file.newsgroup.cars.102809 Maven / Gradle / Ivy
From: [email protected] (eliot)
Subject: Re: Manual Shift Bigots
In article mchaffee@dcl-nxt07 (Michael T Chaffee) writes:
>W/r/t performance, converter lockup is purely irrelevant. The lockup only
>occurs at light throttle settings and serves only to improve MPG. Mind you,
>a converter clutch does a lovely job of improving MPG, but the additional
>mechanical advantage of the converter gives you more acceleration (vs. locked
>converter clutch) than its inherent losses take away.
the transmission in my car contradicts both your assertions.. i get much
stronger acceleration if i let the convertor lockup.. which i can induce
by briefly lifting off, then quickly (but not too quickly to trigger
a kickdown) applying throttle. above 3000 rpms, the convertor will never
unlock; it would kickdown first.
who says there's no skill involved in driving an automatic? i think
of it as the throttle and shifter combined into a single pedal. with
my car i can pretty much influence its shifting patterns with my
right foot, while having both hands to steer.
eliot