Originally Posted By: dave1251
Originally Posted By: grampi
Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
Originally Posted By: Number_35
I think that beyond a certain point the complexity outweighs the gains. I'd say that 5 or 6 forward speeds is the sweet spot.
Drive a ZF-8 Challenger or Grand Cherokee back-to-back with a NAG-1 5-speed version, and you'll drop that line of thinking REAL quick. Or use a GM 5-speed vs 8-speed for your comparison, doesn't matter. The advantage of more forward gears is especially obvious with a normally-aspirated v6, the V8s and turbo engines can somewhat overcome the wide gaps of a 5-speed, but the v6 really came into its own when it got paired with the 8-speed.
If you constantly drive wide open throttle, the 8+ speeds are nice. Any other time they're just annoying. They're constantly up and down shifting, and they always have the engine lugging. Even the slightest bit of acceleration requires a down shift. I know why they're going with these mega-gear trannies and it's because they keep going with smaller and smaller displacement engines that have no torque, so they have a hard time pulling the wider ratio gaps between the gears. Larger displacement engines don't need that many gears...
Simply not true. Have fun with you 3 on the tree. The rest of us like progress.
Have fun taking out a 2nd mortgage to have your 8 speed rebuilt...
Originally Posted By: grampi
Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
Originally Posted By: Number_35
I think that beyond a certain point the complexity outweighs the gains. I'd say that 5 or 6 forward speeds is the sweet spot.
Drive a ZF-8 Challenger or Grand Cherokee back-to-back with a NAG-1 5-speed version, and you'll drop that line of thinking REAL quick. Or use a GM 5-speed vs 8-speed for your comparison, doesn't matter. The advantage of more forward gears is especially obvious with a normally-aspirated v6, the V8s and turbo engines can somewhat overcome the wide gaps of a 5-speed, but the v6 really came into its own when it got paired with the 8-speed.
If you constantly drive wide open throttle, the 8+ speeds are nice. Any other time they're just annoying. They're constantly up and down shifting, and they always have the engine lugging. Even the slightest bit of acceleration requires a down shift. I know why they're going with these mega-gear trannies and it's because they keep going with smaller and smaller displacement engines that have no torque, so they have a hard time pulling the wider ratio gaps between the gears. Larger displacement engines don't need that many gears...
Simply not true. Have fun with you 3 on the tree. The rest of us like progress.
Have fun taking out a 2nd mortgage to have your 8 speed rebuilt...
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