Stingray
CCCUK Member
Shift times are part of the performance picture and, as you say, differ between modes whether the mode is selected by the driver using the controls or by the transmission making up its own mind.
A paddle-driver in 8th gear who wants to select 4th has to make four separate gearchanges in a row 8-7-6-5-4, he can't pre-select 4th and then push a button to command a single change. GM put some of the ratios very close together to maximise efficiency and clicking through them can be a time consuming process.
An auto driver who jumps on the throttle will tell the transmission to shift just once 8-4. (Don't hold me to those specific gears, some gears can be skipped and some can't.) In gentle driving 2nd gear is usually skipped in cruise-down to a stop.
Between 3rd gear and 7th gear the ratios are close together. At WOT the driver typically sees only small changes of rpm as the car accelerates on engine torque with the gearbox picking ideal ratios. The actual "in gear" time for some ratios is short before the transmission shifts again. It'll already be in 5th gear at the end of a standing quarter mile, 3rd-4th-5th being achieved within 2,000 rpm (i.e. 4,500 to 6,500).
A paddle-driver in 8th gear who wants to select 4th has to make four separate gearchanges in a row 8-7-6-5-4, he can't pre-select 4th and then push a button to command a single change. GM put some of the ratios very close together to maximise efficiency and clicking through them can be a time consuming process.
An auto driver who jumps on the throttle will tell the transmission to shift just once 8-4. (Don't hold me to those specific gears, some gears can be skipped and some can't.) In gentle driving 2nd gear is usually skipped in cruise-down to a stop.
Between 3rd gear and 7th gear the ratios are close together. At WOT the driver typically sees only small changes of rpm as the car accelerates on engine torque with the gearbox picking ideal ratios. The actual "in gear" time for some ratios is short before the transmission shifts again. It'll already be in 5th gear at the end of a standing quarter mile, 3rd-4th-5th being achieved within 2,000 rpm (i.e. 4,500 to 6,500).
