7-speed manual trans?

RatLabGuy

RatLabGuy

You look like a monkey and smell like one too
Joined
May 18, 2005
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Churchville, MD
I came across one of the 4,000 articles about the 2020 Bronco, which of course didn't have any real info, but they did have credible reason to believe it will be released with a 7-speed manual transmission option (likely paired w/ the new 2.7L).

Was just curious what thoughts were on this notion. I understand there are similar beasts available in Porsche and some other vehicles?

I recently bought a new car w/ a 6 speed. That has been a weird change for me, overall I like it, but I definitely notice I'm changing gears more often. Its kind of convenient that there's so much overlap in the gears, it's almost hard to get it wrong just picking one at random coming out of a turn etc. And of course it's easier to find just the *right* power band for the moment.

In a performance car, I could see that last gear being mostly just for really high speed. Otherwise, it seems you'd be shifting gears all the time in traffic. Thoughts?
 
It's supposed to increase fuel economy by keeping the engine in the most efficient RPM range.

In practice, I find you just skip shift.

Edit: Also, I'm not a fan of shifters that are 4-gates wide. But that's coming from Fullers. Ford's trans might be better.
 
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I was going to say...firend hs a brand new Vette.
Got to drive it a few weeks ago. (He really likes moonshine...i had some good shine. he was smart enough to not drive it home)

Despite about 50 stop and starts, I could never hit all 7 gears even at a leisurely acceleration. I found 1,2,4,6 to be the right feel.
Of course that thing has torque to spare so even lugged down you didnt feel it.
 
Ron said:
Of course that thing has torque to spare so even lugged down you didnt feel it.
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I dunno that it matters. I have a buddy with a Golf R, and it's the same way.
 
Ron said:
I was going to say...firend hs a brand new Vette.
Got to drive it a few weeks ago. (He really likes moonshine...i had some good shine. he was smart enough to not drive it home)

Despite about 50 stop and starts, I could never hit all 7 gears even at a leisurely acceleration. I found 1,2,4,6 to be the right feel.
Of course that thing has torque to spare so even lugged down you didnt feel it.
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I've driven those on track, and you can use all the gears. :D

What you need/want on the street is a different story.
 
shawn said:
I dunno that it matters. I have a buddy with a Golf R, and it's the same way.
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Had a civic si. Normal driving 1,3,5 or 6.

I would expect 1st to be granny low, like the 6 speed ford trucks. 5th to be 1:1. And 2 overdrives.
 
I've often wondered why there wasn't a modern granny geared 6 speed transmission for trucks...... I have not driven a 6 speed yet but I suspect it will happen someday.
 
ghost said:
I've often wondered why there wasn't a modern granny geared 6 speed transmission for trucks...... I have not driven a 6 speed yet but I suspect it will happen someday.
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I rarely use first in my '11 ram 6 speed, unless there's something heavy in tow.
 
ghost said:
I've often wondered why there wasn't a modern granny geared 6 speed transmission for trucks...... I have not driven a 6 speed yet but I suspect it will happen someday.
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Dodge has been putting them in trucks for 20 years.

I don't think Ford or Chevy offer manual trans anymore.
 
7 seems so very excessive



I have 2 extremes:

Diesel 6 speed
Mini cooper S 6 speed

I usually start in 2nd and use all gears in the truck. I COULD skip gears, but usually go thru 2-6

In my wife's mini, it's supercharged with a slight lag. You HAVE to start in 1st but I rarely ever use 6th unless were on the highway. In fact, I rarely use 5th unless on the highway because in 4th that sweet spot for goofing off is 4th at 60 mph. Gay car, but holy shit that thing is fun as hell to drive and will friggin SKOOT
 
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ghost said:
I've often wondered why there wasn't a modern granny geared 6 speed transmission for trucks...... I have not driven a 6 speed yet but I suspect it will happen someday.
Click to expand...
Yea Ford quit the manual transmission game unfortunately, but my old tow rig was an 03 f250 6.0 diesel. It had the zf6 6 speed. First was granny marked as a "L" then it had 1 through 5 with 4 being 1:1 and 5 (really 6) as overdrive. Towing my trailer I used all 6, but cruising to work empty I'd go 2-3-4-5 or 1-3-4-5 depending if I was starting off on a hill or flat ground. I wonder if the 7 speed (if it really happens) is a granny L then 1-6 that you drive like a 6 speed.

A friend has a turbo vw gti 6 speed and when I drive it I skip several gears unless I beat on it too.

Sent from my HTC6545LVW using Tapatalk
 
I think that most companies are going to "short stroke" engines, they only seem to make power at certain rpm's. I miss the days of balanced engines (torque vs horse power), less gears. Some of the 50's-70's 3 speeds almost felt like driving an automatic (big overlap in gear ranges),

Wait, am I to understand that there are people left that still know how to drive a clutch, and possibly write in cursive?
 
Wait, am I to understand that there are people left that still know how to drive a clutch, and possibly write in cursive?
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I can do one of those things
 
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