Engineers probably figure a lot of folks don't drive a stick very well and will tear up the clutch so they add a paper margin of saftey by underrating the capacity to protect the company from claims.
Manual transmission "snobs"?
- Thread starter LouDawg
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Not the Contour/Mystique. Those actually have a tach which says "V6" on the face (if it has a V6), marked with the 6750RPM redline. As I recall it's an 8000RPM tach.
Additionally, the pointers on the speedometer and tachometer point in the same direction in 4th (1:1) gear--they are exactly in sync when you are accelerating.
I'm pretty sure the Escort also came with a tach with a marked redline.
2003 Taurus doesn't have a redline on the tach, although it does go up to 8000 RPM. Owner's manual doesn't provide any info. I suspect the DOHC V-6 is redlined at about 6500 RPM but who knows.
I think redline on an auto tranny is going to be a few hundred rpm higher than the shift point under a WOT run.
Okay, guess I haven't seen a lot of Ford instrument panels.
Okay, guess I haven't seen a lot of Ford instrument panels.
I think it's pretty typical for cars not available with a manual to not have a redline on the tach. I really don't know why they come with a tach anyway....
You really don't need one; the computer is never going to allow the engine to exceed redline, even if you manually select 1st at 70MPH.
The DOHC V6 on the Taurus probably redlines at 6750RPM too.
You really don't need one; the computer is never going to allow the engine to exceed redline, even if you manually select 1st at 70MPH.
The DOHC V6 on the Taurus probably redlines at 6750RPM too.
So true! In Europe manuals far outnumber A/T's. Several years ago I had the opportunity to travel to the UK. On the trip between the airport and hotel I was fascinated watching the cabbie sit on the right side and shift with his left hand. I was determined I was going to try some right hand drive myself. I call a rental. As soon as they found out I was a Yank they wanted to rent me some Suzuki runabout with an A/T. My reply was no dice. I want a real car, with a stick. Got a nice Vauxhall sedan with a 5 speed. Let's see...right hand drive, shift with the left hand, and deal with British roundabouts! It was absolutely hair raising but at the same time extremely satisfying. I did it with only one stupid mistake. For some reason one time I forgot to depress the clutch before engaging the starter. I found out real quick that British cars don't have a clutch interlock! Luckily the parking brake was on. I put over 300 miles on the rental and returned it in one piece.
As a household with one vehicle stick and one A/T I make that informed decision everyday. It's a real easy decision.
And you're right. The "fear the 3 pedal" crowd has no right to bash or talk.
A tach in a typical A/T equiped car is good for show. And for verifying correct idle speed.
Why have a tach in an automatic? Curiosity. I am putting a tach in my motorhome, which is a 454 V8 automatic. In the mountians it will sometimes drop into second gear at 55 mph. I am just curious what RPMs are when it does that.
I also have a tach in wife's automatic Aerostar 3.0. Found that thing will shift around 5500 RPM with the pedal matted.
As for no redline on Fords, mostly I looked at pickups in the '92 through '96 range. The inline six should redline around 4000, and has no useful range above that, but the tach goes to 6000. My aftermarket tach in my F150 six banger only goes to 4000. This maximized the sweep.
I also have a tach in wife's automatic Aerostar 3.0. Found that thing will shift around 5500 RPM with the pedal matted.
As for no redline on Fords, mostly I looked at pickups in the '92 through '96 range. The inline six should redline around 4000, and has no useful range above that, but the tach goes to 6000. My aftermarket tach in my F150 six banger only goes to 4000. This maximized the sweep.
"Why have a tach in an automatic? "
It can be a great tool to use if you suspect you're having transmission trouble. In the case of my 85 Olds Calais, the torque converter stopped locking up under certain conditions and the tach was a useful tool to judge what the transmission was up to.
It can be a great tool to use if you suspect you're having transmission trouble. In the case of my 85 Olds Calais, the torque converter stopped locking up under certain conditions and the tach was a useful tool to judge what the transmission was up to.
"Why have a tach in an automatic? "
The sedans with autos have one, and it was useful to see what the overdrive does. I don't shift into OD until doing 65mph on the highway, as it seems to lug the engine otherwise. I figure the engine in the Taurus will handle revs better than the tranny will handle low rpm loads.
The sedans with autos have one, and it was useful to see what the overdrive does. I don't shift into OD until doing 65mph on the highway, as it seems to lug the engine otherwise. I figure the engine in the Taurus will handle revs better than the tranny will handle low rpm loads.
"Why do some if not most pickups have higher payload capacities with ATs than with MTs? My little 4-banger Frontier had a higher payload than the big, bad, 4wd, V6, MT trucks."
I assumed AT vs MT in my previous reply, everything else being equal. Another difference, assuming the same model, is that load is essentially determined by the axles. A V6 is heavier than than 4 cyl, a crew cab is heavier than a regular cab, a long bed heavier than a short bed, 4x4 heavier than 2wd, all of which detracts from payload capacity. If you're comparing different makes and models you need to look at all of those variables when considering payload and towing capacity.
When I bought a 3/4 ton 4x4 pickup the first thing that a friend did was to look at the axles.
I assumed AT vs MT in my previous reply, everything else being equal. Another difference, assuming the same model, is that load is essentially determined by the axles. A V6 is heavier than than 4 cyl, a crew cab is heavier than a regular cab, a long bed heavier than a short bed, 4x4 heavier than 2wd, all of which detracts from payload capacity. If you're comparing different makes and models you need to look at all of those variables when considering payload and towing capacity.
When I bought a 3/4 ton 4x4 pickup the first thing that a friend did was to look at the axles.
My car has 80hp. It weighs 3200lb.
It has a clutch.
'Nuff said.
It has a clutch.
'Nuff said.
My car has 55 hp. It weighs 2100 lbs.
It has a clutch.
You can laugh at me now.
Honestly I think some manual snobbery is related to it being an old-school design. Any time a new way of doing anything comes out, there'll be some who cling to the old way and insist it's better than the new. Just a human resistance to change.
If cars were originally automatics and a manual was a new invention, we'd have people insisting "I don't trust them thar new-fangled stick dee-vices. I'm gonna drive me a nice automatic 'til the day I die, just like my great-grand-pappy did!" as a single nostalgic tear rolls down their cheek.
Reminds me of a comedy skit I saw a while back. "Everyone talks about the Internet just because it's new. If the Internet was invented a long time ago and phones were new, everyone would be saying 'Forget the Internet, man. Have you got a phone? You can actually hear what the person is saying!'"
It has a clutch.
You can laugh at me now.
Honestly I think some manual snobbery is related to it being an old-school design. Any time a new way of doing anything comes out, there'll be some who cling to the old way and insist it's better than the new. Just a human resistance to change.
If cars were originally automatics and a manual was a new invention, we'd have people insisting "I don't trust them thar new-fangled stick dee-vices. I'm gonna drive me a nice automatic 'til the day I die, just like my great-grand-pappy did!" as a single nostalgic tear rolls down their cheek.
Reminds me of a comedy skit I saw a while back. "Everyone talks about the Internet just because it's new. If the Internet was invented a long time ago and phones were new, everyone would be saying 'Forget the Internet, man. Have you got a phone? You can actually hear what the person is saying!'"
I like driving a car with a manual transmission because then I don't get involved in ATF arguments like the ones going on in this thread.
"If cars were originally automatics and a manual was a new invention, we'd have people insisting "I don't trust them thar new-fangled stick dee-vices. I'm gonna drive me a nice automatic 'til the day I die, just like my great-grand-pappy did!" as a single nostalgic tear rolls down their cheek."
I'd agree if automatics were more reliable, more durable, lower cost, provided better performance, etc., but that's not the case.
I'd agree if automatics were more reliable, more durable, lower cost, provided better performance, etc., but that's not the case.
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There have been auto-shifters for bicyles in the past:
http://www2.bsn.de/Cycling/articles/browning.html
There was a commercial auto-5-speed available about 15 years ago, but I don't remember the brand.
Shimano has a modern, computer-controlled auto-shifter with derailleur power assist:
http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2001/08/45788
Not thanks, I say. I like to shift myself into the gear I want and when I want.
http://www2.bsn.de/Cycling/articles/browning.html
There was a commercial auto-5-speed available about 15 years ago, but I don't remember the brand.
Shimano has a modern, computer-controlled auto-shifter with derailleur power assist:
http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2001/08/45788
Not thanks, I say. I like to shift myself into the gear I want and when I want.
No kidding. I'm willing to drive a car with an auto, but I think I'd rather walk than have a bicycle determine my cadence for me!
I'd think riding that bike would be a cussfest. Those designers 'programmed' it to shift when THEY think it should, which is likely not when I would want it to. I would hope there's a manual override for when it chooses a gear that's too high.
Here's another reason why I like stick shifts...
http://www.11alive.com/news/article_news.aspx?storyid=98873
http://www.11alive.com/news/article_news.aspx?storyid=98873
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