Stick or no stick as we get older

[toms68cst]

I gotta add, we are renting a new VW Tiguan on our vacation now and the automatic transmission is really different. It shifts like a semi pulling away from a stop. By the time you are across the intersection, it's already in third ready to go to fourth at about 20mph. It feels and sounds like there is a little man inside activating the clutch and taking off the throttle as it shifts. It's first gear is like the granny gear in my truck.

How many stinking gears does a 3000 lb crossover SUV really need these days???

[chevmn]

Originally Posted by toms68cst

I gotta add, we are renting a new VW Tiguan on our vacation now and the automatic transmission is really different. It shifts like a semi pulling away from a stop. By the time you are across the intersection, it's already in third ready to go to fourth at about 20mph. It feels and sounds like there is a little man inside activating the clutch and taking off the throttle as it shifts. It's first gear is like the granny gear in my truck.

How many stinking gears does a 3000 lb crossover SUV really need these days???

My pickup has a 6 speed auto, and I have always felt like it has one too many gears. 5 and 6 are overdriven and it is under 2000 RPM at 70 going down the Interstate. I won't go into the AFM it has (4 cyl mode), which I have bypassed, and makes it much more drivable. Wish I had bought the 3/4 ton at the time which did not yet have that "feature". It does average over 19 mpg, which is not bad considering it is a full size ext. cab 4x4. It does better with that AFM off.

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by toms68cst

I gotta add, we are renting a new VW Tiguan on our vacation now and the automatic transmission is really different. It shifts like a semi pulling away from a stop. By the time you are across the intersection, it's already in third ready to go to fourth at about 20mph. It feels and sounds like there is a little man inside activating the clutch and taking off the throttle as it shifts. It's first gear is like the granny gear in my truck.

How many stinking gears does a 3000 lb crossover SUV really need these days???

Many, when the engine is a puny little 6(?) cylinder that depends on RPMs and electronic controls to make the power.

[jjzepplin]

Originally Posted by chevmn

My pickup has a 6 speed auto, and I have always felt like it has one too many gears. 5 and 6 are overdriven and it is under 2000 RPM at 70 going down the Interstate. I won't go into the AFM it has (4 cyl mode), which I have bypassed, and makes it much more drivable. Wish I had bought the 3/4 ton at the time which did not yet have that "feature". It does average over 19 mpg, which is not bad considering it is a full size ext. cab 4x4. It does better with that AFM off.

I am not happy with my 6 speed auto. I think it needs a shift kit or something. 2014 GMC.

[72c20customcamper]

My mom bought a Grand Cherokee in 2019it has an 8 speed trans . I hate it as its constantly shifting .

[gmc684x4]

LOL Grumpy yes the only time I hated my 6 speed z28 was the week I picked it up in the big city 1st 4th start stop it was on a Friday to boot light to light bothered me more then in my 69 4x4 in the city

Fleet vehicles are almost always auto due to the fact so many folk nowadays do not know how to shift never mind start driving from a stop on a steep hill

[jjzepplin]

Was that the "Skip shift"?

[chevmn]

Originally Posted by jjzepplin

I am not happy with my 6 speed auto. I think it needs a shift kit or something. 2014 GMC.

1/2 ton? I assume it has the AFM (goes into 4 cylinder mode)..... As I mentioned I disabled with one of the AFM disablers (google Range AFM disable). My truck constantly shifted due to the fact it went into 4 cyl mode, and almost immediately downshifted, so it was constantly fighting to stay in right gear. Once I put the Range on it, it stays in gear, and I am much happier, and it actually gets better gas mileage.

[Accelo]

Originally Posted by jjzepplin

Was that the "Skip shift"?

For corporate mileage reasons the 6speed manual mandated a 1 to 3 shift unless you had more than a certain percentage of throttle applied. The aftermarket almost immediately came out with a bypass so it would shift normally without the lock out. It was a simple bypass and keep people from having to pay for the, mileage penalty, added to the vehicle sticker here in the USA.