Affordable performance car with "clutchless" manual?

[elicross]

Car buffs! Do you know of any (relatively) affordable performance cars (sports cars, coupes, sedans, whatever) with dual-clutch/sequential/automated manual transmissions you can shift without a clutch? I'm not talking about automatics that let you shift if you want; I mean actual manuals that don't use a clutch pedal.

My left knee's been messed up for years (result of an accident where a kid in an SUV spun out in front of me on the Ventura Freeway). I'm not getting any younger, and my knee's not getting any better. Using a clutch for any extended period kinda...hurts. Something about the repetitive use of the pedal and the angle I have to hold my knee at. But I don't want to be limited to automatic transmissions, so I live in hope that there's a car I can afford with a good manual that doesn't use a clutch pedal.

(I'm in the U.S., so it'd have to be a model sold here. And Ferraris are not on the budget. )

[kylejf90]

i think any of the porsche's with the pdk transmission are a clutch-less manual, maybe look for an early 2000s 911, or a cayman. the VW golf gti uses a watered down version of it i believe too as well as the audis. i know they're all under the same umbrella company. BMW has one i believe too.

[tomkatf]

Infiniti G37, VW Golf GTi, Mazda RX-8(used)...?

[cowboytwang]

I think the most affordable one is the Mitsubishi Eclipse GS SPORT SPORTRONIC TRANSMISSION starting at $24k or the Lancer Evo, with still having nice performance, they start around $34k

[elicross]

Thanks! The GTI looks interesting. I wasn't thinking of a hatchback, but the price and MPG are hard to ignore.

I was also looking at the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo MG -- a good bit more money and less MPGs than the GTI, but I love the look and I've had good experiences with Mitsubishi. I wonder how good the transmission is.

I don't know if a used 911 is a possibility...how much do those depreciate? And would the Tiptronic in an older 911 really be a clutchless manual, or would it be an automatic you can manually shift?

[cowboytwang]

Originally Posted by elicross

Thanks! The GTI looks interesting. I wasn't thinking of a hatchback, but the price and MPG are hard to ignore.

I was also looking at the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo MG -- a good bit more money and less MPGs than the GTI, but I love the look and I've had good experiences with Mitsubishi. I wonder how good the transmission is.

I don't know if a used 911 is a possibility...how much do those depreciate? And would the Tiptronic in an older 911 really be a clutchless manual, or would it be an automatic you can manually shift?

I just saw that they will do the Sportronic Auto shift trans in the Mitsubishi Eclipse and it's about $10k less than the EVO

[Paleus]

I believe Toyotas MR2 Spyder can be had with a true sequential gearbox. You could build a kit car with a motorcycle motor/transmission, like a Caterham.

[elicross]

Originally Posted by cowboytwang

I just saw that they will do the Sportronic Auto shift trans in the Mitsubishi Eclipse and it's about $10k less than the EVO

Yeah, looking more at what Mitsubishi offers, I noticed the Lancer Ralliart has the TC-SST transmission and is a lot cheaper than the Lancer Evo MR. (It has less power, but I think I could suffer along with "only" 237hp. ) The Eclipse's "Sportronic" still seems to be a shiftable automatic in all trims; it's confusing, because the dual-clutch manual in the Lancers and the shiftable auto in the Eclipses are both called "Sportronic," but there doesn't seem to be an Eclipse that has the TC-SST six-speed, dual-clutch manual.

Thanks for the info, everybody. I don't even know how soon I'll be buying a new car, to be honest -- but right now, the Lancer Ralliart is probably my frontrunner. The price is nice, the features look good...and the All-Wheel Control seems like it would be handy on the few icy days we get here in upstate SC. Or if I suddenly found myself in a rally!

[Breen]

I don't know anything about anything, but maybe the Nissan 370Z?

[Nick JD]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual-clutch_transmission

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/dual-c...ansmission.htm

[Memphis Hawk]

^Does not have clutch less manual. The GT-R does and the older ones are getting relatively cheap. In your situation that's what I'd go after, but I don't know what your money is like. If you are looking for a sports car with fancy technology, you'll have to expect higher prices on purchase price and overall ownership.

[Ironwolf]

Depends on exactly what your looking for, but the Hyundai Veloster Turbo just got a good review at Jalopnik, and it is available with transmission you are looking for.

[Colo Springs E]

Originally Posted by elicross

Thanks! The GTI looks interesting. I wasn't thinking of a hatchback, but the price and MPG are hard to ignore.

And would the Tiptronic in an older 911 really be a clutchless manual, or would it be an automatic you can manually shift?

The new VW line-up, including the GTI, is tiptronic that is simply an automatic that you can shift manually. Useful, but doesn't appear to be what you're looking for.

Don't know about the Porsche 911.

[Frank B]

what's your budget ?

[e-merlin]

My post was not relavent.

[Jack FFR1846]

Research very carefully to be sure that it's a true dual clutch sequential setup. I looked into a number of cars like this following a back injury.

Cars like the Lexus is-F is NOT a dual clutch. It's simply a very fast slush box (that requires maintenance like a Ferrari would). Audi S4, Mitsu Evo....yah....dual clutch. The Lancer Rally Art is also the dual clutch and far cheaper than the Evo. Of course that whole lineup is on its way out as Mitsubichi prepares to go into oblivian.

[CharlieO]

Originally Posted by Colo Springs E

The new VW line-up, including the GTI, is tiptronic that is simply an automatic that you can shift manually. Useful, but doesn't appear to be what you're looking for.

Don't know about the Porsche 911.

Eric, I don't think that you are correct about the DSG transmission in the GTI:

http://www.vw.com/en/models/gti/gallery.html?sem=bing


Here is a description of the DSG transmission:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct-Shift_Gearbox

Here is a description of the Tiptronic transmission:

http://www.autobytel.com/audi/a5/200...ission-105708/

[cowboytwang]

Originally Posted by Nick JD

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual-clutch_transmission

After going through that link, and checking out what cars are available, looks like some of the new Ford products are the least expensive. The Ford Fiesta and Focus both offer dual clutch models at, or under, $20k.
The one that looks like it might be the best deal is the new 2013 Ford Fusion, with the new 2.0 ecoboost i-4 237 HP all wheel drive w/six speed dual clutch paddle shifter.

Can you tell it was a British designer?

[elicross]

Originally Posted by cowboytwang

Can you tell it was a British designer?

I didn't know it was a British design, but the first time I saw the new Fusion, I did think the front end looked kinda like Aston-ish. I like it.

[boris bubbanov]

I like the DSG transmission that Charlie has linked for you. It has been in production long enough, I think the worms would've come out by now if there were some.

Check out the new TT and the A5 and see if those are too tame for you.