Fashionistas you have arrived 3-25-03 - 10-3-03

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by W.W.L.D.

Okay . . . so where do you come in?

If you have to ask . . .

[taxwonk]

Originally posted by notcasesensitive
Please explain this CVT concept to me. I saw reference to it on the Stalin board. Has anyone driven a car with it? Is is sluggish compared to the old automatic?

Our Mini has a CVT. I forget what the acronym stands for, but basically it means "stick without the clutch." It's faster than traditional manual, because shhifting is electronically controlled instead of mechanically controlled. It's kind of fun sometimes, but basically, I tend to keep it in sport auto mode, on the rare occasions Mrs. Wonk lets me drive it.

[taxwonk]

Originally posted by Penske_Account
This brings up a question I have. I am growing my hair out. My head hair, not my body hair. Right now its in a sort of awkward in between stage but at the same time is looking sort of bad 1970s, but in an intriguingly 1970s porno star type of good way. My Gucci wrap sunglasses magnify the look, NPI.

Should I grow a moustache to go with this look?

Goatee. But remember to keep it ultra-short, so it has that "I didn't get around to shaving this week" look.

[NotFromHere]

Originally posted by Penske_Account
Although both the Mrs. and my stylist want me to grow a patch thing under the lower lip.

Dude, that is sooo Apollo Ohno in the last Olympics. Even HE has shaved it.

[mmm3587]

Originally posted by taxwonk
Our Mini has a CVT. I forget what the acronym stands for, but basically it means "stick without the clutch." It's faster than traditional manual, because shhifting is electronically controlled instead of mechanically controlled. It's kind of fun sometimes, but basically, I tend to keep it in sport auto mode, on the rare occasions Mrs. Wonk lets me drive it.

I think that you're thinking of Tiptronic/AutoStick type technology, where you have control over the shifting of an automatic transmission.

There is also SMG, which stands for sequential manual gearbox or something like that, where it's a true manual, but the computer does the clutching and you just use paddles or buttons to shift. This used to be mostly on exotics, like Ferraris, but now the M3 and some of the little Toyotas have it.

I tried to check edmunds.com to see what kind of transmissions the Mini offers, but it's down/slow, probably as a result of all the worm traffic on the internet today. Generally, though, a computer controlled automatic will still shift slower than a manual transmission driven by a good driver. There is also loss of torque from the use of a torque converter.

With an SMG, the shifting can be very fast if done well, but I hear than the Toyotas, in particular are very slow. The M3's SMG is supposed to be great (as are the $10k versions in lots of Ferraris that started it all), but I hear that it not very reliable and is directly related to many engine failures in early E46 M3s.

Edited to add some info.

[W.W.L.D.]

Originally posted by taxwonk
Goatee. But remember to keep it ultra-short, so it has that "I didn't get around to shaving this week" look.

Goatee. So you can have that "I-didn't-get-around-to-growing-this-until-ten-years-too-late-geek" look.

[W.W.L.D.]

Originally posted by mmm3587
I think that you're thinking of Tiptronic/AutoStick type technology, where you have control over the shifting of an automatic transmission.

There is also SMG, which stands for sequential manual gearbox or something like that, where it's a true manual, but the computer does the clutching and you just use paddles or buttons to shift. This used to be mostly on exotics, like Ferraris, but now the M3 and some of the little Toyotas have it.

2003 Mini CVT. Whoever posted the explanation of CVT yesterday apparently plagarised their elucidation.

[bilmore]

Originally posted by mmm3587
I think that you're thinking of Tiptronic/AutoStick type technology, where you have control over the shifting of an automatic transmission.

No, the Mini does have a true CVT, with six pre-selected shift points. You would need quite the computer system to replace the preselection, but it's still continuously variable.

[ABBAKiss]

Originally posted by NotFromHere
Dude, that is sooo Apollo Ohno in the last Olympics. Even HE has shaved it.

But alas, Mr. Kiss has not. Will someone cc him on the memo? He isn't listening to me.

[NotFromHere]

Originally posted by W.W.L.D.
I don't know where you got this. So many of my gay friends are assholes and are quite talented (avoiding the sohpomoric joke). They can even out-asshole me, and I am a pretty good asshole -- just ask Narcy.

Originally posted by notcasesensitive
j-o-k-e. you can look it up on dictionary.com if you need to.

You're wasting your breath (or fingers as it were). And I don't know where the name Narcy came from when my name is Snarky. Probably a likelihood of confusion thing - so many people here would answer to Snarky.
But I will attest that he's a pretty good asshole. Good in the sense that his ability is high, not the good v. evil type of good.

[mmm3587]

Originally posted by bilmore
No, the Mini does have a true CVT, with six pre-selected shift points. You would need quite the computer system to replace the preselection, but it's still continuously variable.

The article says:

"When the road gets twisty, and you want to set up for a corner, slide the CVT's shift lever to the left, where six preset gear ratios are there for the taking; bang the stick forward for a downshift, back for an upshift. Response is instantaneous, though obviously not as satisfying as a proper matched-rev downshift in a car with a clutch."

If the ratios are preset at a certain level, what does the computer do when you cause an upshift or a downshift in that mode? Just gradually but quickly move the gearing so that it's in that ratio? Do you get a smooth transition to that ratio, then? That is very interesting. Seems like you would get the benefit of the CVT whenever you wanted it, but the fun of true manual control when you want that. Too bad it sounds like the CVT is only offered with the smaller engine.

Anyway, I stand corrected...

[mmm3587]

Originally posted by bilmore
No, the Mini does have a true CVT, with six pre-selected shift points. You would need quite the computer system to replace the preselection, but it's still continuously variable.

The article says:

"When the road gets twisty, and you want to set up for a corner, slide the CVT's shift lever to the left, where six preset gear ratios are there for the taking; bang the stick forward for a downshift, back for an upshift. Response is instantaneous, though obviously not as satisfying as a proper matched-rev downshift in a car with a clutch."

If the ratios are preset at a certain level, what does the computer do when you cause an upshift or a downshift in that mode? Just gradually but quickly move the gearing so that it's in that ratio? Do you get a smooth transition to that ratio, then? That is very interesting. Seems like you would get the benefit of the CVT whenever you wanted it, but the fun of true manual control when you want that. Too bad it sounds like the CVT is only offered with the smaller engine.

Anyway, I stand corrected...

[str8outavannuys]

Originally posted by ThrashersFan
Uh, I live in metro Atlanta --- gridlock capital of the world no matter where in these 13 counties you go. My hubby drives an automatic and his patrol car is, of course, an automatic and he says that I am nuts for driving a stick. I dunno, the traffic doesn't bother me. Having my car shift for me would drive me bonkers.

More evidence for the "TF is a man trapped in a woman's body" case.

Switching gears to the FB music club list, I got a sneak copy of the upcoming Belle & Sebastian album "Dear Catastrophe Waitress." So far so great. There's a song on here called "Piazza, New York Catcher," a happy little ditty from these Bizarro-World Scots. A sample:

How many nights of talking in hotel rooms can we take
How many nights of leaping 'round on pagan holidays
Elope with me in private and we'll set something ablaze
A trail for the devil to erase
San Francisco's calling us, the Giants and Mets will play
Piazza, New York catcher, are you straight or are you gay?
We hung about the stadium, we got no place to stay
We hung about the tenderloin, and tenderly you tell me
about the saddest book you ever read, it always makes you cry (etc etc.)

My weekend: Vegas followed by Belle & Sebastian concert Sunday night. I'm hoping for some up-tempo numbers so that I can stay awake after 48 hours of coke and strippers.

[W.W.L.D.]

Originally posted by NotFromHere
You're wasting your breath (or fingers as it were). And I don't know where the name Narcy came from when my name is Snarky. Probably a likelihood of confusion thing - so many people here would answer to Snarky.
But I will attest that he's a pretty good asshole. Good in the sense that his ability is high, not the good v. evil type of good.

You are so sweet.


Narc

[NotFromHere]

Originally posted by ABBAKiss
But alas, Mr. Kiss has not. Will someone cc him on the memo? He isn't listening to me.

Dear Mr. AbbaKiss,
Please see the attached picture of Fred Durst (which is not attached because I am jpeg challenged). Please note how stupid he looks and it gets worse as he gets older and try to look like the hip guy he used to be. See, this is sad. Please use the enclosed razor to modify your facial hair situation and next time you watch QESG, please note that NONE of the guys (gay or straight) is allowed facial hair because it is sooo Apollo Ohno from the last Olympics.

Yours truly,
Snarky