CNBC Says only racing enthusiasts buy manuals, let’s correct them

[JSH]

Originally Posted by freebeard

'If thing are going to get better something needs to change.' vs 'a better world is possible.'

Raise the speed limit, raise the traffic volume. Arguing against my last point, I know.

When traffic is moving at 5 to 10 mph in a 55 mph zone how does changing the speed limit help?

[freebeard]

YMMV

[redpoint5]

What would really help traffic out is if people treated proceeding through a light or making a turn like they were late for an interview. Just because they'll make the green light doesn't give them a reason to putter around. None of this 2 school bus gap between the guy ahead while making a left turn. No slow acceleration. Get through so others can get through.

Clear the surface streets of backed up traffic, and you'll begin to clear the freeways of backed up traffic.

[freebeard]

It's all about the 60-foot times.

[jcp123]

While we’re at it, I do have to plug the other side. First time going over the Appalachians in a while, and the automated manual in my truck really goes from “eh, it’s sorta ok” to a freaking superstar here. It takes most of the work out of navigating the ups and downs. I’m not really enamored of its shift logic, but it can apply engine braking and downshifts automatically and keep a steady pace without burning brakes or making you worry about the hundreds of shifts you’d do in just 100ish miles here.

Granted I’m pulling only 33k lbs, about 10-12k short of the max they’d normally like to send over the mountains, but I reset my tripmeter to see what happened, and I was kinda delighted. 107 miles of mountains resulted in 8.3mpg average, with a 54mph average speed.

Both are better than what I think I did with a manual. I think. Especially MPG, that would have been closer to 6.5 or 7mpg before.

EDIT: hell, 8.3 is better than the 8.1 I had averaged in this rig since I started driving it last summer. Either at 110k, the engine is finally broken in, or pulling a moddleweight load over mountains gives some strange advantage to pulling loads of any weight over flatter terrain.

[JSH]

Mountains are where the DT12 and Detroit integrated drivetrain really shine. The truck has extensive maps of not just location but also topography. The truck knows where it is, what grade the road is, and what the road looks like ahead. Using this information it can optimize shift points both uphill and downhill. The front radar also tells it if there is traffic ahead

It is really hard for a human driver to beat a computer in these conditions. They would have to know the road by heart.


EDIT: Max torque is also lower - @ 975 RPM - so that likely explains it shifting at different RPMs than you are used to with a conventional manual.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by jcp123

While we’re at it, I do have to plug the other side. First time going over the Appalachians in a while, and the automated manual in my truck really goes from “eh, it’s sorta ok” to a freaking superstar here. It takes most of the work out of navigating the ups and downs. I’m not really enamored of its shift logic, but it can apply engine braking and downshifts automatically and keep a steady pace without burning brakes or making you worry about the hundreds of shifts you’d do in just 100ish miles here.

Makes me want to see how an AMT would work in the urban transit bus routes that cross my mother's neighborhood, even though a regular automatic would be supposed to fare even better as it's often pointed out to be more dumbproof than AMTs. Well, truckers and intercity or interstate bus drivers in my country tend to take better care of an AMT-equipped vehicle than urban drivers anyway.

[Piotrsko]

Having learned to drive on a manual 6 speed schoolbus: the stop and go on a loaded clutch kills them really fast, particularly on a multiple driver set up. Bus companies feel the reduced maintenance outweighs any economic advantage.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Piotrsko

Having learned to drive on a manual 6 speed schoolbus: the stop and go on a loaded clutch kills them really fast, particularly on a multiple driver set up. Bus companies feel the reduced maintenance outweighs any economic advantage.

I wonder why school buses hadn't gone electric long ago? Bearing grease and wiper blades for maintenance.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

I wonder why school buses hadn't gone electric long ago? Bearing grease and wiper blades for maintenance.

The extra $100,000 purchase price