Ferrari Mailing List: NFC: Comparing manual to auto trans on race track

[Fellippe Galletta (fellippe.galletta]

More car magazine clean up yields other legendary issues....perhaps some of
these I should keep. :)

May 1995 Road & Track did a comparo of the transmissions with the Acura
NSX-T, and Porsche 911. I figured this was worthwhile putting on the record
as some have probably wondered what the real world difference is between the
two on a road course (Willow Springs Streets in this test).

Avid R&T readers will recognize Sam Mitani and Joe Rusz....neither of which
are true pro racers if I'm right, so I have a feeling these gaps between
transmission types should be wider still as the skill level rises.

NSX-T (Joe/Sam):

Manual 66.20        68.81
Full Auto 68.69     70.51
Semi Auto 68.41   70.09

911 (Joe/Sam):

Manual 66.53        66.91
Full Auto  69.07    72.91
Semi Auto 68.98   71.25

R&T notes "While the manual versions are quicker for both drivers, they are
also quicker in semiautomatic than full automatic. Notice that Sam Mitani
benefits more than the experienced Joe Rusz from using the buttons."

Also weird is how Sam is only about 4 tenths slower than Joe in the 911, but
his auto times are dramatically slower??

FG