I dislike F1 style transmissions!!

i seriously dont get whats the big hype about paddle shift(SMG,DSG,E-gear ect...) transmissions........Id rather have the classic and traditional 5-6 speed manual....simply put paddle shifters dont give me the big thrill of driving and are in my opinion too simple to operate and take away the fun and challenge of driving a high-performance speed machine...Besides arnt they basically Automanual transmissions anyways(Automatic gearboxes that allow manual gear changes by tapping it forward/back...left/right). Another thing that is glorifed by these trannies..is the supposly quicker shifting times..Iam sure that taking 1.434 of a second from the normal 1-2 seconds that you take to shift is really gonna help the car go faster...


And for people who are SMG fanatics....explain to me how a SMG equipped BMW M3 Coupe(0-60 6.0s) is faster than a normal 6-speed M3(0-60 4.8s)

i seriously dont get whats the big hype about paddle shift(SMG,DSG,E-gear ect...) transmissions........Id rather have the classic and traditional 5-6 speed manual....simply put paddle shifters dont give me the big thrill of driving and are in my opinion too simple to operate and take away the fun and challenge of driving a high-performance speed machine...Besides arnt they basically Automanual transmissions anyways(Automatic gearboxes that allow manual gear changes by tapping it forward/back...left/right). Another thing that is glorifed by these trannies..is the supposly quicker shifting times..Iam sure that taking 1.434 of a second from the normal 1-2 seconds that you take to shift is really gonna help the car go faster...


And for people who are SMG fanatics....explain to me how a SMG equipped BMW M3 Coupe(0-60 6.0s) is faster than a normal 6-speed M3(0-60 4.8s)


I dont like the paddle shifters either, it takes all the fun out of driving a manual, though i have never driven a paddle shift car, i dont think i would like it. you dont even have a clutch do you? paddle shifting is quicker than a traditional stick since you dont have the clutch, but even if it does make the car a little quicker, i would rather have the hands on feel of a traditional manual transmission

to me the paddle shifters are just for the people who cannot understand the concept or be able to use a stick shift. no offwnce to all of you who are able to drive a stick shift and own a car with a paddle shifter. i am talking about the people who can only drive an automatic car and cannot drive a stick shift if their lifes depended on it.

look at me, I can drive a manual too! i just push the paddle or move my stick to the "plus sign"! yeah I hate people who tell me they drive a manual but only have that (steptronic? tiptronic? something tronic)...its not the same and its not something to brag about

i seriously dont get whats the big hype about paddle shift(SMG,DSG,E-gear ect...) transmissions........Id rather have the classic and traditional 5-6 speed manual....simply put paddle shifters dont give me the big thrill of driving and are in my opinion too simple to operate and take away the fun and challenge of driving a high-performance speed machine...Besides arnt they basically Automanual transmissions anyways(Automatic gearboxes that allow manual gear changes by tapping it forward/back...left/right). Another thing that is glorifed by these trannies..is the supposly quicker shifting times..Iam sure that taking 1.434 of a second from the normal 1-2 seconds that you take to shift is really gonna help the car go faster...


And for people who are SMG fanatics....explain to me how a SMG equipped BMW M3 Coupe(0-60 6.0s) is faster than a normal 6-speed M3(0-60 4.8s)

The SMG shifts faster than you can with a manual transmission, and the gearing is the same as the MT. That is the difference in the 0-60 times.

It took me a while to accept it, but I like the SMG better that a standard transmission. SMG is based on the Manual transmission, not the automatic. The ferrari system is designed as a complete sequential gearbox, but most of the others (Porsche, Dodge) are autos that have a manual type option. I do not like the last group.

:gives:

i seriously dont get whats the big hype about paddle shift(SMG,DSG,E-gear ect...) transmissions........Id rather have the classic and traditional 5-6 speed manual....simply put paddle shifters dont give me the big thrill of driving and are in my opinion too simple to operate and take away the fun and challenge of driving a high-performance speed machine...Besides arnt they basically Automanual transmissions anyways(Automatic gearboxes that allow manual gear changes by tapping it forward/back...left/right). Another thing that is glorifed by these trannies..is the supposly quicker shifting times..Iam sure that taking 1.434 of a second from the normal 1-2 seconds that you take to shift is really gonna help the car go faster...


And for people who are SMG fanatics....explain to me how a SMG equipped BMW M3 Coupe(0-60 6.0s) is faster than a normal 6-speed M3(0-60 4.8s)


Well as Kfoote mentioned some of those are not just manually selected auto gerboxes but rather manual trasmissions with hydraulic clutches that shift for you.

SMG in BMW is a true sequential not just an auto box. So are the transmission in Ferraris.

And in racing a squential is actually superior since it alllows you to keep both hands on the steering wheel, and it shifts much faster.


That being said, i fully agree with you, nothing can match the sheer enjoyment of a true manual gearbox and the skill required to operate one. I hate driving on the street anything beside a manual. I'm pissed that ferrari offers cars like the 360 Challenge Stradale of Enzo only in sequential.

For the record, my parents own a 2003 E46 M3 with SMG, which is where I have driven it :) It's amazing how slow the SMG seems to shift though when you don't have anything to do other than flip a paddle.

...
SMG in BMW is a true sequential not just an auto box. So are the transmission in Ferraris....


Thanks for the backup Neutrino, but I have one minor correction...The SMG in the BMW's are an added part to the manual transmission. Temporarily ignoring the logistical nightmare of swapping all the necessary electronics and components over, it is possible to convert an SMG car to a non-SMG car and vice versa using the same transmission, so it's not really a true sequential gearbox.

I am pretty sure that all the current Ferrari paddle shift gearboxes are true sequential gearboxes, though.

I think the biggest reason why I like the paddle shifting on the street, and would probabaly like it on track (haven't driven one on track yet) has a lot to do with my driving style. On track, I brake with my left foot wherever possible (basically whenever I'm not shifting gears) because it allows more options for how to adjust the orientation of the car mid-corner, and in my first track car (1991 Ford Probe GT), i used it to help reduce turbo lag by keeping the throttle cracked open as I was braking for the corner. It is definitely not something I reccommend beginning drivers, and it takes A LOT of getting used to, but with the SMG, I'd be able to left foot brake everywhere, and should be faster as a result.

Interesting about those BMW SMG's. Ferraris I'm fairly sure to be true sequentials since they are made by Magnetti Marrelli same guys who make their F1 trans.


However I think the SMG in the new M5 will be a true sequential designed from the ground up. Acording to Autocar the reason they went with an SMG was that for strength/longevity reaons they wanted the two transmision cogs that handle the highest tq outside the gear set. This howeven made the shift pattern imposible for a standard lever so they went to hydraulics.

And ofcourse a padlle shifter would free your left leg to press on the brake instead of the clutch leaving the right for the throtle, which can come in rather handy especially in cars like my former cougar whose pedals made the heel toe imposible. So all i was left with was clutch sliping in corners to reduce engine load and keep the revs up.

Still though you still miss that nice smooth clutch modulating with a sequential. So for fun manual still reigns supreme.

i would not get a ferrari with paddles unless it was for racing purposes only... there is a place that installs them into regular cars or something and in the 1/4 mile it says it takes .5 seconds off a stock mr2 turbos time... in this case it would be worth it, but for on the street and the fun factor... ill stick with the standard shifter

I own a E46 M3 with SMG and love everything about it. Its shift really are faster then manual (well under .5 second shifts, dont remember exact numbers). I remember seeing shift times of .02 for the 7-Speed from the E60 M5. Those 0-60 times arent accurate for the E46, the SMG is not 1.2 seconds slower, although I have seen times of about .2 seconds slower. Not sure exactly why that is, just that it is SLIGHTLY slower. I've always found SMG great to have on the track. Great to have in traffic too. I do sometimes miss having a standard transmission, but im happy with my choice to go with SMG. However I do agree that the automatic based ones like tiptronic are terrible. I wouldnt be suprised if normal automatic shifts are faster then wannabe manual shifts.

a friend of mines gf was bragging about how well she could drive manual on her dads new 325ci (she doesnt know what that means). I asked her how the clutch felt and she didn't know what I was talking about. but she still tells everybody how she drives manual so well...the paddles are alright, but personally I like the next level of control with a clutch...but the tiptronic bothers me a lil

wow, what a bunch of blabbering, so basically,
"I can't afford a car with paddle shift, as such, I will make fun of it"
You can switch gears ten times faster with a paddle shift... F1 Cars shift gears in .01th of a second. Theoretically, you could shift 10 times in one second... Try that on your manual.

Yes, I can and do drive a 'true' manual transmission car. I've driven a paddle shift porsche and absolutely loved it. You don't have to take a hand off the wheel to shift gears, gives you better control and better shift times...

I love driving the new Comp G Grand Prix's with Paddle Shift, so smooth and fast.

i was under the impression that most paddle shifters are fast, easier, and more efficient, but it does take the fun out of driving manual

I love driving the new Comp G Grand Prix's with Paddle Shift, so smooth and fast.

That is not a sequential box however, its just a regular auto tranny with manual overide. It was GM's marketig that tried to claim it was an F1 style gearbox.