Automatics

[PMKeates]

Completely wrong I'm afraid, utterly and totally. The torque converter does not cause slow changes. Drive a old classic with an auto gearbox and you'll be only too aware how the term originated.

I am not completely wrong as I am not saying the torque converter causes slow changes (please re-read); it causes the 'slush' feeling between the engine and wheels.

Either way, the term is used for all automatic transmissions with torque converters nowadays, and it's 2011 not 1960.

 

[Jonnycoupe]

If anyone said slushbox at work today - in 2011. I think they would get laughed at.

 

[ubersonic]

I didn't say I had any desire to do that, I'm simply making a point. Ubersonics assertion that you have complete control over the slush box is completely ludicrous. You can generally persuade it to do what you want in most situations, but in no way do you have the same level of control as with a manual.

Nope my assertion was 100% correct, like I said: When driving an automatic you are in total control of what gear your in, when you change and how quick the change is, the difference is its all done by throttle manipulation. (you cannot make it down shift for a corner/junction, you have to break for that).

OFC that control requires skill acquired through experience as does most things.

You don't need to consider what the gearbox will do. If you know that it will take 1 second from stamping your foot to getting a push on, factor that into the timing of your manoeuvre. quite simple to understand.. however, if you cannot make it into that gap in the time it takes then maybe the gap was too small anyway....

Nail - Head

I'm talking about a conventional auto box. Does your transmission use epicyclic gearboxes controlled purely by a hydraulic "computer"? i.e. no electronics?

Er, didn't electronically controlled boxes become standard in like 1980? Ok if were talking about a '66 Camaro you may have a point but I assumed that the car in the OP's question (and the tech were discussing) was from the last 25 years...

 

[dilated]

Plus the way the salesmen go on about diesel its as if it's some sort of newly discovered portable nuclear fuel..

LOL at this, so true! But sadly something that many people blindly follow.

A guy is looking at a Audi TT TDI - here is an extract of the email trail with some good but amusing advice...

Petrol upsides:
- car cheaper to buy
- fuel cheaper per litre
- more power (faster and safer)
- sounds much better (than a bag of spanners falling down the stairs)
- smells much nicer
- no gay gloves at the pump
- less black soot/carcinogenic **** coming out the back
- no DPF to worry about ruining over short journeys (£££)
- no slimy pumps to deal with
- doesn't mark you out as a tight-fisted loser

Farmers fuel upsides:
- will get a few mpg less (see point 2 above)

 

[Fr0dders]

Paddles and slush boxes don't generally go together do they?

Yipee !! i get to dig another top gear video out ! (i'll watch it first this time )

Skip straight to 3:30 for the gearbox comments. You can see the paddles at about 4:43


Clarkson's hatred for the robotized manuals such as the one found in the Aston Martin Vanquish and the Ferrari 360 is legendary. They have a bit of a reputation for being clunky , harsh and frustrating to use. I've not really had any experience with this type of box only torque converter autos so i'll leave my comments about that here.

But what i will say, is that some of the reviews of the latest E63 AMG with the DCT box said the previous E63 with the torque converter auto worked better, and that too had flappy paddles.