Topic: Interesting little tidbit.

[Uranium-238]

Since I don't have my car, I've been doing some research. Apparently, Aisin, the company that makes our manual transmissions, also makes the ones for Porsche 911's.

http://www.aisin-ai.co.jp/english/news/20040916.html

So, there is a link between our cars and a 911.

[diamoney]

Doncha just wish you could get paid to translate for the Japanese?

To quote from the link above:

"Sep 16, 2004 First transaction with Porsche, Aisin AI started to deliver the 6-speed MT for 911 CARRERA

Aisin AI Co.,Ltd. (home office: Nishio City, Aichi, president: Masahiro Suo) received an order and started to delivery the MT that are for Porsche 911 CARRERA and this is our first transaction with Porsche. This product is our first RR( Rear engine, Rear drive) MT that has high-power and response in high torque, and also have good operational performance. It is newly developed product to our company. We are producing this product in brewery, and sell to Porsche through AISIN EUROPE S.A. (home office: Belgium, president: Osamu Tajima)."

 

[Kelu]

Let's relocate our engine in the back and then "burrow" gearbox from Porsche, especially the new PDK 

[lil goat]

They make the manual gearbox for the Hyundai Genesis Sedan/Coupe as well and it is a 6 speed.

[kennysabarese]

PDK all the way! I want one!

But just slapping the box doesn't make it magically work. I think you'd need a Porsche engine and computer for it to work right.

Might as well buy a Cayman

[TecSolOnt]

  The only link with this company is by the name Aisin, certainly not the Porsche transmission.

  The 5 spd transmission is the off the shelf transmission originally designed for the Chevrolet Colorado , yes its a truck transmission.  Heh the auto is shared with the Cadillac, so those of us with auto's have this superior feeling...

 

http://editorial.autos.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=435396

To that end, Solstice's uses the fog lights from the Pontiac Grand Prix, the backup lights from the GMC Envoy, the mirrors from a Fiat (GM holds an equity stake in Italian automaker Fiat Auto S.p.A.), the heating and air conditioning controls from the Hummer H3, the transmission from the Colorado truck, and the rear axle from the Cadillac CTS.

According to Solstice vehicle line director Darren Post, using existing parts for these types of components allowed GM to direct more time and money toward the ride and performance, and to include components such as the Bilstein coil-over mono-tube shocks, properly weighted power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering, a short-throw shift linkage and eighteen-inch wheels.

[Uranium-238]

Yes, I am aware of that. However, if a snobbish Miata owner were to point out that we have a truck tranny, we can point out that it's made by the same people that put the gearboxes in a Porsche.