http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/ Autoblog Comments for Audi and BMW to utilize 8-speed gearboxes to take on Lexus http://www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/May 12th 2008 3:02PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/May 12th 2008 3:14PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/May 12th 2008 3:50PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/May 12th 2008 3:39PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/more gears in the same space = smaller gears = less durable. more gears = more shifting = increased wear on clutch packs and shift mechanisms. more gears = car is always shifting = unsettling driving experience for those used to a more normal amount of shifts. more gears = more shifting = higher transmission temps from more frequent activity = shorter lifespan or need for additional cooling capacity.
and the list goes on...]]>May 12th 2008 4:09PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/May 12th 2008 4:20PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/May 12th 2008 4:31PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/May 12th 2008 5:01PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/
Pmiddle - manual transmissions are typically lighter than an automatic of equal gears. Manuals can be faster than their auto counterparts as well but it requires an experienced driver rather than just placing a brick on the gas. ]]>May 12th 2008 9:21PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/May 12th 2008 6:47PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/May 12th 2008 7:03PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/May 13th 2008 11:10AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/May 12th 2008 3:03PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/May 12th 2008 3:05PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/May 12th 2008 3:22PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/May 12th 2008 3:46PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/
"...the eight ratios felt like too many, and in the twisties, we frequently found ourselves glancing at the gear indicator in the gauge cluster to discern which cog we were in."

Makes sense to me. 6 is really about all you need, I think- 4 close ratios for fun stuff, then gears 5 and 6 for long distance, high speed, low RPM cruising. 8? Really? I hope this pissing contest just ends soon. It's pointless. Just give us a 6 speed manual!]]>May 12th 2008 3:47PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/May 12th 2008 7:49PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/May 12th 2008 3:06PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/audi-and-bmw-to-utilize-8-speed-gearboxes-to-take-on-lexus/
look at the ZF auto transmission in the 335i

fantastic auto

they only use the getrag ones in the lower models (328i?)

and I think even those ones have been improved]]>May 12th 2008 3:25PM