo

Meanwhile Ford's transmissions still just.. suck. The Milan was BANGING through the gears when I was hammering it to work. It was about as smooth as what would equate to an automatic trying to powershift.

All our Fords did this.

It could be worse, kids.. could be worse. Only advantage Ford has over here than anything: Better paint choices. Tuxedo Black on a 5th gen would be soo friggin win.

I agree that Ford has done a truly lousy job with the programming on their 6-speed autos. The ones I have experienced have a tendency to "let go" of 2nd before grabbing third, with a noticeable RPM jump in between. It's also functionally a one-speed on the highway due to how ridiculously overboard they have gone to program in fuel economy. Once it's in any gear, there is no going back unless you stop, or push the pedal all the way to the floor. Usually, it just wants to unlock the torque converter for more power, and the engine ends up running faster in the higher gears than it would if it would just shift and keep the converter locked, so ultimately they didn't even get the programming for efficiency right.

For years, the weak transmission programming and lack of manual selectability has been Ford's one major weak point. They have been flamed for it by almost every magazine and on-line review of their cars for years, yet for some reason, they absolutely refuse to fix what should be a fairly easy fix.

BTW, was the Tuxedo Black comment a sarcastic one? That was one of the colors they have had to stop producing because the pigment came from the Japan.

[Juiced1]

Whatever happened to the Powerglide? Two gears not enough for anyone these days?