Ever wished you had a third foot when trying to get started up a steep hill? Has your left leg ever gotten tired working the clutch in stop-and-go traffic? Then you, my friend, need the Manual-a-Matic transmission.
The Manual-a-Matic uses a lock-up torque converter between a clutch and a manual transmission. This torque converter is unlocked in first gear, and locks in higher gears. This allows slippage between the engine and transmission when starting and prevents stalling. All the ease of use of an automatic, and the fun and fuel economy of a manual.
To start simply press the clutch in, shift into first and let the clutch out while pressing on the brakes. Then, at your leisure, move your foot from the brakes to the gas and you're off! Subsequent shifts are performed the same as any other manual transmission.-- toiyabe, Oct 27 2003 Subaru Hill Holder http://www.drivesub...pr03_HillHolder.htmNo slipping clutch needed. [Cedar Park, Oct 04 2004] Sounds similar to paddle-controlled semi-auto sequential transmission (eg, formula 1 racing and expensive sports cars) - the differences being that a clutch is used instead of a torque converter, and the controls are on the wheel. The driver need only use the clutch manually going between standstill and first, not between other gears. The driver requires only 2 feet.
Now I think about it, hill starts could be a serious problem for wacky american cars that have the handbrake on the floor (and call it an emergency brake). Stupid design.-- benjamin, Oct 27 2003 [toiyabe], welcome to the halfbakery. It sounds more like the Porsche Sportomatic, to me.-- Laughs Last, Oct 27 2003 Subaru has a manual transmission with Hill Holder feature. Basically it uses the braking system to keep a car from rolling backwards down a hill when stopped. [link]-- Cedar Park, Oct 27 2003 The Subaru Hill Holder gizzy helps with the "three pedals, two feet" problem, as does a hand brake. However, it still requires you to ride the clutch when starting off up a steep hill with a heavy load.
For example, lots of people who need to haul a boat up a boat ramp opt for an automatic transmission, because of the tendency to burn the clutch out while getting the load started. However, automatics don't take the abuse of highway driving with heavy loads as well as manuals. This device gives the best of both worlds.-- toiyabe, Oct 28 2003 yep-- po, Oct 28 2003 you could also just buy a car with a clutchless (uses a air blader to ingage the clutch rather than you pushing your foot down) maual transmission, and i think that there is an eclipse that has a manual/automatic transmission. there may have also been a ferrari (spelling?) that has a set up like that.-- fluffynuggets, Oct 28 2003 im all for the simple ideas mine came from my tractor which has indivual rear brake pedals and you bolt them together for rod use well if you had an upside down L welded for the brake pedal so you have quarter of an inch brake pedal until the clutch disengages drive then you just use your left foot on the brake and right on the throttle and you increase the throttle as you release your brake/clutch combo and your off uphill with trailer in tow and no bending down to find the handbrake hidden on the floor somewere thanks Nick-- randylandy666, Jul 26 2007 I hated driving on hills with a manual, until I got a car with pedals spaced close enough together for heel-toe operation. Since then, I haven't had a problem.
I would love to see something like this put into effect. Might I suggest that it should work through all gears, in a two-stage action: 1: As you let up on the clutch, a set of primary clutch plates engages the torque converter. As you let up further, a set of secondary plates engage as a lock-up device.-- Freefall, Jul 26 2007 There were some VW Beetles that sort of had this, except they just dispensed with the clutch altogether and ran everything through the torque converter. You still had to let off the gas to shift, but there was no clutch pedal.-- 5th Earth, Jul 27 2007 random, halfbakery