I've been watching the development of the automatic transmission since my father was the first man to repair them in Nashville Tennessee in the very early 1950's. They have become far more efficient and reliable in those 60-something years. I'd much rather have a modern 4L60 or 4L80, or something similar than the Ford C-4's and Turbo 350's I made a living repairing for a lot of years. They consume less power and last longer, plus they have an overdrive top gear that reduces engine RPM for highway cruise. Just don't go too high on the final drive gear. Once the engine drops below its torque curve, gas mileage and performance goes out the window.
Jerry
