Ducati Monster Forum

http://editorial.autos.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=483319 (http://editorial.autos.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=483319)
"Directing the power to the rear wheels is a five-speed automatic with AutoStick, which allows the driver to manually select a higher or lower gear, but is the only transmission available." 

Damnit, just because most people can't drive a manual tranny doesn't mean you shouldn't put it in a musclecar. 

I hate when they do that shit... what a waste, even if its not "Better" for racing doesn't make it any funner (ya thats right funner).

I don't like the limitations on transmissions, but i can see it being a cost savings. Still sucks.

But there are no true musclecars anymore. Relatively inexpensive cars making gobs of power? I can't think of one.

AutoStick? Lame. They think they're clever. I'd like to beat them with a solid steel teddy bear.

[Colbert] Manual or Automatic. Pick a side![\Colbert]

I had to wait for 2 months to get a stick shift on my car (BMW 328i, came on the slow boat from Germany).  Totally worth it though. [thumbsup]

Uh, just gonna throw this out there, several new cars, including the CTS-V are semi-auto too. Isn't that what that thing has or did I read it wrong?

Not that I care cuz I personally think that thing is fugly.

cts-v and autostick are *not* semi-auto.  They're full auto.

It's confusing, but it's a pet peeve of mine as a gearhead. 

Tiptronic, AutoStick, pretty much anything not German, Italian, or listed below have traditional torque converting automatic slush boxes where they let you feel like you have some input in the gear choice.  They still steal power from the engine like a traditional automatic, and just suck.  IMNSHO opinion, the only one of these worth considering is later generations of the Tiptronic used in Audis & Porsches.  These are best thought of as "Manual Automatics".

Ferrari/Maserati (F1) and BMW (SMG) have/had full manual transmissions with computer control.  They could be kinda jerky, and have been or are being phased out.  At least in the case of the BMW it was literally the same as a stick, a 6MT could be converted to SMG or vice versa with the swapping of user interface & ECU.  These can be considered "Automatic Manuals"

VW/Audi (DSG), Mitsubishi (EVO), Nissan (GT-R), BMW (New M3), Ferrari (F149/California), Porsche (PDK, coming soon to 911) and a few others are dual clutch transmissions.  They're computer control application of not one but two actual clutches that can also be fully automatic.  This is the way the industry is going.

On to the Challenger.  It's based on the 300c which on turn is based on a generation (or 2?) old S class MB.  MB and (then named) Daimler Chrysler have long since stopped putting sticks in their cars, except in rare cases (Viper, SRT4, Ram SRT10 (viper based)).  The Viper is being killed and the SRT series (save Ram/Viper/SRT4) have long been poseurs placing comfort over performance.

That's what I've always thought about those trannies.  The shifting isn't positive like with a manual clutch.  There's still lag.

I just can't think of a performance vehicle and an auto tranny and have it all make sense in my tiny brain.


Once again, living up to your screen name.

I was considering buying one until I found out it's automatic only.



I'm now debating going down to the dealer, saying "sell me a new challenger" and running through the list of options I want, naming "manual transmission" last. When they mention it's not available, I'll look at them in disgust, swear, then up and leave.

it's CVT, CTS-V is fast caddy (with a 6-speed)

and yes, those tranny's suck.  half the work of a stick, 90% of the suck of an auto.  i test drove a g37(fiance's dad may get one soon) on friday with paddle shifter auto and it sucked, such a let down. (i never expected the auto to be good, but a manual would have made the car awesome.  we didn't test drive one of them :( )  i flipped them a few times then just put it in drive. 


3 pedals FTW!

oh, and the faux carbon hood on the challenger   [puke]


WTF were they thinking?

Ditto

It just does not feel like driving with out a manual transmission  :-\

I guess it's Bumblebee for me then  ;D

I'm going to buy one and do burn outs with my automatic transmission in front of all of your houses.

You can live with it.  i have a slapstick 3 speed in my '71 Challenger convertible and never got pissed off enough to want to sell it.  I can't wait to test the new beast.

so how will burn outs be with a brake-lock diff?  will the acrid smell of burnt pads overwhelm the sweet smell of burnt rubber?  or will it just be a one wheeled wonder?

oh and one last thing,



4150 lbs



/thread

Muscle and sports cars should have real manual transmissions. Period. I refuse to own an automobile without a manual.

The paddle shift manuals are OK in the Ferrari's because they're automatically actuated manual transmissions, but most of the others are simply slushboxes with a manual shift mode.

as much as i hate to say this....


a friend of mine has a new GTO....


it's a total sleeper. GODDDDD that thing is a fun car to drive....


P.S.----you can still get new audis with a straight manual transmission....even the R8

Reading comprehension FTL!

We were talking the caddy. ;)

CTS-V fast. turbo CTS-V, very fast. The defunct "Perfection Motorsports" of Nashville had one of these once. Sounded like a racecar, but had ostrich interior. They went belly up and who knows what happened to the car.

Damn near impossible not to grin ear to ear in it. With the traction control ON, shifting into second and blipping the gas made the rear end step waaay out.

Fun times.

hah, didn't follow kutters thread into yours, opps

didn't know the '09 cts-v's were getting slushboxes as an option, so far they have all been 6-speeds



BTW, the chryser 300 is based off of the '96 to '02 E class, not S

 [cheeky]

First thing I do on any of my cars due to my 4x4 roots is open up the diff and weld it together. Then I'm going to pour some number 1 diesel on the road and let'er rip... Brake Lock...pshhh nothing a pair of side cutters and some Lincoln Electric can't take care of :D

 [thumbsup]

i'll be waiting for my burnout. 

Actually the first CTS-V I saw with paddle shifters was 3 years ago at Sebring, not sure if it was in production at the time but have to say, their new motto is correct, it is not your fathers Caddilac. The one thing I could not figure out was why they offered paddle shifters in the CTS but not the XLR.

My brother is waiting for the new CTS-V's to come in, I think he secretly wants to pull up next to someone in an L6 and blow them off the line. It should even be not that much slower than the Z06. It is a pretty cool car and IMHO the ultimate sleeper, I mean it's a Caddy for goodness sake.

I think this is a terrible time to purchase a low gas mileage toy, unless you have a crap-ton of disposable income.  Hopefully your brother is in that category.

I, for one, won't be in the market for a new muscle car or supercar any time soon. Paying to drive my colossus of an SUV is quite enough.

so what are the thoughts on the VW GTI shifter?
the ones i have driven didn't lag at all on upshift and had very little lag on downshift. that can actually be overcome by revving then downshifting apparently(i never got to try it)

Actually it's a great time to buy one-no one wants them....thus the prices should be lower.



It's just a bad time to drive one.

I have not seen the mileage estimates for them yet so can't really comment on how bad/good it will be. I know that compared to my diesel F-250 it will be downright cheap to drive, I gotta get me another motorcycle  >:(

Get a two-fitty. Those Ninjas get ridiculous gas mileage. C'mon Ducati! Where's our version?!? And don't say Vespa. 

There will be a manual option for 09.

Honestly comparing the price to the power output, I could live with the auto. It's 45K for an SRT8 up in Canerduh, which is about the same price as a G35 sedan. A good deal for over 400 hp, in other words, but a lot for something that will look and feel cheap inside.

for that money, i would suggest: buy a very fast motorcycle, and an econobox car for rainy days.

No Hookers and Blow Option?

nice, glad to see there racing trucks now days...

especially with gas prices, looks like there racing division is on top of things...