[Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup
Everyone always talks about how the 5 speeds are so much better than an automatic for performance, and how the 4 speeds are even better because they are stronger, etc. I can't figure out why no one, with a few exceptions of a post here and there, is interested in a high performance automatic transmission. There are a number of advantages with automatics over manuals:
- I have been told by a local master mechanic who has his own tranny shop that the automatics are much stronger than the manuals. This would be especially true if you had it rebuilt with stronger parts from a hot-rodders shop (you know, all the american muscle drag racers always use automatics).
- With a high stall torque converter and a shift kit installed (maybe with some electronic soleniods to control the hydraulics for different degrees of shift speed) and the shift points adjusted (to shift close to or at redline under full throttle), I imagine performance would be much better than any manual transmission. Drag racers frequently use automatics because they are faster (when they are performance oriented).
- A high stall torque converter would real nice off the line acceleration by letting the enigne get into its torque band much sooner, without the wear and tear that slipping the clutch that much would cause.
- It would be much easier to drive, because, lets face it, the Saab manuals are not really that much fun to shift, given that half the time you can't get it into 1st at a red light and the other half of the time you end up grinding second if you try to shift too fast. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to keep both hands on the wheel to fight all that torque steer.
- It could take more abuse and last longer. Thats why cop cars and taxis always use automatics, because they are more idot proof, they are easier to drive, and they last longer given the same amount of harsh driving.
- With turbocharges cars like ours, automatics have another advantage: they give a seemless transfer of torque when shifting gears, and thus the boost does not drop off between shifts. Compare that to a manual, where every gear shift causes the boost to drop and then it takes another half a second or so to get it back.
After thinking about all this, I think my next project is going to have a high performance automatic. Specialty shops can do this kind of thing on almost any car, or maybe I'll just figure it out and do it myself. I am suprised that more people woulnd't be interested. I bet a performance automatic Saab turbo would whip any manual trans Saab turbo any day, all other things being equal. And I woudln't even have to let go of the girl's hand who is sitting next to me to shift gears every 4 seconds.
oo7
posted by 209.204.65.2...
, Sun, 30 Dec 2001 23:14:55
, Sun, 30 Dec 2001 18:43:03, Sun, 30 Dec 2001 12:13:38
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
