My take on automatic transmission on Supra MKV.

[nibble]

Ever since I got my Supra, most of people complements it but there were few so called “Haters”. I’m sure you’ve seen one or two. First impression, “It’s a BMW. Ewww.” And then second, “Ewww.. It only comes in Automatic. Ewww..” To be honest, I’d be the one if this was few years ago. I owned few cars…. My first car, '73 Mustang actually was “H” gear, 3 speed manual. Then jumped to whopping 5 gear Nissan Sentra. Another Sentra SE-R also was manual, Acura Legend had 6 gears! All the BMWs I used to own including 5 series were manual, 2 S2000s were manual.. You get the idea. I would be the one to look down upon on people driving automatic car. Hell.. I didn’t even like the idea of SMG. But that has changed a bit recent years when getting manual car limited options on any decent car specially for daily drive. One I have now, 335i GT is first automatic car ever bought in my life. And due to retiring my S2000 from track scene, I needed something else to drive so I had to take that to the track. As for a heavy 5 door car, it was a challenge to drive on track trying to keep up even with stock S2000 but automatic transmission was not hindering as much as I expected. Plus being able to use paddle shift was very interesting. I guess this was one of the reasons I wasn’t concern of getting a supra. Now that I’m getting familiar with supra, I can keep up with some of the faster cars like corvette or Porsche 911s on the track like Watkins Glen.


Now, on the automatic transmission on Supra. One of the features I really like on supra is Adaptive Cruise Control. This feature as you know, it will match the speed of car in front of you to the point, complete stop. I believe this is possible only because automatic transmission and Drive By Wire brake system. Oh. Speaking of DBW, when Honda introduced DBW throttle on S2000, I was like…. “whaaaattt?...” but owning one and driven on track, it felt pretty good. Also, this system allows traction control to stabilize the car even on oil slick I went through. If a car to have such feature – ACC – on manual car, not just DBW on brake, it also needs to be equipped with DBW on gear, clutch, & ETC. once you have DBW on those system, what is the difference between Automatic & Manual? It is all electronically controlled. Also, I have double downshifted manually once or twice.. Supra’s behavior was, it won’t allow over-rev which could permanently damage engine. I’ve done this on S2000, stepped into 10K RPM very briefly. Thankfully no damage since it was split second. When you mis-shift on manual transmission, over-rev will occurs since drivetrain is connected end to end if it’s in gear and clutch is engaged. To have preventive feature like Supra, again, whole system needs to be DBW. On a last note, I’ve ran /w traction & VSC all off and spun around. I was very nervous that I may have reverse spun the engine like any other manual car. What supra did was quite amazing. It actually recognized that I’m moving backward on forward gear and put the transmission into neutral. Supra was still idling when I came to stop. To have this feature in manual? Again, DBW all around and not making manual car not really manual..

How many sob stories have you heard on manual transmission car like “I mis-shifted and over-revved few seconds. Now my car is not running.” I do miss driving manual transmission but I’m definitely not going to miss sob stories of blown engines. Besides, it shifts quite fast and smooth unlike some people who thinks they drive manual like automatic. So, conclusion, I don’t mind automatic on supra and matter of fact, I like having these safety features. Also, I rather have Automatic then pseudo-manual for just marketing but then I wouldn’t mind complete genuine manual. I would miss manual transmission but not as much as I used to, probably very little.

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[Octane]

I've come from a few consecutive 6mt cars, (G35, STI, 370z, and most recently, BMW m4.) Needless to say I've been a 6mt or bust guy for a while. When I was looking at the Supra, I was worried that I wouldn't enjoy it as much because it's only automatic.

After a few days driving, I realized how convenient the auto on this car can be. The shifts are really quick, the ride is comfortable, I have no regrets. I'm sure i'll miss shifting gears eventually, but the paddles will hold me over just fine until then.

 

[Axix23]

People don’t realize but our 8
Speed zf transmission comes on the $200k Lambo Suv too.

 

[bigcat]

People don’t realize but our 8
Speed zf transmission comes on the $200k Lambo Suv too.

Since Urus has 850 N⋅m (627 lb⋅ft) torque, it must uses a higher spec model, the ZF 8HP51 Supra uses can take only 500 Nm (368 lb·ft) spec-wise.

 

[bryanole27]

I have driven mostly manuals my entire life, but it was mostly because the car I wanted or drove only came in a manual. Now that I'm older with a work commute in a city with some heavier traffic, I don't miss a manual AT ALL. It isn't "more fun," or "a real car," and I'm still a "real driver." All this noise about it is just elitist BS people use to make themselves feel better.

 

[Axix23]

Since Urus has 850 N⋅m (627 lb⋅ft) torque, it must uses a higher spec model, the ZF 8HP51 Supra uses can take only 500 Nm (368 lb·ft) spec-wise.

I tend to disagree.. So your saying our ZF can only take up to 368lb ft of tq only? Lol

 

[MCSeverino]

I haven't had an automatic since I was sixteen, but I am enjoying the Supra. It works well; shifts fast, holds gears in sport mode, and downshifts nice. It fits the car.

 

[Dooo]

I have driven mostly manuals my entire life, but it was mostly because the car I wanted or drove only came in a manual. Now that I'm older with a work commute in a city with some heavier traffic, I don't miss a manual AT ALL. It isn't "more fun," or "a real car," and I'm still a "real driver." All this noise about it is just elitist BS people use to make themselves feel better.

@bigcat is correct... There are bunch of different variants of ZF. Dodge Demons have ZF in it and they are 800hp from the factory.

If you are pushing big power, you will need to get your trans built

 

[antonio88x]

@bigcat is correct... There are bunch of different variants of ZF. Dodge Demons have ZF in it and they are 800hp from the factory.

If you are pushing big power, you will need to get your trans built

This doesn't make sense, right? Isn't the 2021 engine rated at 368 ft-lbf? I doubt a manufacturer would pair an engine at the max torque rating. Even if there is some factor of safety built into the design. Doesn't add up to me.

 

[bryanole27]

This doesn't make sense, right? Isn't the 2021 engine rated at 368 ft-lbf? I doubt a manufacturer would pair an engine at the max torque rating. Even if there is some factor of safety built into the design. Doesn't add up to me.

I know people running much more power (550 tq) without issue. I'm not sure I understand that graphic either.

 

[Supbrah]

@bigcat is correct... There are bunch of different variants of ZF. Dodge Demons have ZF in it and they are 800hp from the factory.

If you are pushing big power, you will need to get your trans built

Gonna say a nope to this. These cars are making 400ft/lbs on the dyno stock.

Big power would need a built trans but that chart is wrong.

 

[bigcat]

It's just like the engine or the CPU in your computer, you can always mod it to get more power until blowed up, but the spec is the spec.

 

[Dannyvandelft]

Guess that explains why the "official" torque rating for the 2021 only went up 3 to 368 while the horsepower went up 47 to 382. They probably couldn't advertise more because of the torque rating on the transmission.

 

[Axix23]

Guess, we should all de-tune our cars below 368lb tq according to big cat so we don’t blow up our transmissions. :/

 

[nibble]

either that, upgrade to ZF8HP90?

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