[OFFICIAL] Manual v. Automatic Thread

[ayrton88]

I'm firmly in the manual camp as far as preference and don't ever plan on buying an auto. That said, if a manual was faster around a road course, F1 would still be using one. Granted they aren't slush boxes, but Formula 1 started dropping regular H pattern manuals in 1989. As far as a drag race goes, who gives a crap how fast a car is in a straight line.

[sandersd]

Originally Posted by ayrton88

...That said, if a manual was faster around a road course, F1 would still be using one...

*F1 does still use a manual transmission if one defines it as using a clutch instead of a torque convertor to transmit the power. It is hydraulically activated, shifted if you will, but it is not an automatic transmission in the traditional sense.

A torque convertor uses fluid dynamics to transmit torque and will never be as fast as the mechanical clutch (never say never), especially when it is hydraulically activated. Perhaps in the future a fluid will be developed that will have properties that allow instant torque transmission but as of now that is not an option, so the mechanical clutch rules.

Here is an interesting article and video that explains the F1 clutch. Enjoy!

The F1 clutch in detail

Comparing Automatic and manual transmissions

Torque converters explained