When I was growing up in the 80's, and driving cars made in the 70's, your transmission options were: **Automatic: 2 and 3 speeds **Manual: 3 and 4 speeds.
Performance cars were equipped with 4 speed manuals and either 2 or 3 speed autos.
Then, in the 80's, the new performance cars(if you want to call them that) came with either 5 speed manual, or a 4 speed auto.
Then in the 90's and 2000's, cars began rolling off the lines with 6 speed manuals and 5 speed autos. Then, I began hearing of 7 speed and even 8 speed manuals and autos on some cars made around the world.
Now obviously the Powerglide is still popular with MANY, MANY drag racers even today, even though GM/Chevy have not installed a Powerglide in a new car for almost 40 years! There are 2 reasons for that: They are tough, but more importantly, they only shift ONCE!!
When you are trying to go fast, you must shift, and whenever you are shifting, you are not accelerating during the shift. So Powerglides are popular cause they dont spend much time shifting gears, so you are able to more consistently accelerate without your RPM's suddenly dropping off during 2,3,4,5,6, or even 7 shifts!
There is probably a trade-off though when comparing to a trans with more gears in race cars, but its probably not all that significant.
Not only that, but its simply easier to drive when racing as well, or shifting on the street if you have a Powerglide, and as I said before, tough. However, on a circle track, you'd probably want more than 2 gears!
Now I am not calling for everyone to switch back to the 'glide, but I am wondering whether we really need all these extra gears?
I like the 5 speed manuals, and 3 & 4 speed autos, but I don't see a need for more gears than that. In fact, I'd be happy with 1 or 2 less.
Now I had a friend name Howie, who's parent's had bought a '69 SS396 Camaro as an investment in the early 80's. They literally only drove it twice a year around the development, and only started it up about once per month. It was stored in their climate and humidity controlled garage under a cover. In 1991, they went out of town for a week, and Howie disconnected it's speedometer, and took it out one night, and took me with him. It had the Muncie 4 speed, 375hp, was yellow with black stripes, and the spoilers, etc.
We cruised around main street Newark, De, which was a huge cruise spot for decades. We even raced 2 people on a nearby rural highway. I drove it for over 1 hour. It must have had around a 4:11 rear, and its transmission gear ratio was ridiculously close, to the point where there was little difference between one gear to the next. You'd need to shift immediately after each shift.
That car could have used another 2-3 gears! Or a trans with different gearing at least, and maybe a 3:50 rear.
But I've also driven and owned older cars with 4 speeds that were geared well enough that 4 speeds were about enough. Maybe an overdrive gear would've been nice, but not absolutely necessary.
How about you......? Do you like or need LOTS of gears, or do you prefer only 2-3 or 4?
Performance cars were equipped with 4 speed manuals and either 2 or 3 speed autos.
Then, in the 80's, the new performance cars(if you want to call them that) came with either 5 speed manual, or a 4 speed auto.
Then in the 90's and 2000's, cars began rolling off the lines with 6 speed manuals and 5 speed autos. Then, I began hearing of 7 speed and even 8 speed manuals and autos on some cars made around the world.
Now obviously the Powerglide is still popular with MANY, MANY drag racers even today, even though GM/Chevy have not installed a Powerglide in a new car for almost 40 years! There are 2 reasons for that: They are tough, but more importantly, they only shift ONCE!!
When you are trying to go fast, you must shift, and whenever you are shifting, you are not accelerating during the shift. So Powerglides are popular cause they dont spend much time shifting gears, so you are able to more consistently accelerate without your RPM's suddenly dropping off during 2,3,4,5,6, or even 7 shifts!
There is probably a trade-off though when comparing to a trans with more gears in race cars, but its probably not all that significant.
Not only that, but its simply easier to drive when racing as well, or shifting on the street if you have a Powerglide, and as I said before, tough. However, on a circle track, you'd probably want more than 2 gears!
Now I am not calling for everyone to switch back to the 'glide, but I am wondering whether we really need all these extra gears?
I like the 5 speed manuals, and 3 & 4 speed autos, but I don't see a need for more gears than that. In fact, I'd be happy with 1 or 2 less.
Now I had a friend name Howie, who's parent's had bought a '69 SS396 Camaro as an investment in the early 80's. They literally only drove it twice a year around the development, and only started it up about once per month. It was stored in their climate and humidity controlled garage under a cover. In 1991, they went out of town for a week, and Howie disconnected it's speedometer, and took it out one night, and took me with him. It had the Muncie 4 speed, 375hp, was yellow with black stripes, and the spoilers, etc.
We cruised around main street Newark, De, which was a huge cruise spot for decades. We even raced 2 people on a nearby rural highway. I drove it for over 1 hour. It must have had around a 4:11 rear, and its transmission gear ratio was ridiculously close, to the point where there was little difference between one gear to the next. You'd need to shift immediately after each shift.
That car could have used another 2-3 gears! Or a trans with different gearing at least, and maybe a 3:50 rear.
But I've also driven and owned older cars with 4 speeds that were geared well enough that 4 speeds were about enough. Maybe an overdrive gear would've been nice, but not absolutely necessary.
How about you......? Do you like or need LOTS of gears, or do you prefer only 2-3 or 4?