I Think This Could Also Hurt AM Sales
Discussion
I've got limited experience with dual clutch transmissions because I heavily favor manuals. The only one I've driven recently was the McLaren 12C, which was very impressive. Is AMG's 7-spd DCT that bad? I've never driven one of theirs.
mikey k said:
Nice to see you over here from 6Speed 
I've been lurking for a long time, figured I'd finally register telum01 said:
I've got limited experience with dual clutch transmissions because I heavily favor manuals. The only one I've driven recently was the McLaren 12C, which was very impressive. Is AMG's 7-spd DCT that bad? I've never driven one of theirs.
Hi Rich,mikey k said:
Nice to see you over here from 6Speed
I've been lurking for a long time, figured I'd finally register yes, the AMG DCT box is pretty dim-witted. I think they have recently improved it a bit, but it's far from class leading.
I agree with you that the 12C box is impressive. Much better than the AMG offering. The box in the California is infinitely better than the AMG version too.
However, I still think that Porsche's PDK box is top of the tree.
George29 said:
And then watch as barely anyone buys one...
I wouldn't be so sure. Look at the Roll Call thread, tons of manuals:http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
telum01 said:
I wouldn't be so sure. Look at the Roll Call thread, tons of manuals:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Because PH represents every new Aston buyer out there? http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Look at the stats and you will see manuals are vastly outnumbered by auto.
George29 said:
Or they're intelligent enough to realise manuals are outdated! Stuff like PDK is better in every single measurable aspect. Plus more fun to use imo
By many measures, maybe. But I'd take a Jaeger-LeCoultre over an Apple Watch any day, and likewise prefer a manual transmission 
No, I haven't the patience for windy down windows!
Regardless, people buy their cars for different reasons. I bought my Aston because it was engaging. I'm not trying to set lap times so I couldn't care less about shift speeds. I enjoy rowing gears. I, and many others, simply want the option of a manual transmission. You're still welcome to the blessed dual clutch, which is obviously inevitable.
Regardless, people buy their cars for different reasons. I bought my Aston because it was engaging. I'm not trying to set lap times so I couldn't care less about shift speeds. I enjoy rowing gears. I, and many others, simply want the option of a manual transmission. You're still welcome to the blessed dual clutch, which is obviously inevitable.
George29 said:
Or they're intelligent enough to realise manuals are outdated! Stuff like PDK is better in every single measurable aspect. Plus more fun to use imo
With all due respect George you are wrong. I had a 997.2 with PDK and sold it within 3 months because it just wasn't engaging and fun to drive. Sure it was fast, ultra fast in fact and ultra smooth to go with it, but it was just a soulless automatic when driven at anything other than 8/10ths or more.Cars that are engaging to drive at all speeds will never be outdated. Just accelerating and cornering at warp speeds with the most minimal input from the driver is a one dimensional analysis of what it is that makes driving a pleasurable experience.
AdamV12V said:
With all due respect George you are wrong. I had a 997.2 with PDK and sold it within 3 months because it just wasn't engaging and fun to drive. Sure it was fast, ultra fast in fact and ultra smooth to go with it, but it was just a soulless automatic when driven at anything other than 8/10ths or more.
Cars that are engaging to drive at all speeds will never be outdated. Just accelerating and cornering at warp speeds with the most minimal input from the driver is a one dimensional analysis of what it is that makes driving a pleasurable experience.
Spot on,having tried quite a lot of new stuff ,I am amazed how few cars engage the driver these days,even the new ferraris and Porsches give me the feeling that although they appear to give me control ,they actually aren't and aside from turning the wheel which nowadays have almost no feel ,and pressing the unresponsive throttle due to turbocharging ...ones involvement in making the car go fast is limited.Cars that are engaging to drive at all speeds will never be outdated. Just accelerating and cornering at warp speeds with the most minimal input from the driver is a one dimensional analysis of what it is that makes driving a pleasurable experience.
telum01 said:
No, I haven't the patience for windy down windows!
Regardless, people buy their cars for different reasons. I bought my Aston because it was engaging. I'm not trying to set lap times so I couldn't care less about shift speeds. I enjoy rowing gears. I, and many others, simply want the option of a manual transmission. You're still welcome to the blessed dual clutch, which is obviously inevitable.
Fair enough. I think I just don't have the patience for a manual! I get more out of using paddleshift than a manual. Regardless, people buy their cars for different reasons. I bought my Aston because it was engaging. I'm not trying to set lap times so I couldn't care less about shift speeds. I enjoy rowing gears. I, and many others, simply want the option of a manual transmission. You're still welcome to the blessed dual clutch, which is obviously inevitable.
Slight tangent from the original post, but since we're talking about transmissions which are directly related to AM's sales/competitors/etc...
What I've been seeing with the Vantage GT/N430 is a bit interesting. If I remember correctly, KF's dealership got 4 GTs. 3 customers specified manual transmissions, and the dealership spec'd the 4th with paddles. Most dealerships ordering the cars are putting paddles in them. Meanwhile, my local dealership received 5 allocations and spec'd manual transmissions for all of them. It seems like a very split opinion on the subject.
What I've been seeing with the Vantage GT/N430 is a bit interesting. If I remember correctly, KF's dealership got 4 GTs. 3 customers specified manual transmissions, and the dealership spec'd the 4th with paddles. Most dealerships ordering the cars are putting paddles in them. Meanwhile, my local dealership received 5 allocations and spec'd manual transmissions for all of them. It seems like a very split opinion on the subject.
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