Can someone explain to me what this is and what the advantage is of it? In another thread i was reading that is was clutchless. Is this like a Manu-matic offered in some new cars???
I have a pretty good mechanical sense of things to, so I dont need it in pure english but Im no genious either.
I have no intention of trying to convert to one or something, but I get lost in discussions talking about them.

Thanks

 

A Sequential transmission works just like a motorcycle transmission. There is no “H” pattern to shift thru; you simply pull back on the lever to up shift and push forward to downshift. They are not really like a "Manu-matic" because there is no torque converter involved and there is actually gears sliding around on the shafts just like in a regular transmission. The “Manu-matics” are just automatic transmissions that are being told by the driver when to shift instead of relying on hydraulic pressure to tell them. Yes, there is a clutch between the motor and the sequential transmission although in most racing applications it is seldom used while shifting. The clutch is just used for starts and leaving the pits then forgotten about. In fact in most race cars using a sequential the driver does not even have to lift his foot off the throttle to make a gear change. They use an electronic ignition cut-off device that interrupts ignition just long enough (we’re talking milliseconds here) to unload the gear set and allow the shift to occur. The biggest advantage is they shift very quickly, and it’s almost impossible to miss a shift. All this coolness comes at a hefty price however. A sequential transmission like the ones used in WRC cars are around $26,000.

 

jimmyd -- nice explanation, most people leave out the electronic ignition cut out. the only catch is that some of the WRC transmissions run upwards of $80,000.