Quote:
Originally Posted by PaleMelanesian
The automatic only wins because it has better gear ratios AND an extra 6th gear. A manual with matching gears and ratios could match or likely beat that 40 mpg rating.
Back to the original question re: Honda. It's again a manual with ridiculous gear ratios vs an automatic with reasonable ones.
|
Both cars would be undrivable with the automatic gear ratios in a manual transmission. The vast majority of drivers would complain about having to slip the clutch too much just to get he car moving. The Civic has a double over drive setup in the automatic. These are not ratios that a normal human would be happy to drive on a daily basis. The computer controlled automatic doesn't have a problem with it. It shifts gears much faster and much more often than a human being could ever hope. In the case of the civic which still has a conventional lock up torque converter, it can use the lockup feature as an additional gear in between each shift.
I understand that people are wedded to the idea that manual transmissions are always more efficient than automatics because thats all they've ever known. It has been true for decades. But that doesn't mean you have to categorically deny the possibility that some autos are now more efficient than their manual equivalent. Technology is changing and people need to learn how to adapt. Personally I would still buy the manual because its cheaper and its more enjoyable for me (although the double clutch setup in the Fiesta sounds tempting) but its good to know that the vast majority of drones buying autos can finally get the same or better FE as the few manual transmissions still sold in this country.