| dan_wa |
| Is Honda/Acura falling behind? 2009 RL is still running 5 speed auto-tran when others are doing 6 and even 7. |
|
|
| BeachRunnerX |
6 or 7 speed auto's aren't necessarily better. If you've driven the X3's automatic you'd understand why: for fuel economy it gets into 6th as quickly as possible. When you need to accelarate, it takes forever to get back down into 3rd or 2nd before you realize any sense of power.
So with the exception of fuel economy, I'll take the 4-spd slushbox in my Pathfinder over BMW's 6 speed (or Acura's 5 speed for that matter) any day. When you step on it in the Pathy it's kicks right down and you scoot. The MDX isn't horrible. The BMW stinks. |
|
|
| dj-mdx2 |
quote:
Originally posted by BeachRunnerX
6 or 7 speed auto's aren't necessarily better. If you've driven the X3's automatic you'd understand why: for fuel economy it gets into 6th as quickly as possible. When you need to accelarate, it takes forever to get back down into 3rd or 2nd before you realize any sense of power.
So with the exception of fuel economy, I'll take the 4-spd slushbox in my Pathfinder over BMW's 6 speed (or Acura's 5 speed for that matter) any day. When you step on it in the Pathy it's kicks right down and you scoot. The MDX isn't horrible. The BMW stinks.
I'll have to take exception to this last generalization of yours. If you manually downshift as in the M3, there are few other cars on the road that can match it while scooting from 60 to 100 mph. |
|
|
| midnightMDX |
quote:
Originally posted by dj-mdx2
I'll have to take exception to this last generalization of yours. If you manually downshift as in the M3, there are few other cars on the road that can match it while scooting from 60 to 100 mph.
I think he was referring to the X3 when he said BMW.
I am happy with the 5 speed auto. Not all transmissions are alike, so every cars gearing is different. |
|
|
| hammermdx |
quote:
Originally posted by BeachRunnerX
6 or 7 speed auto's aren't necessarily better. If you've driven the X3's automatic you'd understand why: for fuel economy it gets into 6th as quickly as possible. When you need to accelarate, it takes forever to get back down into 3rd or 2nd before you realize any sense of power.
So with the exception of fuel economy, I'll take the 4-spd slushbox in my Pathfinder over BMW's 6 speed (or Acura's 5 speed for that matter) any day. When you step on it in the Pathy it's kicks right down and you scoot. The MDX isn't horrible. The BMW stinks.
Not sure which BMW you have, but my 530xi with an Auto 6 speed is a beast on the road......not as good as the manaul 330cic I used to have though. |
|
|
| BeachRunnerX |
quote:
Originally posted by dj-mdx2
I'll have to take exception to this last generalization of yours. If you manually downshift as in the M3, there are few other cars on the road that can match it while scooting from 60 to 100 mph.
We're not talking about M3's, we're talking about and apples:apples comarison on the same vehicle having a 5-spd vs. a 6- or 7-spd. I stand by my opinion that my Pathy does very well with 4 gears and that putting a 6th or 7th gear in it would make it no better off, with the possible exception of fuel economy.
The original poster referenced the RL. I've had both TSX and TL's as loaners and never did I feel that the driving experience would have been even fractionally better with one or two more cogs in the drivetrain. And at the end of the day, if the intent is to be a manual shifter then no automatic (save perhaps the superbe double-clutch set up that Audi has, or the dry clutch SMG in the BMW M) can match a true stick. So no, the lack of a 6- or 7-spd box is no disappointment to me at all. |
|
|
| hammermdx |
| And it's a crime that the 09 TL's will still have a 5 speed Auto.:mad: |
|
|
| BeachRunnerX |
quote:
Originally posted by hammermdx
And it's a crime that the 09 TL's will still have a 5 speed Auto.:mad:
peronally I consider the 5-spd to be a plus, not a minus. and certainly not a deal killer for me, unlike the homely exterior would be... |
|
|
| BeachRunnerX |
quote:
Originally posted by hammermdx
Not sure which BMW you have, but my 530xi with an Auto 6 speed is a beast on the road......not as good as the manaul 330cic I used to have though.
Perhaps BMW got it figured out in the E60, but the E83's box is sequential and this forces you to wait for it to go 6>5>4>3 before you scoot.
What year was your Cic? I had an 01 Black on Tan. Favorite car I've ever owned and, IMO, the best looking 4-seat convert ever made. |
|
|
| hammermdx |
quote:
Originally posted by BeachRunnerX
peronally I consider the 5-spd to be a plus, not a minus. and certainly not a deal killer for me, unlike the homely exterior would be...
No argument there, that design is FUGLY! |
|
|
| dj-mdx2 |
quote:
Originally posted by BeachRunnerX
We're not talking about M3's, we're talking about and apples:apples comarison on the same vehicle having a 5-spd vs. a 6- or 7-spd. I stand by my opinion that my Pathy does very well with 4 gears and that putting a 6th or 7th gear in it would make it no better off, with the possible exception of fuel economy.
The original poster referenced the RL. I've had both TSX and TL's as loaners and never did I feel that the driving experience would have been even fractionally better with one or two more cogs in the drivetrain. And at the end of the day, if the intent is to be a manual shifter then no automatic (save perhaps the superbe double-clutch set up that Audi has, or the dry clutch SMG in the BMW M) can match a true stick. So no, the lack of a 6- or 7-spd box is no disappointment to me at all.
I agree with most of what you're saying but you weren't exactly comparing apples to apples in your earlier statement either. I dislike this oft-abused figure of speech anyway.
My point was you can accelerate in a Bimmer as you pointed out, especially with a stick or SMG, and it doesn't stink. I realize you may have been referring to just the X3 but that's not the way you worded it.
Also, you can sort of replicate a clutchless manual downshift on the 07+ X using manual mode and get that rush. It's not the same as a true manual but I'm sure it's more than adequate for most passing/interstate situations. |
|
|
| rrcompton |
quote:
Originally posted by hammermdx
And it's a crime that the 09 TL's will still have a 5 speed Auto.:mad:
no the crime is that Acura would even make a car that looks that ugly!! :crazy: |
|
|
| G. COLTON |
Sic and seven speed transmitions are a gimmick to lure buyers. There is no advantage to the extra gears if the 5 speed is made to have the same overall final gear ratio. I will bet that if you were to ride in two identical vehicles, one with a 5 speed and one with a 6 speed you could not tell the difference as long as the shifting was smooth. That includes fast starts.
More gears have a benefit on SOME race cars, depending upon the track that they will be racing.
Do not get fooled into spending money just to be able to say you have a 6 or speed transmition.
G |
|
|
| synergest1 |
| Thoughts on a CVT transmission? I have not driven one yet. |
|
|
| Jin_Chris |
Strictly from my own opinion, maybe, Honda/Acura is "watching" how the 6sp/7sp tranny are doing in the market (or rather say, in this real world).
When Honda introduced 5sp tranny "relatively" earlier than other manufacturer (although not the first one either), they had had (maybe still have) enough "trouble" with their tranny division. Maybe, this time, they are trying to be "conservative"?
Moreover, as all of us (or at least majority of us) know, Honda's tranny design is in general different from "ordinary" tranny design. By itself, Honda's 5sp is not a direct comparison to other's 5 tranny (which one is better? oh well it depends...that is totally different subject)
I would rather take this as "positive" sign that Honda is trying to be "careful" for its tranny design this time. Do you remember, a few years back, Honda/Acura anounced that it was not going to introduce 8 cylinder engine into general market although almost all of other OEM's flagships all had 8 cyl ? |
|
|
| Jaws |
quote:
Originally posted by synergest1
Thoughts on a CVT transmission? I have not driven one yet.
A different sensation altogether, almost like driving a car with a slipping clutch. I know that early Nissan (Murano) CVTs were chided by the automotive press, but I've seen very little criticism of the CVT in the Rogue and new Murano. Very good fuel economy/acceleration figures for both when compared to the slushbox-equipped competitors. Useless fact of the day: I think the first car with a CVT was the Subaru Justy. |
|
|
| BeachRunnerX |
quote:
Originally posted by synergest1
Thoughts on a CVT transmission? I have not driven one yet.
Having only driving the Murano, I can say that while they may provide the theoretical perfect gearing at all times they don't feel right, perhaps even feeling 'slow'. Havining 21 years of driving behind me, the seat-of-my-pants has been trained to anticipate the traditional torque curve hump. With a CVT, the RPM's don't swing like they do in a stick (or auto, although modern torque converters do a good job keeping revs appropriate to the requested power). CVT's continuously vary the gear ratio as speed increases, thereby seemlessly reducing wheel torque on the way up. This just doesn't feel 'right' to my conditioned backside! ;) |
|
|
|
