Ferrari Mailing List: Re: 456 gt search

[Fellippe Galletta (fellippe.galletta]

I wanted to clarify that a torque converter auto will never compare to a
regular manual or F1 manual on the track....left out the word "track" in the
last email.

On 7/16/07, Fellippe Galletta <fellippe.galletta [at] gmail.com> wrote:
> On 7/16/07, John Allison <johnallison [at] gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Dennis is right, it's not the same.  I am trying so hard not to scream
> > out against torque converter automatics.  Perhaps it is just me
> > dreaming of shifting , but the lack of connectedness between the
> > engine, tranmission, and road makes me die a little more everytime I
> > get behind the wheel of my current car.  I just could never see myself
> > pushing something like that upon anyone.
>
>
> I never drove a 456, so I don't know the true nature of the car, but it's
> possible that an automatic might be okay there, whereas its unacceptable to
> me in a 911 turbo regardless of performance advantages.
>
> I believe I read somewhere that the auto in the 456 is sorta like a shift
> kit in that there's a selector for each of the 4 gears (D, 3,2,1). If it
> isn't, it seems like it could be a straightforward modification.
>
> Torque converter automatics are cool in cars like Bentley Continental GTs
> and McLaren SLRs....it works very well in the CGT, and I even liked shifting
> with paddles (which I never care to do with tiptronic type autos).  To hate
> on the SLR for being an auto is to forget it weighs a ton and is a Benz! ;)
>
> If an auto doesn't work in the Ferrari it's because the nature of the loud
> V12 would be disrupted with a regular auto. I'd go manual unless the auto
> came in at a very good price.
>
> <But as Clyde says, "It's your money."  I just want to believe that
> <there are still people who long for that feeling of freedom and control.
> <
> <Best,
> <John
>
> There are John....although I tend to agree with your ideology for the most
> part, I've learned to refrain from making absolute blanket statements with
> cars. You never really know until you try something...although I'd like to
> go out on a limb and call a 997 turbo cab automatic GAY...;)
>
> I feel once a car reaches a certain sporty nature (and especially if it is
> smaller, and relies on a high revving motor), a torque converter auto is
> just a no-no. Torque converter autos are as good or better than stickshifts
> for straight line fun, but will never compare to a true clutch based manual.
> An SLR 722 owner with racing experience recently commented how much he liked
> the car on the track but wishes it could be manual based...
>
> I'm close to making a blanket statement that paddle shifted clutch based
> semiautos are cars I have no interest in owning....for 6-7 tenths driving on
> the street, I'm confident to say that they are boring compared to having the
> extra pedal and shifter...back to back driving of a Vanquish, Gallardo and
> F430 equipped as such confirmed this to me.
>
> However, aggressive cornering on the street and track may be a different
> story....left foot braking skills can add to this.
>
> So I will not rule it out...just yet. Dreams of converting a Challenge
> Stradale to stick may have to be put on hold...
>
> :)
>
> FG