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[Andy B]

Older design autos were handicapped by
 .....
- lack of gear ratios meant gear selection was more often compromised vs a 5 or 6 speed manual

A torque converter auto is infinitely variable via the fluid drive.

- top gear in a manual is typically direct drive through the box, so quite efficient power transmission is achieved for cruising- ......

You're going back a long way to an auto that doesn't lock up in top gear.

My 'proper auto' Omega is far better to drive than SWMBO's flappy paddle auto (OK .... the Smart is missing a few cylinders & 100+bhp  ) and I wasn't impressed with the DSG Passat I drove either. Either a proper fuid drive torque converter auto or a proper manual with 3 pedals (if I really have to  ) for me please. 

[tidla]

Older design autos were handicapped by
- inefficient torque converter coupling which was needed in place of a more or less 100% efficient clutch
- lack of gear ratios meant gear selection was more often compromised vs a 5 or 6 speed manual
- top gear in a manual is typically direct drive through the box, so quite efficient power transmission is achieved for cruising
- less effective controls compared to modern integrated electronics

Modern autos have multiple gears, potentially don't need a torque converter or incorporate direct drive and have sophisticated controls...so can't be long before we're all driving them.

I'll miss my gear stick.

i need to brush up on my motor vehicle tech these days.
 thought 4th gear was 1.1 ratio with fifth and onward being "overdrive"

agree with all said and about to be put right..

[Entwood]

1. Check ....  number of feet

2. Check ....  number of pedals

if 2 > 1 .....     :-? :-?

if 2 = 1 .....   

if 2 < 1 ..... 

[tidla]

Older design autos were handicapped by
 .....
- lack of gear ratios meant gear selection was more often compromised vs a 5 or 6 speed manual

A torque converter auto is infinitely variable via the fluid drive.

- top gear in a manual is typically direct drive through the box, so quite efficient power transmission is achieved for cruising- ......

You're going back a long way to an auto that doesn't lock up in top gear.

My 'proper auto' Omega is far better to drive than SWMBO's flappy paddle auto (OK .... the Smart is missing a few cylinders & 100+bhp  ) and I wasn't impressed with the DSG Passat I drove either. Either a proper fuid drive torque converter auto or a proper manual with 3 pedals (if I really have to  ) for me please. 

its not an efficient transfer of power thou..

[unclelicklug]

Older design autos were handicapped by
 .....
- lack of gear ratios meant gear selection was more often compromised vs a 5 or 6 speed manual

A torque converter auto is infinitely variable via the fluid drive.

- top gear in a manual is typically direct drive through the box, so quite efficient power transmission is achieved for cruising- ......

You're going back a long way to an auto that doesn't lock up in top gear.

My 'proper auto' Omega is far better to drive than SWMBO's flappy paddle auto (OK .... the Smart is missing a few cylinders & 100+bhp  ) and I wasn't impressed with the DSG Passat I drove either. Either a proper fuid drive torque converter auto or a proper manual with 3 pedals (if I really have to  ) for me please. 

If the torque converter could give you a decent range of ratio you wouldn't need any gears at all in the auto' box, actually it can just handle a relatively small ratio spread, and also allows slippage so the outlet shaft can be stationary for starting and stopping...suspect you're right about direct drive autos, my '96 Previa certainly had this.

Anyways a V6 auto must be a nice restful place to be and money no object seems the right 'box for the car 

[unclelicklug]

Older design autos were handicapped by
- inefficient torque converter coupling which was needed in place of a more or less 100% efficient clutch
- lack of gear ratios meant gear selection was more often compromised vs a 5 or 6 speed manual
- top gear in a manual is typically direct drive through the box, so quite efficient power transmission is achieved for cruising
- less effective controls compared to modern integrated electronics

Modern autos have multiple gears, potentially don't need a torque converter or incorporate direct drive and have sophisticated controls...so can't be long before we're all driving them.

I'll miss my gear stick.

i need to brush up on my motor vehicle tech these days.
 thought 4th gear was 1.1 ratio with fifth and onward being "overdrive"

agree with all said and about to be put right..

I think you're right, it has been done that way, but direct drive on top gear seems most logical (most efficient gear should be the cruising gear?), after all you can make the overall gearing anything you like by tweaking the final drive

[Kevin Wood]

My 'proper auto' Omega is far better to drive than SWMBO's flappy paddle auto (OK .... the Smart is missing a few cylinders & 100+bhp  ) and I wasn't impressed with the DSG Passat I drove either. Either a proper fuid drive torque converter auto or a proper manual with 3 pedals (if I really have to  ) for me please. 

Terrible things. Just because you can change gear in a couple of milliseconds it doesn't mean you should, every time you change gear, whether pressing on or driving miss daisy. Just because the car can change down with every slight movement of the right foot it also doesn't mean it should. Tiresome, heavy over-complex things. The perfect example of technology for technology's sake. Or, I suppose, trying to make an auto box that will work with a Diseasel with horrible power delivery.

Last time I drove a car with such an appauling transmission it was a Volvo 340 with the elastic band CVT.

Oh, it's been so nice to have a manual gearbox again for the last 2,000 miles.

Kevin

[Andy B]

....
If the torque converter could give you a decent range of ratio you wouldn't need any gears at all in the auto' box, actually it can just handle a relatively small ratio spread, and also allows slippage so the outlet shaft can be stationary for starting and stopping... .....

'Yank Tanks' of the 50s use to often just have 2 speed autos 

[aaronjb]

....
If the torque converter could give you a decent range of ratio you wouldn't need any gears at all in the auto' box, actually it can just handle a relatively small ratio spread, and also allows slippage so the outlet shaft can be stationary for starting and stopping... .....

'Yank Tanks' of the 50s use to often just have 2 speed autos 

But they also had engines with the kind of displacement you'd usually see shifting a cruise liner.. 

[Andy B]

.....But they also had engines with the kind of displacement you'd usually see shifting a cruise liner.. 

with the BHP of a 1100 Escort   

[henryd]

....
If the torque converter could give you a decent range of ratio you wouldn't need any gears at all in the auto' box, actually it can just handle a relatively small ratio spread, and also allows slippage so the outlet shaft can be stationary for starting and stopping... .....

'Yank Tanks' of the 50s use to often just have 2 speed autos 

as did vauxhalls cresta and viscount

[Andy B]

....
as did vauxhalls cresta and viscount

I didn't realise they did too. Having said that, my Dad used to have a 1949 Triumph 'Razor Edged' Saloon (not a Renown .... but similar) and that was a 3 speed manual - column change  :-?   

[geoffr70]

Automatics are for winners! When people tell me they don't like them I just tell them that after a certain amount of time driving them, you just know them, and know exactly what they are going to do so can control them in that way. E.g. coming off a roundabout, accelerate, changes down smoothly exactly when you want and when you're expecting, nice and smoothly. I just can't seem to drive manuals as well, now that I'm used to a proper gearbox! I think autos are much better for the driving conditions we have to endure now, stop, start, lights, rounabout, stop, start. You're not driving so much as following the (lesser!) car in front!

[tidla]

drive an auto myself.

best way to answer this question is head down to your local santa pod and do a touch of market research..

[geoffr70]

drive an auto myself.

best way to answer this question is head down to your local santa pod and do a touch of market research..

good point, but after driving my auto elite and manual mv6, i think my auto is about the same, if not a little faster, not from a standstill but definitely from 20-40. I understand that due to gearing autos are faster than manuals at certain speeds (Omegas anyway).

But just because one is faster, does that make it better?