Deceleration during acceleration

[JPaul]

The Getrag automated manual gearbox in the smart takes some time to shift. One solution, actually several solutions to get a vehicle with tighter automated manual: check in the Scuderia Maserati, Ferrari, Lamborghini and the likes... But there is a somewhat difficult economic barrier to consider!

[Flashman]

Originally Posted by Piloto3524

I simply pressed the gas pedal as I would in my other automatics. A steady downward pressure one would normally do in a normal acceleration from a stop. However, the Smart would lag between shifts and I felt being thrust forward between the shifts. In my other automatics there is no lag or slowing.

Remember, it is not an automatic. For smoothest shifting experience, just get a CVT without artificial gear stops. A better comparison is to compare it to manual cars. "Compared to my other manual cars, the smart shifts quite quickly and smoothly". I find the shifts in the smart two test drives I've done comparable with a reasonably fast manual shift in my Mazdaspeed MX-5, a car that is top rated for having a smooth quick shifter.

[ladyguenivere]

Another thing to consider is that you drove a 'test' smart. Which has been driven by many different people and many different abilities. The computer could not adjust to just one person's style, "the break in period'. My guess is that when you own your own, the computer will adjust to you and you will adjust to it.

Lady G
still waiting, now hoping

[Westfield 11]

I thought the whole idea of letting off the throttle to "help" out the car when shifting had been disproved here a long time ago? The consensus was that lifting off confused the computer and didn't help at all. I have had very good results by just holding a constant throttle and letting the car decide what gear and when to shift. Please note that this is after I have passed the break-in period and the engine is free to rev to it's hearts content. The adaptive feature of the transmission controller also comes into play as well since it alters the shifting to suit your style of driving.

[Macaw]

I have noticed that from 12mi on delivery to 700mi currently the shifting has improved dramatically. I usually run in D. As in less delay between shifts....

[DieselVan]

Originally Posted by Piloto3524

So the trick is to learn when it wants to shift and be ready to lift up my gas foot as it shifts, then depress it again when I feel it has completed its shift; which is only a second or two?

my understanding is that if you don't lift the gas pedal, the computer delays the shift. is that correct??

in others words if in manual mode one needs to lift foot off of the gas pedal then shift then accelerate (same as a regular manual). the ouicker/smoother you do this the less notice of delay and ah bit more apparent "giddy up"!

[Macaw]

In D it doesn't delay the shift per-se. With constant foot pressure on the accelerator the computer cuts fuel, disengages the clutch, shifts applies fuel to match rpm engages clutch. New this was like 1 sec 1-2 shift now at 700 mi it's pretty smooth. Manual shifting (not D) I can get smoother shifts by lift and shift. doing this in D gets me worse or confused shifting... YMMV

[Piloto3524]

Originally Posted by Piloto3524

Test drove the Smart the other day and noticed that the car's engine decelerates when I acelerated upward throught he gears. Just as it was shifting into the next higher gear the engine bogged down, then shifted, then accelerated again until the next higher gear was engaged. Then the engine again bogged down while shifting the next higher gear. Is this normal or was it a bad demo car???

Seems like now that I have 1600 miles on our car the shifting or decelerating while the transmission is shifting to a higher gear is hardly noticiable now. In fact I anticipate it and ease off of the accelerator slightly as I would when driving a manual stick shift type of transmission. Not a problem.....................

[rawlus®]

you do NOT need to lift off the throttle pedal when shifting.
computer takes care of throttle management during the shifting procedure automatically.
steady and consistent pedal application will result in the smoothest shifting.
attempts to modulate the pedal as one would on a normal standard transmission with manual clutch will serve only to confuse the process and/or result in less-smooth shifting and more pronounced head-bobbing.

[Okie Boy]

Originally Posted by rawlus®

you do NOT need to lift off the throttle pedal when shifting.
computer takes care of throttle management during the shifting procedure automatically.
steady and consistent pedal application will result in the smoothest shifting.
attempts to modulate the pedal as one would on a normal standard transmission with manual clutch will serve only to confuse the process and/or result in less-smooth shifting and more pronounced head-bobbing.

True if you lift on the throttle the shifts can be jerky but after driving my smart for over 17,000 miles I find I can gently feather the throttle so that the shifts are very smooth and that action is automatic now.

The smart shifts well if you leave the throttle alone but after the transmission shifts the computer will return the throttle to the position you have slected and the power level may be more than is needed for the smoothest operation.