Dumbing dow...9-speed gearboxes, has it gone too far?

[flatline84]

Whats peoples opinion on umpth-speed gearboxes? ZF are developing a new 9-speed gearbox ready for next year, and a 8-speed CVT option is in the pipeline for the Audi A5.

Do you really need THAT many gears? No, says Audi engineering boss "But customers like the arcade-game sensation that comes with many gears. From an engineering perspective it makes no sense at all". Good to know, at least..

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Community/Car-Magazin...

Edited by flatline84 on Tuesday 27th March 20:55

[_Batty_]

Fast and Furious is coming true!!

[cuprabob]

You mean Fast & Furious wasn't a documentary

[Garlick]

_Batty_ said:

Fast and Furious is coming true!!

What's the retail on one of those?

[redvictor]

Garlick said:

What's the retail on one of those?

Half a farthing..

[vit4]

Am I being thick or does a CVT not have any conventional 'gears'??

[Wycombe83]

Many trucks have 16 speeds plus a crawler + reverse.

[Major Fallout]

vit4 said:

Am I being thick or does a CVT not have any conventional 'gears'??

Thats what I was thinking! Its CVT or not, if it has 8 set places to go to then its not continuously variable.


Its a joy to get in an old car with 4 gears!

[Major Fallout]

Wycombe83 said:

Many trucks have 16 speeds plus a crawler + reverse.

But I don't want a truck.

[slipstream 1985]

john connor will so excited

[davepoth]

slipstream 1985 said:

john connor will so excited

As will Frank Bullitt. Although he'll doubtless be upset at not being able to double clutch.

[G600]

Major Fallout said:

Its a joy to get in an old car with 4 gears!

Not at anything over 55mph it isn't!

[steve_bmw]

slipstream 1985 said:

john connor will so excited

Wasn't John Connor in terminator?
Brian oconnor was fast and furious wasn't he

[Grovsie26]

steve_bmw said:

Wasn't John Connor in terminator?
Brian oconnor was fast and furious wasn't he

LOL.

Fail!

[steve_bmw]

Grovsie26 said:

steve_bmw said:

Wasn't John Connor in terminator?
Brian oconnor was fast and furious wasn't he

LOL.

Fail!

Lol what have I missed? What's John Connor got to do with 9 speed gearbox lol

[Marty63]

Major Fallout said:

Wycombe83 said:

Many trucks have 16 speeds plus a crawler + reverse.

But I don't want a truck.

Arghh, go on get a truck, go on, go on, go on.....

[LukeBird]

G600 said:

Major Fallout said:

Its a joy to get in an old car with 4 gears!

Not at anything over 55mph it isn't!

I appreciate the sentiment, but most cars have such a widespread of power throughout the rev range if anything we could live with less gears.
My MX-5 (not a particularly muscular 1.8 with VVT) is quite comfortable pulling from idle in 3rd to 80mph; I certainly don't need a 6-speed 'box.

[Jimbo.]

Grovsie26 said:

LOL.

Fail!

IIRC John Conner and Arnie rode a Honda CX motocross bike with 1000000000 gears, when being chased by the bad guy in a black truck (T2).

[Rostfritt]

Major Fallout said:

Thats what I was thinking! Its CVT or not, if it has 8 set places to go to then its not continuously variable.


Its a joy to get in an old car with 4 gears!

Apparently people didn't like the feel of original CVT gearboxes that worked like they were supposed to, so they made them artificially bump between some pre defined ratios. This is merely a software adjustment. Is this just so you can manually change between gears if you want to?

[Major Fallout]

G600 said:

Major Fallout said:

Its a joy to get in an old car with 4 gears!

Not at anything over 55mph it isn't!

I manage quite well.