the current state of slushboxes
 

I've always been a clutch type, but given my current left-leg challenged state, I've been looking at some of the various auto transmission offerings. Anyone driven/driving one now? They all have their various silly names, but I'm wondering if the reality is anywhere near the hype. There is something to be said for one in lousy traffic...that and a nice greenhouse and stereo might make for a calmer Homer.

Mini: auto agitronic (same as the BMW?)
Volkswagon: DSG w/paddle shifts (GTI and Beetle)

nothing fancy from Subie...

AFAIK, the mini is an electronically shifted automatic - like the vast majority of them. If you are asking "like the BMW", you could be implying the SMG box on the M3. That's a sequential shift manual box with electric shift - similar to what is on a Ferrari (or F1 car). Don't know about DSG, but if it's on a beetle, I'm guessing regular stuff.

Paddle shifters, tiptronic, steptronic, multitronic, trontronic are ways that the driver can control the shift point on the slushbox. And slushboxes continue to get better and better and better. So for the majority of street driving, and in particular, LA stop and go, a slushbox is a wonderful thing.

In Beth's XC90, there is a manual mode to the auto trans. Yeah, lots of time rowing through the gears in the big AWD SUV! But it is handy for hill descents.

Wife just bought a 2006 Jetta with the 6 speed Tiptronic transmission. Have only driven it a few times but it is really smooth in automatic mode and although I have only played around with it a little the Tiptronic is pretty slick. She really likes it and never wants to see another five speed manual.

CVT is the only way to go. Engine runs at three or four RPM settings depending on what you are asking it to do. Floor it? It goes to best torque or power RPM and trans passes it all along. No shifting.

In my experience, anything with a torque converter takes away throttle response.

They're inproving, but even though the new 997 turbo is actually faster with the slushbox, I'd have to get a conventional stick.

My Chevy pick-up is an automatic, and there is one uphill sweeper on the way to my house that is fun to push in third, but when the tranny decides to jump down to second mid-corner, the tail steps out quickly.

I don't like the pause between my shifting, and the tranny actually changing gears.

My sister has an A3 with DSG. It is more satisfying to drive than the tiptronic-style transmissions that are so ubiquitous. (I use my wife's Acura TL for comparison purposes.) DSG actually blips the throttle to match revs on downshifts. For 95% of the population, who cares? But as an enthusiast, I appreciate that nod towards proper driving skill. I can certainly hear and feel the difference. It may not be the same as executing my own perfect heel-toe double-clutch downshift, but if you're a bit gimpy (I dropped my bike on my foot, breaking a bone in it last year, so I commiserate), it's a lot less painful than working the pedals yourself.

I think the only cars sold in America with true semi-manual gearboxes are Audi/VW with their DSG, and BMW with their SMG. (Not counting Ferrari's F1 paddle shift.) Not sure about Mini.

I had the 6-speed Tiptronic with thumb shifters in my Cayenne S - very nice. quick shifting, etc. The Tip in the new 997 Turbo is actually a couple of tenths faster 0-60 than the manual gearbox!

However, the sequential manual gearboxes (DSG, SMG, F1, etc.) are a whole other ballgame! They have turned the clutch pedal into a quaint antique.

BTW: Lamborghini also sells a sequential manual (eGear) in the USA.

Have done some reading on the DSG. Evidently it is two clutches with no torque converter. I think I need to drive one. I can't find out the details of the Mini one...

The MCS uses an Aisin 6 speed electrically shifted transmission (as opposed to the CVT in the base Mini). Here's a real-world review, a comparison between the M3 SMG and CooperS, another reader review.

I've heard the VAG DSG is a really really good gearbox and doesn't detract at all from the driving experience.