View Full Version : question for all the manual drivers out there (most all of you!)


HDClown
08-12-2001, 02:40 PM
You see a lot of hatred towards automatics/tiptronic transmission from the manual crowd. Most claim the tip lacks the control a manual can give you, which I believe (never drove a manual, since I don't know how).

Aside from being able to have more control over gear changes, why does most manual drivers say a tip car is just slower? I see many people say the A4 Tip is just a differnet car when you put in a manual, and I'm trying to understand why. When you're using the tip, you can hold a gear until redline before the computer will upshift for you. I havn't played around much with downshifting, but the manual says it will auto-downshift, and not let you downshift when the car is "in danger".

From the times, the tip is 1/2 sec shorter in 0-60 times, but then again, A4's are alot slower then plenty of cars in that respect. Both an auto and a tip have the same HP and torque, with the major difference being the extra weight. (i think it's ~100lbs).

So what makes a manual "faster". If you don't consider more control over the gears, there is the weight factor. Is that where the 1/2 sec slower 0-60 would come from? Is there some other mechanical parts that physical make the car slower as well? Someone edcuate me, or is it just a big perception thing?

Driving Excitement!
08-12-2001, 05:25 PM
The Tiptronic transmission is just an automatic transmission with a manual gear selection. So you as the driver have a bit more control over the shift points. You are correct automatic transmissions weigh more than manuals. The additional speed that is gained from a manual transmission is mainly because you don't have as large as a power loss from the torque converter as you do from the clutch. However, an automatic transmission generally has more consistent results because there is less human interaction.

Longwolf (Christian)
08-13-2001, 05:35 AM
They waste a lot of power off the line due to the torque converter....which is like 2 propellers in tranny fluid.

Check this link for a good explanation on why automatics lose power over manuals:<ul><li><a href="http://www.howstuffworks.com/automatic-transmission.htm">http://www.howstuffworks.com/automatic-transmission.htm</a></li></ul>