[PMC the 1st]

We as younger GM enthusiasts acknowledge the industry-wide shift from yesteryear's manual transmissions to tomorrow's paddle-shifters. Thanks, GM, for continuing this industry-wide trend of moving away from the old tracktime-sapping manual rowers and moving towards the sequential manual gearboxes first pioneered by Ferrari and has since crept into budget sportscars like the Nissan GT-R.

We are only hoping GM can not only continue in this trend, but demonstrate industry leadership and develop the next-generation of these new transmissions. We are longing for the day when even entry-level Chevrolet Malibu's come so equipped!

 

[RoGuE]

We are longing for the day when even entry-level Chevrolet Malibu's come so equipped!

For what it's worth, my entry level Malibu LS has a manumatic, although that is not it's exact intention, it still works as one.

 

[Tone]

A PMC thread that I find interesting!

I agree ... GM pioneered the automatic transmission and really was the leader for decades. Even Ferarri used the THM400 in its V12 coupe (400).

M-B is doing something interesting by replacing the torque converter with a multiplate clutch, which seems to take advantage of the auto's ability to shift gears under power and gets rid of some of the drivetrain loss and intertia.

Certainly ZF seems to be producing auto that are smooth in auto mode and very responsive in automatic. I understand the Corvette's auto is very, very good in both respects, but GM hasn't let that kind of ability trickle down to its bread and butter cars.

I submit that Pontiac should be a leader here. If it cannot offer manuals across the board (there's a cost to certify it as a different drivetrain that may not make business sense for the low volumes), is should become GM's "driver involvement" division. Imagine if the G6's automatic was every bit as good at the Audi's dual clutch ... and less expensive to produce. And, imagine it was offered in every G6, not just the "performance" versions. That, with sharper handling and more control feedback (steering, brakes) might make the G6 the enthusiast's choice over a Mazda 6 or Nissan Altima (it's natural competition, IMHO).

I don't even think it would take a redesign ... the G6 is still a great looking car. The interior is nowhere near as bad, IMO, as some poeple think. It just doen't drive very sportingly ... and it's seemingly even less so than its platform mates (particularly the Aura). It needs to become more focused, more sporting, and I think that's in the realm of tuning and tweaking ... there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with the platform itself.

 

[big swede]

I totally disagree. GM currently has nothing that the GT-R, Ferrari, BMW, VW, Audi, etc... has. Putting paddle shifters on a standard automatic does nothing for me. Give us a true DSG type of transmission that increases efficiency over a traditional automatic because it gets rid of the torque converter.

 

[F14CRAZY]

Manual > Manumatic garbage

 

[paul8488]

I agree with Mr. Burns... an automatic with paddle or tap shift added is useless. We need dedicated dual-clutch systems.