Re: alfa-digest V9 #269

[George Graves <gmgraves@domain.elided>]

I'm sure its a factor, but the big, low revving American cast-iron 
engine came out well before the automatic transmission. BTW, I contend 
that Automatics are the main reason for the traffic tie-ups and 
slow-downs that we have anytime are roads get even a little crowded 
here in the USA.
Automatics, due to their torque converters give little or no engine 
braking. So a guy feels that he is a little too close to the car in 
front of him, he is forced to apply his brakes momentarily rather than 
lifting-off, because lifting-off does nothing to retard his speed. The 
guy behind him sees the first guy's brake lights come on, and not 
knowing whether this is just a touch or a panic stop, hits his brakes 
even harder until he sees that the brake application in front of him is 
just momentary, then he relaxes, but the guy behind HIM applies his 
brakes even harder, because the second guy's brakes were on longer than 
the first guy's. This multiplies back down the line until twenty-some 
cars back somebody (and everyone after him) has to stop. Outlaw 
automatics in the USA and traffic flow will improve by orders of 
magnitude (not a suggestion, by the way, just a statement of the effect 
of such a law).

George Graves
'86 GTV-6
"Wouldn't own a car with an automatic if you gave it to me."


On Sunday, Feb 16, 2003, at 12:20 US/Pacific, alfa-digest wrote:


> Date: Sun, 16 Feb 2003 12:17:50 -0500
> From: Bob K <alfabob@domain.elided>
> Subject: Large OHV vs. Small OHC Engines--Another View
>
> I'm a man of a few words. Having read with great interest the recent
> discussion on the US use of large, relatively slow OHV engines vs. the
> rest of the world's preference for smaller, relatively high-revving OHC
> engines, I have one thought that nobody else seems to have expressed
> yet.
>
> High torque at relatively low revs is ideally suited to automatic
> transmissions. Sybaritic America loves automatic trannies. Smaller,
> high-revving engines aren't nearly as much fun with automatics, but
> somehow Americans have become convinced that shifting is work. And
> smaller engines can generally be counted on to get better fuel mileage,
> too. Even with our recently escalating gasoline prices, we still have
> cheap fuel. A nation of sybarites with cheap fuel will logically prefer
> what the majority of American manufacturers make, large, slow engines
> with automatic trannies. QED.
>
> Sorry for the waste of bandwidth if somebody else said this already.
>
> Bob K
> Reston, VA
> '61 Giulietta Spider
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