are these changes better for all of us?

[GreyGoose006]

how much more weight and complexity does an 8 speed tranny have over a 5 speed. even a 6 speed.

seems like the extra weight would offset the performance of having 2-3 more gears.
unless the shifts are lightning quick, there is also time lost between gears, and in slippage to keep the jerkiness out.

[UncleBob]

some of the fancy new trannies are casset style trannies, using engine management to shift gears....ie, no clutch operation for a shift. The shifts are roughly .06 seconds....I read somewhere anyway. Not much lost time on a shift.

No clutch packs greatly reduces the complexity....mechanical complexity anyway.

Casset trannies are very compact and not all that heavy....bikes have been using them for decades.

[Steel]

Looking at the lexus site, it seemes to be your run-of-the mill planetary gearset type auto. Just with more bells and whistles. And gears.

[KiwiBacon]

Originally Posted by GreyGoose006

how much more weight and complexity does an 8 speed tranny have over a 5 speed. even a 6 speed.

seems like the extra weight would offset the performance of having 2-3 more gears.

That won't worry your average lexus buyer.

LEXUS = Luxury EXport US

[curtis73]

Originally Posted by GreyGoose006

someone on this forum once said that usually, a 7 or 8 speed tranny was really just a 4 speed that used the TC locking as another gear.
1 + slip = 1
1 locked = 2
2 + slip = 3
2 locked = 4
3 + slip = 5
3 locked = 6
ect...

is this true?
seems like BS to me.

Some may do that, but all the new 6+ speed trannys I've seen are all distinct ratios. The TC usually locks up independently of the gears. Whereas TCs used to lock up after reaching top gear, now most of them just generically lock up at X mph. I think Ford's new one locks up at 35 mph unless you go WOT.

[psychopathicdude]

Originally Posted by curtis73

Ford's new one locks up at 35 mph unless you...

"Can I get a WOT WOT??????"

This kind of mindless drivel will get me back on the dumbass list for sure....I mean, fo sho...

[UncleBob]

Originally Posted by psychopathicdude

"Can I get a WOT WOT??????"

This kind of mindless drivel will get me back on the dumbass list for sure....I mean, fo sho...

he means "new" as in comparing the time line to big-bang intervals