Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Fry
N... At that time, the conventional automatic was slightly less efficient than the CVT and manual, which were equal. Now, conventional automatics are just as efficient as manuals too...
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You do need to be careful with this sort of comparison if you are going by EPA ratings as a measure of efficiency. We have demonstrated again and a again that higher primates are perfectly capable of operating a manual transmission vehicle (with a clutch and a neutral, and bump starts) in vastly more efficient modes than CVTs or automatics will allow by staying near bsfc when accelerating, and coasting when not, and taking advantage of the higher peak efficiencies of the manual driveline, and paying lots of attention to their situation (always a good idea).
A lot of manufacturers also play gearing games assuming the manual is for "sport", even though that sport might in actuality be about best efficiency, and not fastest lap times or 1/4 mile
