Ford to offer 8-speed transmission

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Here starts the gear wars... How long before we get Festiva's and Aveo's with 10 speeds

When they started to be fitted with a bicycle-type 2-speed hub-gears case in each front wheel...

 

[drperry]

Here starts the gear wars... How long before we get Festiva's and Aveo's with 10 speeds

When they started to be fitted with a bicycle-type 2-speed hub-gears case in each front wheel...

Or hi/lo ranges in the differentials

 

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

For the trucks and some other large vehicles the "gear war" will make some sense, but in smaller ones the CVT is supposed to be the trend.

 

[Z71_Silvy]

Ford says it plans to offer new eight-speed automatic transmissions across its vehicle lineup that offer improved fuel economy and ultra-precise shifts.

Implying that what they have now are gas guzzling sloppy slush boxes?

Someone at Ford should have worded that differently. Maybe the new 8-speeds will help the PR people from putting their foot in their mouths.

Nah. That's pretty much reserved for the GM 4L60... that designed in the 70s dinosaur with an overdrive added later 4 speed we all have in our trucks.

I'll drink to that...but they are not nearly as bad as the 4R70Ws (or whatever is the current version) in the Crown Vics. I swear there are rubber bands in that transmission.

And if the alternative to the 4L60 is anything close to the 6-speed in the Expedition...I'll take the 4L60.

 

[mr_bots]

When will the craziness end! People are already complaining that 6 speeds spend too much time shifting.

 

[Zembonez]

Ford says it plans to offer new eight-speed automatic transmissions across its vehicle lineup that offer improved fuel economy and ultra-precise shifts.

Implying that what they have now are gas guzzling sloppy slush boxes?

Someone at Ford should have worded that differently. Maybe the new 8-speeds will help the PR people from putting their foot in their mouths.

Nah. That's pretty much reserved for the GM 4L60... that designed in the 70s dinosaur with an overdrive added later 4 speed we all have in our trucks.

I'll drink to that...but they are not nearly as bad as the 4R70Ws (or whatever is the current version) in the Crown Vics. I swear there are rubber bands in that transmission.

The transmission in my Explorer was a sloppy time bomb. It was the only real weak link in that vehicle. I replaced it at something like 140K and it was getting weak again at 218K when I got rid of it. Not Ford's strong suit.

 

[Z71_Silvy]

When will the craziness end! People are already complaining that 6 speeds spend too much time shifting.

Yes they do. I think the money would be better spent on making a CVT that can get the job done rather than some gimmicky 8-speed transmission.

 

[drperry]

Shifty GM transmissions give Blackbear something to do

 

[fortplainman]

i think GM is doing the same thing with the 8-speed, but it wont be in trucks.

 

[nubuilder]

I like my 4spd. The gearing works great for me!

I think it would be interesting to have a 2spd rear axle though.

It's interesting that everyone is concentrating on automatics and leaving the manual by the wayside.