Question:

>Why don’t car makers offer 5 speed autos?

A 5-Speed auto is standard on every Mercedes-Benz, excepet the SLK, where it is an option. Ford has 5-Speed autos on certain Explorer, Moutaineer, and Rangers, and the old Aerostar had a 5-Spd auto. The Ford-built Mazda B-Series has a 5-Speed auto too. Along with the VW Passat,the 5-Speed  Tiptronic is also avilable on the Audi A4 and the 2000 Audi A6 2.8 sedan and 2000 Audi TT 1.8 coupe. It is standard on the Audi A6 2.7, Audi A6 4.2, Audi A6 2.8  Avant, Audi A8, and optional on all Porschse models. Chrysler will soon use 5-speed autos, and Lexus and BMW use them on many of thier models. Mark Herzberg

Response:

Don’t forget the upcoming Toyota MR-Spyder coming out next year.  I was pretty depressed when the they stopped making the MR-2s.  The MR-Spyders are coming with a 5speed auto-stick. Thanks! Alex M. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Why don’t car makers offer 5 speed autos? >A 5-Speed auto is standard on every Mercedes-Benz, excepet the SLK, where it is >an option. Ford has 5-Speed autos on certain Explorer, Moutaineer, and Rangers, >and the old Aerostar had a 5-Spd auto. The Ford-built Mazda B-Series has a >5-Speed auto too. Along with the VW Passat,the 5-Speed  Tiptronic is also >avilable on the Audi A4 and the 2000 Audi A6 2.8 sedan and 2000 Audi TT 1.8 >coupe. It is standard on the Audi A6 2.7, Audi A6 4.2, Audi A6 2.8  Avant, Audi >A8, and optional on all Porschse models. Chrysler will soon use 5-speed autos, >and Lexus and BMW use them on many of thier models. >Mark Herzberg

Response:

>A 5speed auto is generally too ‘busy’.

Nah, just too expensive for the non-luxury market. The best conventional automatic I’ve driven is the one in the Audi A6.  It ranks just below the worst manual I’ve driven, a 3-on-the-tree with a shot clutch in a 1970s Plymouth. If I ever lose the use of a limb, and can’t get a CVT, I’ll take a 5-speed auto over a 4-speed any day.  Another ratio is more important than fewer shifts. — spamgard(tm): To email me, put "geek" in your Subject line.

Response:

A 5speed auto is generally too ‘busy’. — Gareth 98 Honda Civic Si Honda Acura Drivers Association http://hada.homepage.ca

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Does it really have 5 gears?  Or is 4th considered 4th gear with the torque > lock > converter off and 5th gear is really 4th gear with the torque lock converter > on?  With the torque lock converter off in a 4th gear, it will rev a little > higher.  Or does it have 5 actual gears, with a 4th and 5th gear?  In that > case, does the converter go on in 4th and 5th gear or just 5th gear > (overdrive)? > Why don’t car makers offer 5 speed autos?  I think the 5 speed auto in the > Passat is really cool.  I prefer autos over manuals because I don’t like > shifting all the time in the city and prefer a less jerky ride for myself and > my passengers.  But I hate having just 4 gears.  I wish I was able to manually > unlock the torque converter without pressing on the gas…using the gas only > unlocks it for a few seconds and you also have to keep increasing your speed. > Sometimes when I’m in the mountains I don’t really want to be in 3rd because > the revs will be too high, but in 4th, because it’s geared to rev so low, > there’s not enough power to climb the hill…well, there is, but I don’t want > it to strain the engine. > Does it really cost that much more to produce a 5spd auto compared to a 4spd > auto? > Also does anyone know why in a manual transmission the car is so willing to > roll back than in an auto?  Some autos won’t roll back at all.

Response:

Does it really have 5 gears?  Or is 4th considered 4th gear with the torque lock converter off and 5th gear is really 4th gear with the torque lock converter on?  With the torque lock converter off in a 4th gear, it will rev a little higher.  Or does it have 5 actual gears, with a 4th and 5th gear?  In that case, does the converter go on in 4th and 5th gear or just 5th gear (overdrive)?   Why don’t car makers offer 5 speed autos?  I think the 5 speed auto in the Passat is really cool.  I prefer autos over manuals because I don’t like shifting all the time in the city and prefer a less jerky ride for myself and my passengers.  But I hate having just 4 gears.  I wish I was able to manually unlock the torque converter without pressing on the gas…using the gas only unlocks it for a few seconds and you also have to keep increasing your speed. Sometimes when I’m in the mountains I don’t really want to be in 3rd because the revs will be too high, but in 4th, because it’s geared to rev so low, there’s not enough power to climb the hill…well, there is, but I don’t want it to strain the engine. Does it really cost that much more to produce a 5spd auto compared to a 4spd auto? Also does anyone know why in a manual transmission the car is so willing to roll back than in an auto?  Some autos won’t roll back at all.  

Response: