Too many gears?
Discussion
Saleen836 said:
What is the point of an auto gearbox with 10 gears?
A close friend has an auto with 10 gears and it just seems to never know what gear it wants to be in (It's a Ford) are they all a bit like this as to me it just seems pointless, what was wrong with 6 gears?
9-speed Mercs don't suffer with this. Also, the changes are quick and smooth.A close friend has an auto with 10 gears and it just seems to never know what gear it wants to be in (It's a Ford) are they all a bit like this as to me it just seems pointless, what was wrong with 6 gears?
MikeM6 said:
As I understand it, more gears means fewer compromises between efficiency and performance. You can have more shorter ratio and still retain the taller gear ratios. With 6 you have to choose between them, with 10 you can have both.
This is the theory, in reality there is an awful lot of shuffling about going on.With a little turbo engine (diesel or petrol) with a tiny power band it can help keep the thing on the boil but it's nothing but an irritation on a powerful engine.
The 10 speed in a 5.0 Mustang is absolutely crap. The ZF8 is still the best autobox in the business, even as they've revised it into the 3rd generation they haven't felt the need to add more ratios.
Saleen836 said:
What is the point of an auto gearbox with 10 gears?
A close friend has an auto with 10 gears and it just seems to never know what gear it wants to be in (It's a Ford) are they all a bit like this as to me it just seems pointless, what was wrong with 6 gears?
Same as what is the point of a bicycle with 10, 15, 20 gears.A close friend has an auto with 10 gears and it just seems to never know what gear it wants to be in (It's a Ford) are they all a bit like this as to me it just seems pointless, what was wrong with 6 gears?
to make the most efficient use of whatever power or power band that is available, and often to also assist with emissions compliance, keeping the engine operating range in a "cleaner" more stable environment
Will they always get it right for every user ? No. But it probably meets emissions testing for every test.
If they get it right it can be very good. Smaller lighter vehicles, less of an issue. Larger heavy vehicles, especially those that tow or haul loads, again more important.
Although even a small light vehicle with a tiny weedy crap engine, will benefit from more gears, much as the bicycle will with a crap "engine"
stevieturbo said:
. But it probably meets emissions testing for every test.
I think that's the crux of it. As with so many recent developments in cars the focus is on meeting legislation not making the vehicle a better product for the consumer, every gram of CO2 per KM you can knock off your tested emissions is a really big deal.Saleen836 said:
What is the point of an auto gearbox with 10 gears?
A close friend has an auto with 10 gears and it just seems to never know what gear it wants to be in (It's a Ford) are they all a bit like this as to me it just seems pointless, what was wrong with 6 gears?
Is at a Mustang?A close friend has an auto with 10 gears and it just seems to never know what gear it wants to be in (It's a Ford) are they all a bit like this as to me it just seems pointless, what was wrong with 6 gears?
The most disappointing car I have driven recently, it was a liw miles 17 reg.
I am told new ones are better.
It was made more disappointing by the car I delivered blowing me away, with the same 10 speed gearbox seemingly perfectly suited to it.
The customer traded in the Mustang for a Ranger Raptor, as I had never liked any pick up I had driven, the Raptor was a revelation.
The Mustang, like you say, couldn't make it's mind up.
Doesitdrive said:
Saleen836 said:
What is the point of an auto gearbox with 10 gears?
A close friend has an auto with 10 gears and it just seems to never know what gear it wants to be in (It's a Ford) are they all a bit like this as to me it just seems pointless, what was wrong with 6 gears?
Is at a Mustang?A close friend has an auto with 10 gears and it just seems to never know what gear it wants to be in (It's a Ford) are they all a bit like this as to me it just seems pointless, what was wrong with 6 gears?
The most disappointing car I have driven recently, it was a liw miles 17 reg.
I am told new ones are better.
It was made more disappointing by the car I delivered blowing me away, with the same 10 speed gearbox seemingly perfectly suited to it.
The customer traded in the Mustang for a Ranger Raptor, as I had never liked any pick up I had driven, the Raptor was a revelation.
The Mustang, like you say, couldn't make it's mind up.
Saleen836 said:
Doesitdrive said:
Saleen836 said:
What is the point of an auto gearbox with 10 gears?
A close friend has an auto with 10 gears and it just seems to never know what gear it wants to be in (It's a Ford) are they all a bit like this as to me it just seems pointless, what was wrong with 6 gears?
Is at a Mustang?A close friend has an auto with 10 gears and it just seems to never know what gear it wants to be in (It's a Ford) are they all a bit like this as to me it just seems pointless, what was wrong with 6 gears?
The most disappointing car I have driven recently, it was a liw miles 17 reg.
I am told new ones are better.
It was made more disappointing by the car I delivered blowing me away, with the same 10 speed gearbox seemingly perfectly suited to it.
The customer traded in the Mustang for a Ranger Raptor, as I had never liked any pick up I had driven, the Raptor was a revelation.
The Mustang, like you say, couldn't make it's mind up.
It’s certainly old-school rather than DSG-school.
Legacywr said:
Saleen836 said:
Doesitdrive said:
Saleen836 said:
What is the point of an auto gearbox with 10 gears?
A close friend has an auto with 10 gears and it just seems to never know what gear it wants to be in (It's a Ford) are they all a bit like this as to me it just seems pointless, what was wrong with 6 gears?
Is at a Mustang?A close friend has an auto with 10 gears and it just seems to never know what gear it wants to be in (It's a Ford) are they all a bit like this as to me it just seems pointless, what was wrong with 6 gears?
The most disappointing car I have driven recently, it was a liw miles 17 reg.
I am told new ones are better.
It was made more disappointing by the car I delivered blowing me away, with the same 10 speed gearbox seemingly perfectly suited to it.
The customer traded in the Mustang for a Ranger Raptor, as I had never liked any pick up I had driven, the Raptor was a revelation.
The Mustang, like you say, couldn't make it's mind up.
It s certainly old-school rather than DSG-school.
As I said the lastest one is supposed to be better, but I was so disappointed with the Mustang after driving the Ranger 250 miles, the 250 back was not a great pleasure.
Sardonicus said:
My comment was deleted because the speech police deleted my comment because the word g*y was in it FFS grow up you won't curb me I grew up in the 70S how pathetic ?
A sad reflection of the fEdited by Sardonicus on Friday 20th February 20:08
ked up world we live in. Barricade your doors now in case 50 cops show up.Not sure what year mustang it was, but hired one in this states in 2024, I found the gearbox ruined the experience somewhat.
It was always sitting at really low revs (the exhaust being too quiet was another killjoy) and took 3-4 left paddle shifts to get the revs up.
Having a sport mode that skipped ratios would help restore some of the fun and drama otherwise you rev it out, up shift and it only drops a thousand revs or so meaning another upshift is pretty imminent.
You never get to hear it rev across a larger range of revs/notes to really make the car sing.
It was always sitting at really low revs (the exhaust being too quiet was another killjoy) and took 3-4 left paddle shifts to get the revs up.
Having a sport mode that skipped ratios would help restore some of the fun and drama otherwise you rev it out, up shift and it only drops a thousand revs or so meaning another upshift is pretty imminent.
You never get to hear it rev across a larger range of revs/notes to really make the car sing.
Billy_Rosewood said:
Not sure what year mustang it was, but hired one in this states in 2024, I found the gearbox ruined the experience somewhat.
It was always sitting at really low revs (the exhaust being too quiet was another killjoy) and took 3-4 left paddle shifts to get the revs up.
Having a sport mode that skipped ratios would help restore some of the fun and drama otherwise you rev it out, up shift and it only drops a thousand revs or so meaning another upshift is pretty imminent.
You never get to hear it rev across a larger range of revs/notes to really make the car sing.
I do miss hanging onto the gear like I would have in my manual Mach 1, otherwise the auto is just another auto, it’s fine. It was always sitting at really low revs (the exhaust being too quiet was another killjoy) and took 3-4 left paddle shifts to get the revs up.
Having a sport mode that skipped ratios would help restore some of the fun and drama otherwise you rev it out, up shift and it only drops a thousand revs or so meaning another upshift is pretty imminent.
You never get to hear it rev across a larger range of revs/notes to really make the car sing.
Forums | Engines & Drivetrain | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff