Yeah yeah I love the paddles and all, but (as Jag seem to have appreciated with the f type), there is something to be said for having your hand on a stick even in an auto, although I dont want to think too much about why. But the tippy type of stick changes isnt a patch on a true manual (forgetting the clutch for the moment) IMO. It isnt a natural action, some cars have the upshift forward and the downshift down, and others have it reversed, and because the shifter goes back to the centre your hand doesnt know what gear you are in. So my dream is the auto setup like the f type, but with proper gates for the gears like a manual if you wanted to drive it in sport. Like a true clutchless manual. That wouldnt make the car any faster, but it would be more fun for me at least (maybe my age is showing). Has there ever been such a thing?

 

The automatic on my mother's '71 280SL had a gated track for the gearshift lever.

I'd go the other way with the manual. I'm currently working on getting a sequential gear set for my MINI. Clutch is still used as normal, but all downshifting is done by pushing the gear shift straight forward, and all upshifting by pulling it straight backwards. (just like a motorcycle tranny). Quaife might start work on one for the MINI shortly.

When it's time to upgrade the F-Type tranny, we'll see what's available. Right now, I'm hoping to get the short-shifter prototype for the F-Type within the next couple of weeks for test fitting. (I'd love to put in the headers at the same time...hint, hint, Stuart!)

 

Sounds sorta like the j-gate on my 2000 XKR... (And others)
Street Level: Jaguar's J-Gate