offroadr35

so a mustang cobra is better than an S2000? an EVO is better than an NSX? a turbocharged LS6 is better than the Enzo engine? i'm sorry but that's one of the worst arguments ever.

Sr2oD3

I believe Ferrari is doing this because of they massive use of technology is slowly pouring into their production cars. I think the new M5 will also have the SMG as an option, but it'll surely come standard as a manual. Who know,s maybe in the next few years they'll turn to seven gears also?? Mercedes is doing it in their next model line-up, so someone else will be right behind them with the same technology , but with their own little twist to make it faster, or stronger, who knows??

But for one thing, all of the new cars will be faster and more powerful than before, so that's always a plus.

MattH25

[QUOTE]Originally posted by offroadr35
[B]for the record i've driven an SMG M3 and an 360F1.

wickerbill

It wouldn't be used in Formula 1 if it wasn't faster. You may not prefer it, but you can't argue that with equal drivers and the same car on the same track the F1 transmission wouldn't be faster and less likely to mess up a downshift. That's why Ferrari is putting it on their enthusiast cars. It gives you one less thing to worry about while driving fast. The F1 transmission in the road Ferraris can shift faster than Michael Schumacher and I doubt anybody on this board can shift faster than he can.

I think there will always be a place for manual transmissions, but on pure performance sports cars we will start to see more and more of these computer controlled "F1" transmissions.

MrForgetable

Well, if it was me, I'd take a manual transmission with a clutch if all of them were as good as the S2000s shifter/transmission. But not many (or none) are better than the S2000's, so taking the SMG/F1 is the choice for me unless the car is the S2000 (or another Honda).

alexh

SMT sucks...no neutral no direct shifts, etc. Only good for the track, where you don't regularly use reverse or neutral.

Now the audi double clutch system does sound good...but i would still want the ability to smoothly put the car into neutral or reverse (like pull both gear toggles at the same time to put the car in neutral).

liquid215

70% of Ferrari 360's have the F1 transmission & 30% have 6 speeds . I've also heard rumors that the next generation 360 will only be offered in a 7 speed F1 gearbox. So it looks like it won't be long until all of their street cars are offered in F1 transmissions

Dr. WOT

There should always be the option for both, all F1 would be a shame.

As much as I admire the technology, it cannot replace that direct connection to the drivetrain that the gear lever of a traditional manual tranny gives. Feeling the revs of the engine and the winding of the gear run through you hand, up your arm, into your spine, and directly to the brain stem. It puts you in touch with the machine. That is why I love sticks.



PS- I think semi-auto trannys should be banned in F1, it would make the driver more of a factor than he is currently.

protokultur

I hope MT goes the way of manual choke - good riddance. Motorcycles do quite well with a sequential transmission, I think cars can too.

offroadr35

[QUOTE]Originally posted by protokultur
[B]I hope MT goes the way of manual choke - good riddance.