Speed limits, do they work as they should?

[JHC]

There are a host of driver aids employed today that we take for granted the last and most difficult one for me to accept was Automatic transmission, being a sport car enthusiast I always had manual but now I would never go back to a manual box.

[Dorsetmike]

I've never driven an auto, let alone owned one, could never see the point, just something else to cost more when it goes wrong.

[JHC]

I've never driven an auto, let alone owned one, could never see the point, just something else to cost more when it goes wrong.

To days Automatics very rarely go wrong mike, in fact you would be more likely to replace 3 or 4 clutches or plates before an auto needs repairs, I envisage that the clutch will be soon be obsolete just as a manual choke, trafficaters and window winders and for that matter carburetors, you see I am a man of to day not yesterday.

[Dorsetmike]

I can't remember the last time I had clutch plates changed, probably in the mid 1990s when my 1962 Ford Classic had an engine and gearbox change as part of its restoration. Prior to that back in the 1960s I had one changed on an old banger.

[teddy]

162,000 miles on the last BMW without a clutch change. The new auto boxes are very good and the automatic clutches also work a treat. Moving the gear lever engages a solenoid which operates the clutch. Not a new idea. I believe it was used more than 40 years ago but never caught on. However I still prefer a manual box. I expect if I was driving around London all day I would feel differently.
A few years ago I drove a 740 Volvo automatic Estate to Spain and back (round trip of 1,700 miles in a week) and by thye time I got back I hated it.

teddy

[JHC]

I have replaced many clutches and plates + master cylinders and slave cylinders add to that carbon thrust pads and bearing type thrusters and synchro units in the actual box and hydraulic hoses, the only thing that I have replaced in an Auto is the rear seal but you get that with a manual anyway. On the Z and Coupe the transmission is steptronic which means you can switch between auto and manual select.

[teddy]

Still have not gotten around to driving one of the twin clutch setups. They are meant to be a revelation. Porsche, BMW etc etc. Would love to hear from someone who has.

teddy

[Krummhorn]

I'll second the choice for manual shift car. I'm at 116,000 on my '04 Jetta and still on original clutch and original brakes.

I much prefer being able to select the gear for the different driving situations that I encounter. The last 'auto' I had was a '94 Pontiac TransSport - the tranny in it died at about 65k miles, even with routine servicing and easy driving.

Haven't heard about this twin clutch setup yet. I'll have to ask my son who is into all the tech stuff on cars.

[JHC]

Still have not gotten around to driving one of the twin clutch setups. They are meant to be a revelation. Porsche, BMW etc etc. Would love to hear from someone who has.

teddy

Well a bit off topic but my Vincent had two clutches the main one which was centrifugal (either in or out) the normal clutch of the day could not cope with the power that the Vincent produced, and a primary clutch (normal clutch and plate set up) that allowed a normal smooth take off. just a bit of useless information that you can tuck away for quiz night.

[teddy]

Amazing what technology they had in those days. So you used the centrifugal clutch for gear changing and the other one for moving off?

teddy

[JHC]

Amazing what technology they had in those days. So you used the centrifugal clutch for gear changing and the other one for moving off?

teddy

Exactly, and the centrifugal clutch was a drum with two shoes very similar to a 'drum brake' and the more power you fed into it the more force was applied to the shoes pushing them out into the drum hence more grip, so simple.

[teddy]

I once rode a motor scooter with a centrifual clutch and variable gears, so no gear changing. Disconcerting if you were used to sitting on your bike reving up, because as soon as you did that it started to move.

teddy

[JHC]

My old ride on mower had variable gears a "Veebelt" running in a pulley one face of which moved in or out thus changing the radius.

[teddy]

Hate it. DAF cars used that system. The revs could remain constant while the speed of the car changed. Most disconcerting. Several other makers tried it but it was not popular. Also belt wear tended to be high.

teddy

[JHC]

Yes Vee belts not so good for that kind of thing, Nearly got killed by a B!**#Y truck driver a couple of weeks or so ago still shaking, they are terrible drivers.