Actually most cars do offer 4 speeds. The current Camry, not the new one, uses a 4 speed auto, as did the last Avalon.

Toyota's trucks use a 5 speed auto.
Nissan's Frontier uses a 5 speed
The Ranger uses a 4.
Dakota uses a 4.
Sport Track uses a 4 speed.

But my point is that not every car offers a 5 or more speed engine. All Hyundia use a 4 speed auto. For most cars on the road 4 speeds are fine. People, like yourself, just want to feel like your car is better and saying you have more gears makes you feel that way. Congratulations. BTW my 9 year old chevy with a 4 speed auto FWD will out run your 6 speed Ford and probably get as good or better gas mileage.

 

jeez, guys. taking this awfully personal, aren't we?
in todays market, GM does NOT need to be in the middle of that pack. GM needs those 6 speed autos, the DoD, Direct Injection, whatever it takes to break the stigma that so many have against them.
the 3800 is a bulletproof motor, too, but its time it moves on. just like Carbs and drum brakes, they may work, but that doesnt meen you shouldnt have better,

 

My company car is an 05 Camry and it uses a 5spd auto.

Why does Gm insist on using 4Spd's?

 

They don't "insist" as though they are saying they are superior. They have just taken a little longer to develop the replacements (which will jump straight to six instead of five). But their cars still are quite competitive in terms of acceleration and/or fuel economy in many cases, even with only 4 gears.

Cadillac uses 5 speeds (STS, CTS, XLR), 6 speeds (STS-V, XLR-V, '07 Escalade), and a couple of 4 speeds (DTS, current Escalade, which still creams any other large, luxo SUV in speed - and is probably more fuel efficient by a tic as well).

Corvette is a six speed auto (or manual).

Solstice auto is a five speed.

Heck, even the Saturn Ion had an Aisin 5 speed originally, but it was dropped in favor of the trusty (one of the most reliable trannies on the market) 4T45E when there were some drivability (and I think maybe diagnostics/calibration) issues with the 5 speed. Recall the Edmunds compact sedan test in which a 2.2L 145 hp base Cobalt w/4 speed auto was quicker and got better fuel economy (32 vs. 29 hwy)than the Mazda 3 with the uplevel 2.3L 160 hp engine (also a 4 speed auto though).

I don't think anyone here is saying they shouldn't be going to the six speeds, or that the 4 speeds aren't behind the times. I think the point is that having a 4 speed auto does not all of a sudden make an otherwise good car into a waste of space. A base G6 with the 200 hp 3.5L will probably run right with a new Fusion in terms of speed and fuel economy, for example. But yes, the six speed autos need to come, and they are coming. Some are already here.

For me it is more of an issue with sporty cars (though I'd get a manual anyway). For example, the automatic only Grand Prix GXP or Impala SS are both great cars. But for me they'd be about perfect if they had the six speed autos with paddle shift instead of the 4 speeds they have now (1st gear will get you to about 60 mph, 2nd will take you to about 100, making the paddle shifter on the GXP kinda moot IMO).

A car is not a POS just because it has a 4 speed auto, but yes, they do need to weed them out of the lineup soon.

 

I think the TB SS would be much sweeter proposition with a 6 speed auto. Something about getting a 4,800 lbs, AWD, 6.0L with a 4.10 axle ratio ...which requires premium fuel BTW.... as a daily driver, that scares me.

With the new 6 speed you could have an axle ratio in the low 3's, and still get the same torque multiplication off the line....and lower rpm's at highway speeds.

 

5 speed auto optional 4 speed standard.

 

Absolutely. A coworker of mine currently has an '06 Vette six speed auto as his PEP/company car. He loves it. More aggressive gearing at the low end (even compared to the "performance axle" option with the 4 speed cars), with taller gearing at the top end for more relaxed highway cruising (even compared to the standard "economy axle" on the 4 speed cars).

 

On the 05 Camry? 5-speed auto is your only choice (other than 5-speed manual). 06 Camry is the same way.

The all new 07 Camry will go to 6-speed auto standard... not sure if the manual will still be around.

 

Alright i take back the POS comment. Didn't think i'd catch so much **** from it.

If the new Camaro was sold today with either a 6spd auto or a 6spd manual. I'd have a very hard time picking the manual.

 

We have already heard that the tahoe would also get a SS version. Anything
else that you would like to share that you have knowledge of ?? These "one-liners" like "you've seen a few previews" on this post, and the other "one-liner" on another post about SS models, "you all will be surprised" just does
not have any info attached, just hype! If you really know anything, share it with the rest of us! Otherwise, anyone can create the GM,SS hype!

 

I asked this question on your website (C&G)about the possibility of new Regular Cab SS option. No response from you? Did you miss the post? Does this ouote clarify that there will not be a reg cab SS offered in 06' or 07'
model year? Thank you in advance for your response. Everyone is waiting
to hear this reply!

 

I like that Colorado SS, nice looking ride, as for transmissions, either an auto or manual woul dbe fine to me. Even if they put the 5.3L in there it'd be adequate for me. I think 400 hp in that thing would be seriously detremental to your tires.