YACT: why do modern automatic shifters have that zig-zag pattern?

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: randomlinh

Originally posted by: pray4mojo
Not all auto-manuals are fast. I guarantee you I can shift faster than the auto-manual mode in the Mazda 3 and 6. No one has any competition against BMW and SMG though.

I was thinking the same. When I went to test drive, I started w/ the auto since I hadn't driven stick in a while. Definitely some lag in there. But hey, the 3 is essentially sold as an ecobox of sorts.. sorta.. heh.

Originally posted by: NutBucket
As for that E55 comment, I just hate how so many people that drive those cars drive them so damned slowly. Fvck, you spent an extra 20k or whatever for the supercharger, MAKE USE OF IT!!!!!

they spent the 20k to showboat how much money they spent, not to drive fast.

Then get out the damned way!!!:|:|:|:|

 

[blurredvision]

For some reason, this thread reminded me of an old thread here discussing the "gear shift lady" or something like that. It was basically a video of a girl riding, umm......a gear shift. I wonder where that video resides nowadays......

Anywho, back on topic!

 

[sniperruff]

best motoring tested both the 5-speed and DSG, and the DSG Golf GTI. the DSG coupled with launch control torched the 5-speed.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: sniperruff
best motoring tested both the 5-speed and DSG, and the DSG Golf GTI. the DSG coupled with launch control torched the 5-speed.

Because the DSG is a manual gearbox with electronic acutation. Are you people dense???

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: sniperruff
best motoring tested both the 5-speed and DSG, and the DSG Golf GTI. the DSG coupled with launch control torched the 5-speed.

Because the DSG is a manual gearbox with electronic acutation. Are you people dense???

Forgive me, because I know nothing about what you guys discuss, but wouldn't that technically make it an automatic with an electronic actuation?

 

[NutBucket]

No it wouldn't because mechanically its a manual transmission with shift forks and such. It has one clutch (well, two for the DSG but ignore that for this discussion) and no torque converter.

A normal automatic transmission can have either hydraulic or electronic control and that just controls which clutch pack is engaged. So electronically controlled automatic transmission is a completely different beast than an electronically actuated manual transmission.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Mercedes and Jaguar used to be the only companies with the zig-zag shifter pattern (OK, Jaguar's gate was J-shaped, but close enough). Other companies have adopted the zig-zag pattern to emulate the more prestigeous competition.

ZV

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Ronstang
So idiots who cannot drive a real car (manual transmission) can drive around shifting gears thinking they are actually doing something.

LOL

 

[Wag]

I am getting used to the zig-zag of my new Impreza.

On the good side of things, the automatic '06 Impreza actually does 1MPG better on the HGWY than the manual. Go figure.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: blurredvision
For some reason, this thread reminded me of an old thread here discussing the "gear shift lady" or something like that. It was basically a video of a girl riding, umm......a gear shift. I wonder where that video resides nowadays......

Anywho, back on topic!

That would be 5 speed girl. I have that video. It's hot!

 

[Captante]

Originally posted by: Syringer

Originally posted by: Ronstang
So idiots who cannot drive a real car (manual transmission) can drive around shifting gears thinking they are actually doing something.

I love the elitist attitude of manual transmission owners who think that they're somehow better and smarter than the rest of the non MT crowd.

"Oooh look at that E55 AMG!"
"That car sucks, my Civic is better because it has a clutch."
""

Theres two kinds of people who drive an automatic.. first theres the majority who couldn't
drive a manual car if their life depended on it & they are rightfully considered pretty pathetic. The rest drive an automatic because they spend 3/4's of their time in stop & go traffic where all a clutch does is kill your left knee faster & they yearn for the days of 5 -speed goodness.. after all what REAL driving enthusiest wouldn't rather have a 5- speed in his/her E55 AMG?
As for the zig-zag pattern, unless you have a tiptronic or similar type of automatic-clutch transmission, its a fashion statement.

 

[DeeKnow]

Originally posted by: StevenYoo
why do modern automatic shifters have that zig-zag pattern?

duh ! cause it looks neat, that's why...

 

[Shawn]

coolness factor?

 

[StevenYoo]

so i guess it's been established that it just looks peachy-keen neat-o?

 

[EatSpam]

Originally posted by: StevenYoo
what's the deal with that?

Um, not all. My wife's 2004 Saturn Ion has a straight shifter - P-N-D-I-L. No zig zag. I had a 2005 Nissan Sentra as a rental that had P-N-D-2-1. No zig zag either. The only car I have seen that does the zig zag is my mother-in-law's Subaru.

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: Ronstang
So idiots who cannot drive a real car (manual transmission) can drive around shifting gears thinking they are actually doing something.

Some of them even have leather boots... lol.

 

[Colt45]

Because japanese manufacturers like to rip off mercedes

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: bR

Originally posted by: Ronstang
So idiots who cannot drive a real car (manual transmission) can drive around shifting gears thinking they are actually doing something.

Some of them even have leather boots... lol.

Right, my Mercedes does, yet it is doesn't have the zig-zag pattern. You can move it to the left/right, but since it is under the boot you can't tell, and that is mainly for shift mode.

I wasn't going to wait 6 extra months for a manual either.