Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Tele man
Two-speed 'slush-o-matics' and 3-speed manuals!!!
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For light-duty automatics, either a CVT or a hybrid setup similar to what is used in the Prius might be the way to go, while heavier ones might actually find some benefit in a larger amount of gears even though the exact amount of them might be arguable. I remember seeing people complaining that the 6-speed automatic transmissions fitted to some GM trucks were quite dumb and had a harsher shifting compared to the 4-speed ones they were meant to replace.
When it comes to manuals, eventually some 4-speed with a wider ratio might still be enough in a small car like a Toyota Etios. Now they're fitted with a 6-speed manual, but my mom has a pre-facelift one (like those in the picture, but my mom has a grey hatchback) with a 5-speed which gear spread sometimes feels quite too short. Surprisingly, automatic versions recently introduced resort to a good old 4-speed instead of a CVT, but it's still smoothier than some 5-speed AMTs fitted to other Brazilian-made econoboxes.
