What's wrong with a DCT? I haven't tracked the technology closely. I know Ford wasn't able to make theirs work, but VW/Porsche/Audi seem to have done okay with theirs for the past 20 years or so. I've learned to check the post numbers in the lower right corner of each post (at least on the regular desktop view- may not apply to mobile view) Sometimes you see a gap in the numbering indicating that something was eaten by your filter.
Ahh - yes, didn't think of that. DCT - when I bought the PRIUS, I checked out a VW Golf Estate/Wagon - first was a TDI 2.0 Diesel, with a DSG, 6sp Wet Clutch. And, while a bit ... not smooth like a proper Auto ... I thought it was OK, I could live with it. Then along came DIESELGATE when I was ready to buy. All the DIESEL GOLFs were locked away till ..?? They only had Petrol-Turbo engines, 1.4, with a 7sp DRY Clutch DSG. I wasn't impressed with the economy rating compared with the Diesel, but thought I'd take one for a drive. I was used to a FORD Manual with a super slick shift and a nice clutch. Foot on accelerator in DRIVE. I checked that it was in DRIVE - yep, but "it's not moving" till I eased more and more (slight slope) and it then jerked off very untidily. If I was driving a manual and I took off like that I'd have slapped myself over my wrist. On and on went the test-drive - we got caught up in heavy traffic. The car had the optional RADAR Cruise - which was as flummoxed by the horrible DSG, quite jerky. I took it up a side street which I knew had fairly steep cambers and did a 3 point turn - it was just awful. NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING, then LAUNCH violently. I said - let's go back, and I parked it never to return - and bought a PRIUS.
Yeah that seems disappointing. I haven't had much time around them apart from one month spent commuting in some late-model VW Transporters with the dry DCT, and it seemed quite ordinary of an experience.
I had a feeling that the VW Transporters and the like were all Wet DCTs - but that might be because most or all of ours are diesel. Oh - and a close friend recently spent $4000+ repairing his DSG on a VW Caddy.
If I understand it correctly, the DCT in the new Hyundai Elantra hybrid system is a dry clutch DCT. People are concerned about clutch plates wearing out, etc... Also some speculation that Hyundai went with the dry clutch DCT for overall cost savings...potentially at the expense of long term viability. Some interesting discussion here : sonata hybrid | Hyundai Forums Not only that, by Hyundai also makes a wet clutch DCT system....yikes. And depending on if you have a dry or wet clutch DCT, you have either one or two additional fluids to worry about maintaining. Thanks Hyundai...but I'll stick with Toyota. Edit - Also dug this up...the DCT looks...complicated. https://www.atz-magazine.com/download/More%20Efficiency%20with%20the%20Dry%20Seven-speed%20Dual-clutch%20Transmission%20by%20Hyundai.pdf I think this is similar to the one in the Elantra...but don't quote me on it.
Here's a FORD PowerShift stripped down and explained very well. I think it's made by Getrag, the VW is made by themselves from a joint BorgWarner/VW group design.
On the WLTC? They tested on that in 2019 but the Gen IV came out 2016 so it should have been on the old standard?
Good point! You have to considered other costs with the Hyundai and extra time to for more maintenance. The brakes on my C are still near new with 118k Miles. I use mostly regen when stopping. No belts to deal with and the HSD is an easy drain and fill.
The Hyundai being a better machine? well, i'm not sure about that, we will have to see how both the Prius C and the Hyundai Accent take on once they are to very high mileage, 200,000 + miles, and which of these is less expensive to maintain and run. If a person travels long distances everyday, the Prius C might be less expensive to maintain and run, and of course more efficient. We have to take into consideration the engine, i don't know if Hyundai engines are better made than Toyota ones, but i think that they are not, specially once near to 300,000 miles.
I'm in my last few days out here, when I actually get some real windows of free time. Hoping I can go see one of these.
I hope you can too! I’m curious: Do you see Aquas on the road all the time in Japan? Considering this was their top selling new car for quite a few years, I would imagine the little Prius is as ubiquitous in Japan as the big Prius is in the United States.
Makes sense...I'd bet that anywhere other than the USA, the Aqua/Prius C is king. Didn't Toyota intend for the Aqua to be the 'world car' version of the 'Prius'?
