Is a dual-clutch transmission right for you? (10,000km test - part 3) | Auto Expert John Cadogan

This video covers the four conclusions I drew from the test and the research I did surrounding it. The next few minutes will help you make an informed choice - one way or the other.

First - there’s no such thing as the perfect transmission. Conventional autos cost you money in wasted fuel and they’re slower accelerating to 100. And they’re not as good for sporty driving. DCTs aren’t as refined in traffic and aren’t as suited to low-speed crawling under load.
Manuals are hard work in traffic, but satisfyingly engaging off the chain. CVTs save fuel and get the power down really well on the fly, but they drone on a bit. Which means:

Second, you need to choose the transmission that’s best suited to your driving. No point buying a conventional auto and bitching about the cost of fuel. Or buying a DCT and bitching about low-speed refinement.

If you’ve got a trailer that needs to head backwards up a steep driveway every weekend, DCTs are not be right for you. If you prioritise refinement over engagement, DCTs are not be right for you.

Just remember: While the ‘crawling under load’ thing is a deal-breaker for the trailer-reversing fraternity, because of clutch endurance, refinement might not be. It’s a nuance thing. DCTs are not spectacularly unrefined in traffic. They’re slightly less refined than a conventional auto - that’s the price you pay for the fuel saving, the faster acceleration and the superior shift engagement.

Third - they say ignorance is bliss. Here, it emphatically isn’t. If you presume you’re driving an auto because that’s what it looks like in the cockpit, and you proceed to slip the clutch under load, it will wear out prematurely and you’ll need to get those parts replaced.

I’m very sure the funds you divert to those repairs could be deployed better elsewhere. And it’s not a warranty issue because warranties do not cover wear and tear. Which of course leads to...

Point number four: Carmakers, and dealers need to get a lot more ethical, balanced, whatever - about ensuring buyers are fully informed about strengths and weaknesses of different automotive systems before they commit to the deal.

This is true for things like diesel, where there are operational prerequisites for particle filter regeneration. It’s bad to find out you need that highway running, for example, after the car goes into limp mode. It’s very frustrating to go on a voyage of discovery at this point, where the first point of disembarkation is: ‘Should’ve bought the petrol’.

Same with a DCT - if you know the strengths and the limitations, you can make an informed choice. It might be: ‘Yeah - I love that engaged driving. I’ll take it.’ It might be: ‘Nah - renovating the house. Need to back endless trailers up the driveway.’ Either way, you’re making the right call.

So I’d suggest that manufacturers need to get better at helping buyers make informed choices. All manufacturers - not just Hyundai. But have a look at what Hyundai says about the DCT, on its website:
Paired with the 1.6 T-GDi engine is the 7-speed DCT. The DCT combines the convenience of an automatic with the sportiness of a manual for seamless shifts between gears, improved driveability and excellent efficiency.

That’s par for the course as a typical glossy marketing ‘buy our wonderful product’ statement. It’s a string of benefits and buzzwords. But probably not definitive in the domain of helping people make an informed choice.

Dealers need to get better too, because there’s such immense pressure to sell a car - any car - to anyone - right now - that the last thing any car dealer wants do do is give you pause to reconsider when he’s on the cusp of getting you over the line.

If it’s got a DCT and you don’t know what you don’t know about that transmission - the dealer is unlikely to erect a roadblock of qualifications and operational information that might make you U-turn.

Unfortunately, of course, this is pretty short-term thinking. If you make an informed choice, you’re far more likely to be thrilled with the vehicle in the long term. Meaning you’ll back up for another and another in coming years.

If ignorance proves most definitely not to be bliss and you end up with a trailer at war with your transmission on the battlefield of your driveway, you might end up being the anti-ambassador from hell.
It’s certainly a challenge for marketers across the entire automotive domain, because short-term conversion strategies don’t always make for lasting satisfaction.

For what it’s worth, personally, I love the things the DCT is good at, and I can tolerate the negatives. To me it’s a net benefit. I enjoy driving it. I hope this helps. Thanks for watching.

Видео Is a dual-clutch transmission right for you? (10,000km test - part 3) | Auto Expert John Cadogan канала Auto Expert John Cadogan