Front wheel drive and 4-speed automatic transmissions
From: Bernard Kaye (eviebob@earthlink.net)
Date: Sun 17 Nov 2002 - 13:31:11 EST
I think that almost everyone who does not want a 5-speed automatic or continuously variable automatic transmission wants a 4-speed automatic transmission; the days of the manual clutch are numbered, hastened by advances in automatics that give miles per gallon approaching manual m-p-g in everyday driving.
Also, it is far too expensive to rebuild a manual clutch, which once it goes, is gone along with master and slave cylinders and linkages. The manual clutch is primitive, "C'est brutal, mais ca marche."
With an automatic, if you do change the fluid periodically and often, which many Americans refuse to do, and drive sensibly, it will last and last.
With an automatic, the driver's ability to clutch is not relevant and manual down-shifting for sport and showing-off to others and to oneself is not readily available; its up to the driver to not abuse the downshifting capability of an automatic whether by flooring it or moving the "stick", but a good automatic can last the long life of a car driven for years, again, if the money is spent to change the fluid and filter periodically and often enough and driving is sensible.
I was told that PSA finally started to manufacture automatic transmissions; their manuals have been good, are their automatics good and will they keep up with advances in technology?
Packard, among its other problems, had an excellent automatic in the sense that it "gripped" and a loaded Packard could readily climb Pike's Peak but that other cars with automatics could not or could only with pauses; but that Packard did not spend to further improve its automatic for smoothness and economy as it failed to keep-up in other matters.
As to front wheel drive, it sure beats rear wheel drive that does not have complex traction control when driving in snow. Perhaps four-wheel drive is here to stay more certainly that PSA is here to stay or ever will be here.
Best, Bernie Kaye, Frisco, Texas
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