Right now, if you want the best performance out of a regular car you need a manual. The automatic 'eats' some of your performance with its torque converter and the fact that the transmission often (but not always) shifts at the wrong time when you're trying for high end performance.

If I understand it right, Ferraris and Formula one cars have automatics without torque converters. They can be run in manual mode, where you shift gears yourself, but some doohicky engages and disengages the clutch and actual changes the gear for you. (I think that's what you were talking about in your first paragraph. Correct me if I am wrong.) It is superior to a standard manual transmission for high performance, because the gear changes are faster.

Toyota has the same setup available in the MR2 Spyder, but they haven't ironed all the kinks out from what I hear (i.e. when you put it into manual mode and shift gears, sometimes there is a delay). From what I understand, Audi is working on making this kind of transmission a standard feature on all of their vehicles.

Once the automakers that makes cars for middle class people have this technology working correctly, I expect the manual transmission to really disappear. It doesn't matter if it's the most fun configuration, if it offers no convenience or performance advantage people will stop buying them.

On the other hand, Mercedes doesn't use this type of tranny yet, and that's probably why its $350,000 car can't keep up with the Ford GT.

 

can't wait for this upcoming year--- my dealership will get 1 SLR and 1 carrera GT ( we carry Mazda, Saab, MB,BMW, VW, Porsche)
maybe I'll post real pics when they come in?!?

 

THE MERCEDES SLR------ THE GENTLEMEN'S FERRARI

 

that thing costs more than my condo

 

I think it is the other way around. It is not so much an automatic without a converter, but rather a manual with an automatically controlled clutch. So it is still a true manual, just without a clutch.

At least that is how I think it is, I could be wrong.

 

no, everything is the same: all the mechanicals work as per usual, but the gear selector forks, clutch, and even the throttle are all controlled by electro-pneumatic (or elecro-hydraulic, depending on how you wanna get things done) actuators; it's a big ballet all controlled by the ECU which gets it all done far FAR faster than any person ever could.
at least, these are the kind in F1.

there are also Semi-Manual Transmissions, which are sequential gearboxes (same design as motorcycle gearboxes), and you slide the selector up and down a cylinder in the 'box to engage different gears. these are slick, and easy to operate, but are more complicated, more fragile, heavier, and more expensive than your regular manny tranny.

 

that is one bad *** ride. I agree with Mikeb, I will also take 2!