Until more manufacturers start designing pedal layout to support exclusive left foot braking the buttons/paddles and even the up and down traditional gearsticks are just a gimmick.Quote:
Originally Posted by planetdavo
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Until more manufacturers start designing pedal layout to support exclusive left foot braking the buttons/paddles and even the up and down traditional gearsticks are just a gimmick.Quote:
Originally Posted by planetdavo
What's wrong with the pedals as they are? I left foot brake sometimes. It's always interesting to start out with because you always forget that you have less fine motor control in your left leg and invariably brake way too hard, but it's all goodQuote:
Originally Posted by zorro
This is where hybrid technology could be good...
V8 with manual transmission, RWD LSD WITH a small ~50kw electric motor powering the front wheels supplied by a lithium battery pack. Work commute = Electric motor (When the manual is the problem). Every other time = V8/manual.
Could even go a step further and have a generator connected to the front of the engine (similar to the 4WD Ferrari), so when batteries run low you start the V8 (leave it in neutral) which charges them up on the fly. Sort of like the volt concept expect in a car you actually want to buy....
With electric drive by wire throttles these days you could easily switch between "modes"....
My knee hits the steering column, dunno what is is with Aussie cars and having the pedals as far right as possible and accelerator sitting further in.
If you had the pedals further to centre of the car and left foot braked its more natural feel and you would adjust pretty quick
Fair enough. I'm not tall enough to smash my knee :(Quote:
Originally Posted by zorro
The accelerator pedal I agree with. I can heel-toe rev match in my Subaru but not in the Maloo
I was taught to drive autos ..with left foot brakingQuote:
Originally Posted by zorro
and given that auto brake pedals are usually twice as wide as manual pedal cars... I never have an issue left foot braking :)
i had an argument with the insurance company as my ute is 6 speed auto with the slickshift, not a manual or semi-auto. (even in 'manual mode' it'll kick to a different gear)Quote:
Originally Posted by steve_t
I might write up a guide, but its very easy to bend the accelerator pedal into a better position. I did it in my VX... Took a few goes but eventually got the position exactly right. Best mod you can do (if its manual).Quote:
Originally Posted by steve_t
unfortunately on VE...Holden stopped this. Try bending the pedal bracket will break it (its made of rigid plastic!)Quote:
Originally Posted by feistl
but I know where you are coming from...this mod was one I did on the race car
heel and toe now easypeasy :)
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...SC00691a19.jpg
After driving a Ferrari f430 f1 and Lamborghini gallardo flappy paddle, I can say they are a lot more fun than my 6spd manual in the SS. I truly love the speed that the gear changes are made it with a flip of the wrist.
dQuote:
Originally Posted by Smitty
Dont want to upset the VE owners, but is there anything good about the VE? Seriously? Ive driven a number of them (ranging from the base up to the calais and SSV) and ive been massively disappointed. Give me a top spec VZ anyday....
Ive driven a Gallardo with the flappy paddle and was very unimpressed. First gear launches were "rough" and i was surprised at the lack of power. A flappy paddle might be a fun novelty... but id never own one.Quote:
Originally Posted by evil_ss
I'm unsure on your ride but the Ferrari was definitely the sharper of the two including the gearbox.Quote:
Originally Posted by feistl
The Lamborghini felt like you needed to mash the pedal in first, so I'm assuming that's what you are referring to.
Real drivers use a clutch :)
The main reason for the plastic pedal is actually to do with safety. They are designed to break if required in a big accident, whereas the old metal type are more likely to bust your ankles.Quote:
Originally Posted by feistl
It's cheaper too. No doubt a large factorQuote:
Originally Posted by planetdavo
Also vz went to fly by wire so no need for steel pedal for rigidity. Would be good if we adopted the euro style pedals with the pivot on the floor.Quote:
Originally Posted by planetdavo
I bolted a small ally block on my utes accelerator, that was enough to get heel toe working without doing some yoga to change gears.
It's funny I've had a go of a Fezza and like the roughness of it, that's a genuine semi auto. The things in Holden's are just an auto with electric selector that enables use of all gears.
Errol - it's fair to say the Ferrari/lambo can't be compared to an auto. The don't use torque converters, elec hydraulic clutches are a totally different kettle of fish
I have driven a Ferrari with the flappy paddlesQuote:
Originally Posted by evil_ss
boring as...just like steering an arcade game, no brains required!
Very true. I guess my point was i jumped in to this ultra expensive lambo expecting to be totally blown away... Took it for a drive and found a nice straight bit of private road... From a standing start i planted my foot expecting it to feel like an riding the shock wave of an exploding star... and it wasnt what i was expecting. The gearbox was slow to get going, the power was good, but not amazing. The shifts were relatively slow (I reckon i could be as fast with a proper manual) and i was just a bit disappointed. My expectations were probably a bit high (As it was an average 2005 lambo i think).Quote:
Originally Posted by zorro
Just having a look through the latest Wheels mag and it isn't just Manual V8 sedans that are becoming rare. On the Australian market if you want a normal manual 6cyl sedan you have a choice of Falcon XR6/Turbo/F6, the Commodore SV6 and the base Lexus IS250. The new BMW series sedan doesn't have any manual choices, although the old 3 series coupe did. As per a previous comment about Euro market BMW 7 series having manual gearboxs, I'd imagine manuals are a bit more prevalent in Europe, but they certainly are getting thin on the ground. Manuals are the preserve of 4 cyls nowadays.
Cheers, Matthew
I guess F1 drivers, rally car drivers etc must have no brains....Quote:
Originally Posted by Smitty
F1 cars are so quick now you couldn't drive them without the paddles.Quote:
Originally Posted by evil_ss
Ferrari and Lambos are just produced to follow this technology as a marketing thing. They are quicker than manuals but if they were true drivers car they would sell them as manuals too, but people who buy those cars don't want the manual gearbox.
Rally cars still have a clutch but use a sequential box which is arguably still manual.
I get what you are saying, as I love driving my manual, but you say true drivers cars are full manual- well that cancels out a lot of the super cars in existence. I believe it is the way of the future and manuals are heading towards extinction.Quote:
Originally Posted by JuiceSSV
100%.. I only bought my v8 manual ute as they are living on borrowed time. Wanted one as a kid in high school, give it 10 years they probably won't be sold anymore.
I did one of those supercars drive days a few weeks back and came away thinking that the 911, R8 and Vantage would all have been better as manuals. The F430 on the other hand is just such an OMG experience to drive that the lack of manual transmission just didn't matter.
I don't doubt cheaper.Quote:
Originally Posted by macca_779
But look at where the world has been heading for years now, with 5 star ANCAP/NCAP ratings considered very important to many buyers. Leg injuries are a factor in reaching these 5 star results, so many cars now feature "breakaway pedals" to improve the rating. As does VE.
No conspiracy theories required. ;)
"Progress" isn't always "better". Is the planet actually a happier place since technology invaded our lives from every angle possible? Nope.Quote:
Originally Posted by evil_ss
In the case of supercars, many of the buyers are rich people that probably couldn't drive a "proper" manual car if they tried. Not to mention wanting to have something different to the common folk that only spend 10% of what they did on a car, so they can feel all superior and all. :)
my comments were based on having driven the Ferrari road car with paddlesQuote:
Originally Posted by evil_ss
... as a comparison against my MANUAL SSv and my son-in-laws MANUAL Ferrari 360
and yes it really needs no brains to steer the flappy paddle version
it was not a comparison based on competition vehicles
I did a thorough search on carsales for a used manual Holden v8 (ls1 and newer) and found that most people are asking at least 3-5k more for the manuals. If someone's looking for one with low kms in a manual they'll be hard pressed to find one at a decent price. Becoming rare even in older models.
I gotta say I'm a fan of the flappy paddles in the Ferrari. I did one of those super car drive days as well which had a Gallardo (manual) and a 360 (flappy paddle). I thought the Gallardo was going to be the nicer one to drive and experience as it was the newer car and manual. Instead I fell in love with the Ferrari. The Gallardo was great and had a nice sound etc etc. but for some reason I didn't feel comfortable in it. The ferarri on the other hand felt like a glove. Everything about it made me feel comfortable from the get go and made me feel like the best driver in the world. That said not all flappy pedals are created equal. Have a go at an Alfa 147 GTA selespeed (different from their normal selespeeds so don't be confused with a base 147) but that thing was an aboslute dog in traffic. I think it would be at home on a track but I was test driving through the CBD at the time. Hated it.
My thoughts on why manuals are getting shown the door. The power in cars these days is getting to the point that the clutches required to handle the oomph are getting too heavy for a factory show room car. New generation gear boxes are now quicker than what a person can shift these days. And finally the driveability and ease of use factor for all types of driving is there with a twitch of a finger. I understand peoples perception of how fun a manual is (I am one too, my clubby is manual) but these new gen DSG's and dual clutch gearboxes are really quite good. Punt one hard through some of the twisties and I think they still demand the same amount of concentration if not more. It's too easy to slap that paddle too many times and get the gear wrong in these if you're not used to it.
u don't need no stinking clutch ,lol , use to get the weirdest look when upshifting sans clutch .Quote:
Originally Posted by JuiceSSV
Fair call but you still need it to get off the line, whether you use it for up shifts is optional :)Quote:
Originally Posted by XUV
A sh!t driver will usually find a way to their their "talent" shine through, no matter what the car. Thinks like all wheel drive and flappy paddles just mask it a bit longer...:eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by HSV,_I_GOT_ONE
Yeah, but that's sort of always been the case. The manuals get better values than autos in the used market. Especially in performance / sports cars.Quote:
Originally Posted by charlie15
It's all subjective of course but I've had a VY SV8 (26,000km), 2 VZ SSs (30,000+km total) and two VE SSVs (sedan and ute, 80,000+km total) all autos due to having no choice with my disabilities and after driving them day in, day out over 9 years IMHO the VEs have been hands down the better cars to drive. In particular every time I get in the ute I have a big smile on my face because it just goes, sounds and handles so well. :woohoo: The A6 has been tuned by Chev and particularly with the extra oil capacity with the Cadillac A6 pan is smooth and decisive.Quote:
Originally Posted by feistl
It took me ages to find my manual VZ R8, especially in the colour I wanted (Devil Yellow). Even the people that arent into their cars as much as other people have cottened on to the fact that the stick versions are worth a little more as their harder to come by. I guess it makes the bargaining process just that litle more challenging ;)
I agree with Wonky, VE's are in another class compared to previous models.
Out of curiosity, what did these modifications end up costing?Quote:
Originally Posted by Wonky
pfft , mere technicality , lol .......Quote:
Originally Posted by JuiceSSV
My old HQ 253 with aus 4 could be driven without clutch, even from a standstill provided there was no hills :lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by XUV
Ive got one people can have because im selling :D Very rare, manual...... ss........
In the "Filling 6L80E" thread people mentioned getting the Caddy pan, filter and gasket landed here for around $A170 (IIRC). Weld some baffles in to stop surge/starvation under heavy acceleration and do the swap (or have it done). I bought 3 x 4 litres Dexron VI, not sure how much Chev used but any left over will still be there for me. Basically, depending on how much you can do yourself around $300 - $500. Probably eliminates the need for a transmission cooler because with the extra capacity I've not seen my trans temp go over 80C in normal driving (which is all I ever do - with my disabilities I can't give my car a hard time except for the rare burst of WOT in a straight line).Quote:
Originally Posted by Drizt