i`ll stick with my 18 speed.

 

You can get an 18 speed auto :wink:

 

then i`ll stick my 18 speed manual :wink:

 

10/4 teamster, i remember the first time i drove a full auto mack vision, dropped my landing gear, unlocked kingpin, undid my lines and got in the truck. Pulled a little forward took my foot off the accelerator for a second and truck rolled backward and relocked fifthwheel. Other than that I do like the auto though but there are times in lumberyards and other slick and muddy places where I am glad I have my stick.

 

I'm suprised these "Auto's" haven't taken off big time in the states. No disrespect meant but the transmissions you guys are using here were phased out about 15 years ago in Europe. All European manual transmission are fully syncromesh (just like a car) and there's none of that double clutching or shifting by the tach gauge nonsense, that's all considered prehistoric.
Alot of transmission there are "semi auto's" like Mercedes benz .."EPS" shift (Electro Pneumatic Shift". This is basically a short stubby shift lever with about an inch of travel forward and an inch backwards. You use the clutch to pull away then just push the lever forward once for an upshift to the next gear or twice for an upshift of 2 gears. A bit like a formula 1 paddle shift only with a shift knob instead of paddles. If you happen to mess up then you just have to knock the lever to the left and then forward again and it selects the right gear for the engine revs. Its basically idiot proof and can handle the torque of a 570 HP twin turbo V8 Mercedes motor.
Then theres the "SAM T" from German truck manufacturer M.A.N (first diesel trucks in the world I believe). The SAM T (Semi AutoMatic Transmission) shifts on a stalk attached to the steering column like a turn signal stalk. Push forward once for 1st and then again for 2nd. You can also push a few times if your running bobtail and want to skip a few gears and just flick the stalk back to downshift. Just like Mercedes EPS, the SAM T only requires the clutch pedal when pulling away from a dead stop, once your rolling you dont even have to take your foot off the gas to shift and dont have to use the clutch again until the vehicle comes to a stop.

I had a 460 HP M.A.N for a few years with the SAM T transmission and loved it....I will add that with a trans like that you certainly dont feel as fatiqued at the end of a hard day.

It took me abit of time to remaster what us Europeans call a "crash" box when I came to the states, I still play a few tunes on them. The ironic thing is I passed my UK CDL test using a transmission like this in 1989 and here I was again in 2006 not having used a "crash" box for nearly 15 years and taking another CDL test with one.

Another great transmission we used to have alot of in the UK was one we called the Eaton twin splitter. Just a basic "H" gate pattern but the shifter itself had a 3 position switch on it. Each switch position was another gear. So from pulling away from a dead stop to reaching the top cog only took 3 physical moves of the shifter, all the other gears were grabbed just by flicking a switch. A lazy mans transmission.........I Loved that one too.

 

We too used to love the auto-shift, however I ditto the "wait til it gets older". Ours would freeze and you have to quickly maneuver it over to the side, shut it down and wait for a reset. It also liked to keep beeping at us when we had it in manual mode and we were trying to downshift, if it didn't want to, you didn't shift. Give me a manual transmission any day!

 

We have a rental Volvo tractor with a automatic and it does fine.

 

I love the auto, it's easier by far.
Ours is a true auto.
Quiker shifting, faster, safer in traffic and hills and curves.
Shifts faster than any could manually and chooses the right gear.
Also will downshift on hills completely.
ABS and Traction control.
The jake brake makes it able to use cruise control on all hills. kicks jake on at 5mph over going downhill.
Best thing ever for city driving.
A small amount of getting used to backing up and sliding tandems but once you learn to use two feet when needed it's an ace.
Best thing since chocolate chip cookies!!!!

 

You sound like a salesman :lol:

 

Yea , I know, I can do it all.
lol
I not only can drve them , but also fix them, paint them , sell them, modify them, race them , etc., etc., etc., lol.
Just your typical every day American Red Blooded guy!