Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 14:29:37 +0000 From: Jon Rose <jon.rosenopsame.com> Subject: Re: SAAB 9-5 or Charysler 300M ?
supersambanopsamejanews.com wrote: > > In article <7aojv2$h4f$1nopsam1.dejanews.com>, > r600nopsamejanews.com wrote: > > I've driven it; no doubt it's a nice car. However, autostick just doesn't > > match the responsiveness of a real manual. By the way, Saab was the first to > > market with a "tiptronic/autostick" type trans. The shifter worked like the > > regular 5- speed, but there was no clutch, so responsiveness was great (C&D > > road tested it 0-60 in 6.5 in '95; it was a regular 900SE Turbo 185hp). The > > trans option sold as a test in the UK; consumers ended up preferring the real > > thing. > > > > Yes its a real shame that SAAB seem to have shelved this technology. It looks > like this thing is catching on now. BMW have there SMG equiped M3's and I > read somewhere that most new Ferrari F355's are sold with the F1 shift. Small > cars are also getting in the act. Here in Europe we have a number of cars > that are available with CVT (Constantly Variable Transmission), such as the > low end Rovers. Apparently Rover are going to put this technology into the > next MGF, but with paddle shifters operating over say 6 or 7 set ratio's. The > original CVT car was I believe the DAF. Does anyone remember that car? NJH. > I can remember borrowing ny boss's DAF 55 to run an errand at work in about 77/78. It was quite a damp day so I hit the switch that I though was the heated rear window. I couldn't get the damn thing over about 25 mph. When I got back and told the boss he roared with laughter. The switch I hit was to lock the thing in low gear for engine braking!!! The previous and current Ford Fiestas have a CVT transmission (Ford call it CTX) and they did try it in the Escort/Orion. -- Jon Rose, Crawley, UK http://jonrose.findhere.com