car you have driven with the best gear change...
Discussion
...I don't own a very powerful car, but as I was having a hoot wringing its neck today, it occurred to me that even if the car you are driving is incredibly powerful,handles like a dream and looks like a million dollars- if the gear change is insipid, the overall package has to be diluted.
I freely admit that I haven't driven as many cars as others on Ph, but I have driven some great cars, that came with a shockingly woeful gearchange - and it really does let them down. My car didn't cost a lot of money, but the gearchange is beautiful.The best way to describe the change is like a rifle bolt action. It's a marvel.
I would be interested to hear what we think is the car with the best gearchange is, or indeed the best car with a dire gearchange. For such an important feature in a car I have been left very dissapointed with many that I have experienced, and have to say I would not buy them as a result...
I freely admit that I haven't driven as many cars as others on Ph, but I have driven some great cars, that came with a shockingly woeful gearchange - and it really does let them down. My car didn't cost a lot of money, but the gearchange is beautiful.The best way to describe the change is like a rifle bolt action. It's a marvel.
I would be interested to hear what we think is the car with the best gearchange is, or indeed the best car with a dire gearchange. For such an important feature in a car I have been left very dissapointed with many that I have experienced, and have to say I would not buy them as a result...
Another one for VAG boxes, slightly biased as I worked in an independent VAG specialist for a year. During that time I drove hundreds of different Golfs, Polos, A3s, A4s, Passats, TTs Ibizas Fabias you name it, and all of them had slick, clear gear change with no play and a well defined solid feel to the gearbox.
Pretty much any mainstrean seventies car with RWD, like Escorts/Cortinas, and anything Japanese of course. I had a 1949 Bentley MVI which had a four speed gearbox with the gear change on the right between the drivers seat and the door, that was very slick.
Worst? BLMC stuff with the 'E' or 'O' series engine, such as Maxis, Princesses, and the like. Although Allegros and others with an 'A' series were OK.
Differentiating purely on gear change though, a car with a lousy gear change can still have a cracking gearbox, and vice versa, I've driven some cars with terrible gearboxes, but they've had a silky smooth gearchange.
Mrs BG has a new Panda, and considering that the gear lever is high up coming out of the middle of the dashboard, and so has a lot of linkage travel, it is like a very slick little switch right next to the steering wheel. I like it, a lot.
Worst? BLMC stuff with the 'E' or 'O' series engine, such as Maxis, Princesses, and the like. Although Allegros and others with an 'A' series were OK.
Differentiating purely on gear change though, a car with a lousy gear change can still have a cracking gearbox, and vice versa, I've driven some cars with terrible gearboxes, but they've had a silky smooth gearchange.
Mrs BG has a new Panda, and considering that the gear lever is high up coming out of the middle of the dashboard, and so has a lot of linkage travel, it is like a very slick little switch right next to the steering wheel. I like it, a lot.
Edited by Balmoral Green on Friday 17th October 19:27
Darkslider said:
Another one for VAG boxes, slightly biased as I worked in an independent VAG specialist for a year. During that time I drove hundreds of different Golfs, Polos, A3s, A4s, Passats, TTs Ibizas Fabias you name it, and all of them had slick, clear gear change with no play and a well defined solid feel to the gearbox.
However almost all of them feel cludgy and lazy when hurried.Integra Type R DC2 blows everything else I have ever driven into the weeds. Not only is the feel through the lever magnificent it works flawlessly in conjunction with throttle and clutch action.
Another vote for the S2000. The previous Civic had a nice change as well. Actually that goes for all Honda's.
Actually, the Honda's had what was a technically good box. Sometimes a bulky change which needs a good effort to move is somehow more 'in tune' with the car and the experience.
Actually, the Honda's had what was a technically good box. Sometimes a bulky change which needs a good effort to move is somehow more 'in tune' with the car and the experience.
Edited by bobthemonkey on Friday 17th October 19:32
Athlon said:
Caterham and MX-5 are both 
Like I say, I haven't driven many cars in my time (although I have a few) but I can't see how any car would be able to improve on the MX5's change. ALthough that said, there is the other side of the coin as mentioned that some cars do suit particular gearboxes/changes..
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