Too many gears?

[Saleen836]

What is the point of an auto gearbox with 10 gears?

A close friend has an auto with 10 gears and it just seems to never know what gear it wants to be in (It's a Ford) are they all a bit like this as to me it just seems pointless, what was wrong with 6 gears?

[Mars]

Saleen836 said:

What is the point of an auto gearbox with 10 gears?

A close friend has an auto with 10 gears and it just seems to never know what gear it wants to be in (It's a Ford) are they all a bit like this as to me it just seems pointless, what was wrong with 6 gears?

9-speed Mercs don't suffer with this. Also, the changes are quick and smooth.

[MikeM6]

As I understand it, more gears means fewer compromises between efficiency and performance. You can have more shorter ratio and still retain the taller gear ratios. With 6 you have to choose between them, with 10 you can have both.

[GeniusOfLove]

MikeM6 said:

As I understand it, more gears means fewer compromises between efficiency and performance. You can have more shorter ratio and still retain the taller gear ratios. With 6 you have to choose between them, with 10 you can have both.

This is the theory, in reality there is an awful lot of shuffling about going on.

With a little turbo engine (diesel or petrol) with a tiny power band it can help keep the thing on the boil but it's nothing but an irritation on a powerful engine.

The 10 speed in a 5.0 Mustang is absolutely crap. The ZF8 is still the best autobox in the business, even as they've revised it into the 3rd generation they haven't felt the need to add more ratios.

[stevieturbo]

Saleen836 said:

What is the point of an auto gearbox with 10 gears?

A close friend has an auto with 10 gears and it just seems to never know what gear it wants to be in (It's a Ford) are they all a bit like this as to me it just seems pointless, what was wrong with 6 gears?

Same as what is the point of a bicycle with 10, 15, 20 gears.

to make the most efficient use of whatever power or power band that is available, and often to also assist with emissions compliance, keeping the engine operating range in a "cleaner" more stable environment


Will they always get it right for every user ? No. But it probably meets emissions testing for every test.

If they get it right it can be very good. Smaller lighter vehicles, less of an issue. Larger heavy vehicles, especially those that tow or haul loads, again more important.

Although even a small light vehicle with a tiny weedy crap engine, will benefit from more gears, much as the bicycle will with a crap "engine"

[Hustle_]

It could be worse. CVTs are making a big comeback.

[GeniusOfLove]

stevieturbo said:

. But it probably meets emissions testing for every test.

I think that's the crux of it. As with so many recent developments in cars the focus is on meeting legislation not making the vehicle a better product for the consumer, every gram of CO2 per KM you can knock off your tested emissions is a really big deal.