> Then what do you do when starting and stopping?  If you want an 
> automatic box, just get one - there's lots of
> reasons why automatics aren't just a manual box with actuators!  :-)

But the "best" ones are. ie when "real" people (red cars with 12 or 
more cylinders and images of prancing horses come to mind *) make auto 
changing or tip-tronic style systems they add actuators (usually 
hydraulic) to a manual box. The principle advantage of an automatic 
system is arguably the torque converter which allows the engine to 
"reach below" the road speed range in a given gear which it otherwise 
would be able to. This is also in many ways its prime disadvantage - 
engine and wheels aren't totally talking to each other. The power loss 
in a modern auto transmission is not a major factor unless you want 
every ounce of power from a given engine. (An interesting unit of 
power, the ounce ;-) ).

Long long long ago Renault equipped the Renault Dauphine with an 
electromagnetically operated clutch which was gear lever activated - 
touch the gear lever and it would declutch. They had a manual** pedal 
operation as well AIR. I think the electric declutch was mainly 
intended for on the go changing. Used this way along with a manual 
change the operation could probably be on/off without too much 
disadvantage.



Russell McMahon

* There's a trap in there for the unwary ;-)

** Jinx and other linquistic pedants amongst us may conjure up 
interesting images of performing manual changes with a floor mounted 
clutch pedal.





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