andaconda
Active Member
I have a 40 year old VW Pickup 4 speed, does that count? I take it out of the garage every 5~6 months an play with it. Still get a kick out of driving it.
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I have a 40 year old VW Pickup 4 speed, does that count? I take it out of the garage every 5~6 months an play with it. Still get a kick out of driving it.
Then why do you need gears? Their ONLY job in life is to maximize torque to the wheels.Actually, turbo engines typically have a really flat torque band, so you have plenty of torque across a wide range of RPMs. And if you want to go faster in a manual transmission vehicle, it's pretty simple to mod them for more power. Especially if it's a turbo car like mine.
Then why do you need gears? Their ONLY job in life is to maximize torque to the wheels.
You just answered your own question. And I'll add this---gears are needed to shift. Shifting is needed for fun, especially when it's manual shifting.
As for flat torque curves, my particular car makes it's maximum torque at just 1,500 RPM and holds it until almost 5,000 RPM. I'd say the engine is somewhere in that RPM range 99% of the time. So yeah, plenty of torque available at any time. Lots of fun, that's for sure.
Your engine at starting at 1500 RPM is definitely not in the RPM range 99% of the time, It's probably less than 95% with gears.
Look at the EV diagram, It's got 100% torque to begin with. An ICE has to have gears to even come close to having any torque to start.
That's why an EV is so fast off the start line, 100% torque at 0 RPM.
Add Tesla's traction control to assure that the torque makes it the road without slipping.
I've got an '03 350Z in the garage that I purchased new back in '03. It's also a 6MT with more money in modifications than the cost of my model Y performance I purchased at peak pricing last September. It's not going anywhere anytime soon if I have anything to say about it; my wife on the other hand.....
Sorry to hear you have to let go of the Z but I understand that family comes first. I'm hoping that one of my two boys takes to the mod bug like myself and holds onto the Z when my time here is done.
To the OP, I don't miss driving MT in NYC traffic or on the open road. The model Y is a different type of drive of course but still very enjoyable.
I didn’t know I was known in any way, shape or form outside of my wife and kids but I’m pretty sure I’m the only Kwame that has ever been that active on my350z, 350zmotoring, etc. The benefits of not being named “John Smith” I guess.Wait...are you THE Kwame? From like Forged and the 350z forums or wherever?
Back in the day, when automatics were true 'slushboxes' and so much power was lost in the torque converter, manuals were definitely faster - I'm talking production cars here, not heavily modded cars. But the introduction of things like dual-clutch automatics and 'automated manual' transmissions have actually lowered the losses and dramatically decreased shift times for vs a manual. And one less permutation for a manufacturer to make (and certify) means that stick shifts are mostly a thing of the past, unfortunately. #SaveTheManualsAren't manual transmissions the things that slow you down when accelerating? Since you can't apply consistent acceleration, because the ICE has such a narrow range of optimal torque?
Yes, that's actually how I learned to drive a manual, on a '72 Plymouth Duster with t-o-t-t...Three on the tree.
Oh, I learned on a 1948 Plymouth coupe that had a very touchy clutch. And my latest learning lesson was with a ‘two on the tree’ with the model Y.Yes, that's actually how I learned to drive a manual, on a '72 Plymouth Duster with t-o-t-t...
I actually stumbled on a barely used (5k or so miles) 2021 Type R that I'm going to look at later this weekI have a 2020 Civic Type R and just got a 2022 MYLR. I love the Tesla, but you will have to pry that Civic from my cold dead hands. That car is sublime.
Aren't manual transmissions the things that slow you down when accelerating? Since you can't apply consistent acceleration, because the ICE has such a narrow range of optimal torque?
I used to enjoy beating my head against the wall, but after I stopped, my headaches have gone away.
False. Gears have many purposes, one of which is to maximize torque to the wheels, but not for the reason that the torque is somehow only available in a small range of the engine's operable band as you are claiming. Without multiple gears, an engine that's geared to operate at a reasonable RPM at cruise speed would stall at lower speeds due to interruption of the combustion cycle and burn excessive fuel at higher speeds. These are all shortcomings of an ICE versus an electric motor with 20k RPM, but again, the reason for gears is not *ONLY* to maximize torque.Then why do you need gears? Their ONLY job in life is to maximize torque to the wheels.
Wide range? Is that 0 to 8000 rpm?
Or more like this
Only flat (or more specifically only exists) for half of its range.