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Lamborghini Killing Manual Transmissions, But Who Cares?
By Nelson Ireson
Editor
July 8th, 2011
The demise of the manual transmission has been greatly exaggerated for years now, and continues to be, even as carmakers like Porsche tack on a seventh gear and Nissan sells its SynchroRev match system. At Lamborghini, however, the manual transmission appears to be done, with automated manuals, like the new ISR pictured below, the only offerings. But will anyone really care?
The news comes from an interview at Motor Trend with Maurizio Reggiani, head of R&D for Lamborghini, who characterizes the manual transmission as a disconnect in the otherwise electronic chain of command that "harmonizes absolutely everything that happens between the engine combustion chamber and the tire contact patch." Introducing the human error element means the system will never function as well as it could. That makes perfect sense, but what about the enjoyment drivers extract from handling the gears themselves?
That is unlikely to matter to any Lamborghini owners. As Motor Trend senior editor Jonny Lieberman noted on his Facebook page, "I asked a guy at Lambo Beverly Hills once how many manual Murcielagos they'd sold over ever. Answer: 1." That's right--over the whole model run of the Murcielago, the dealership sold just one with a manual transmission.
Given the speed and precision of the modern robotized manuals and dual-clutches out there, it's clear that the manual transmission is no longer the best solution for ultimate performance. All that stands in the way of the stick shift's complete elimination is the "purist" enthusiast who refuses to let go of that element of skill and control, or who simply enjoys the process. But that must be weighed against the overall experience of the car, taken through the lens of the manufacturer, and against real-world performance.
We understand the desire to drive a manual, but we can't say we're sad to see it go at Lamborghini--the bulls will still rage as hard as ever, perhaps even more so, as they continue to push the envelope of materials, performance, and technology as in the new Aventador.
I'm slightly relieved to read that... it annoys the hell out of me when someone comes up to me and says "my DSG paddle shifters can shift faster than you can!"
With less and less cars offering a manual transmission and less and less people able to drive one it makes driving a stick just a bit more special for me.
lol... buddy of mine got into the drivers seat of my car
"dude how to do I get outta P?"
This is the part where you go and when he says "no dude I know how to drive stick" you go And then you kick him out with Finally he gives in . And then you show him how it is done so he can
__________________ ⇐ If I bothered replying, that's the face I made while I typed.
Can't dump the clutch in a DSG or SMG gearbox. Which means the potential for "hanging your ass end out in a corner" is greatly reduced. And anything that reduces your potential for "fun" sucks.
Can't dump the clutch in a DSG or SMG gearbox. Which means the potential for "hanging your ass end out in a corner" is greatly reduced. And anything that reduces your potential for "fun" sucks.
Err no... with SMGIII in our M3, you get something better than dumping the clutch - launch control. You of all people should know that hanging your ass out in the corner has nothing to do with a clutch unless you have a 75hp shitbox that needs a clutch kick to step out...
Mark
__________________ I'm old now - boring street cars and sweet race cars.
I just don't like giving up one of the few things left to control in a car - the gear you're in and the application of power via the clutch.
In twenty years we'll be sitting behind the wheel while your car takes you from A to B. What kind of fun is that going to be? I say shame on Lamborghini for making a beast of a car and taking away the option for a driver to shift themselves. I guess this shows what the true demographic of a Lamborghini driver is these days - a poseur as opposed to an enthusiast. Posted via RS Mobile
People always ask me; why do you drive stick? there's so much traffic in Vancouver, manual is so painful in traffic.
Maybe I'm not old enough yet, but the "ease" in traffic of an auto over a manual, to me at least, is marginal at best.
I guess this shows what the true demographic of a Lamborghini driver is these days - a poseur as opposed to an enthusiast. Posted via RS Mobile
Unfortunately, that's so true that even Lamborghini admits it. Didn't you remember the commercial for the Gallardo a few years ago, when the guy driving around automatically saw the phone numbers of women on the street?
People always ask me; why do you drive stick? there's so much traffic in Vancouver, manual is so painful in traffic.
Maybe I'm not old enough yet, but the "ease" in traffic of an auto over a manual, to me at least, is marginal at best.
+1 friends who are having a hard time learning always ask me how I DD with a manual in DT, but most of the time I don't even think about it. Honestly I don't think it's such a big deal on or off the track, making perfect shifts is nowhere near as satisfying as clipping apexes properly and cornering at high speeds.
If you've driven manual anywhere outside of vancouver, you can do it here. On a sidenote, anyone else kinda disappointed need for speed hot pursuit doesnt have manual tranny mode?
__________________
I'm so stance my roof rack got a roof rack
+1 friends who are having a hard time learning always ask me how I DD with a manual in DT, but most of the time I don't even think about it. Honestly I don't think it's such a big deal on or off the track, making perfect shifts is nowhere near as satisfying as clipping apexes properly and cornering at high speeds.
Correction,
Heel toe downshifting into corners perfectly, clipping apexes and exiting corner's at highspeed while up shifting like a boss is the most satisfying thing ever.
I don't care that the flappy paddle is seconds faster around a track. I drive for fun.
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and when he says "no dude I know how to drive stick" you go 
And then you kick him out with 
Finally he gives in 
. And then you show him how it is done so he can 
while I'm like 
rolling thru all 
and then everyone is 
You of all people should know that hanging your ass out in the corner has nothing to do with a clutch unless you have a 75hp shitbox that needs a clutch kick to step out...
