gota love those timezones...

 

Alrighty then, since my prior comments made when in the other thread have nothing to do with this one I've removed them. Just checking in online again before going back off and it seems to make the most sense. Cheers

 

i fell asleep with zero effort last night.

 

MINI's automatic with paddle shifting is pretty nice for an automatic - when manully shifting, it seems to shift a lot better and faster than Steptronic on the regular BMWs.

But what MINI needs is an SMG-like transmission. BMW's SMG is a true manual transmission where the computer controls the clutch for you. It shifts much much faster than the Mini's automatic - faster than a human could shift an automatc. I've been using it for over 3 years on my Z4. While not perfect, it's damn good.

Volkswagen/Audi have a similiar product called DSG that is available in most of their models now, and it works very well - even better than SMG (at least in some of their applications).

 

^^ speed of shifting is important, but what's more important is
the direct throttle input to the drive train.

tc's have that slack until the oil buildsup pressure. that is just not
sporty enough feel... SMGs DSGs are clutch based so it eliminates
that slack, right?

tc's are fine until you really get into it.

 

I have been wanting to drive the VW DSG tranny but havent yet. I've read about it online, but I'm still not really sure WHAT exactly it's like.

Is it like driving/shifting a traditional 6-speed manual (same shifter feel, etc) minus the manual clutch? Or is it more like the MCSa, where you just tap the shifter left or right and you dont really feel like you're driving a stick.

Anyone care to fill me in?

 

My 2 cents, first auto I have owned is the MCSa, without that paddles I would not have bought it. The TC is a detraction from the fun, but for a car you can sit in traffic in and still enjoy I say it works.

Would love a dsg type transmission in this car.

 

it's not the buttons and shift lever that makes the difference.
it's the accuracy in which the car responds to all your inputs.

AT cars interpret inputs differently than wat you're trying
to do, but generally does wat you're telling it to do...

so bascially it's like telling a kid to do something. takes him a
moment to respond, then when he does respond you're
not sure wat he'll do until it happens.

 

I just meant I like the feel of actually shifting through the gears...tapping a lever doesnt do it for me. I'm not sure how the DSG/SMG works.

 

oh yah, i was just babbling; my post wasn't really directed toward your
response.


but what do you think of my comparison? very close observation, right?
AT = kid

 

haha, yeah, I definitely agree with that comparison...and glad you fell asleep with no effort last night