How can you live with the tranny?

[a4skiing]

My first drive in the car was getting into rush hour traffic onto rte 1 out of Boston . The first mile taught me to never use the stik if you are in a hurry !
150 miles later at speeds up to the max 80 + miles per hour I arrived home in the mts. of New Hamshire and the paddle shifters came alive as I flew the back roads to home ! Horrible push on slippery roads Thank goodness most of the body panels are easy to replace. OH fuel mileage on that first trip 32 MPG

[dennyrex]

I left it in automatic on my test drive, as I didn't want to be bothered with it and wanted to concentrate on other things. But is it really any different than my clutch-pedal-less Renault Twingo from 10 years ago? I got used to that pretty quickly, and never gave it another thought. I guess I'm expecting to do the same on the smart...

[LorbeerTLC]

I too was surprised by the transmission. My first experience was in a 450 and I laughed. The 451 is better (the Euro test drive version during the smart tour), and I understand the North American is even better than the Euro version.

I inquired why smart didn't just offer a manual? The reply I got was the manual clutch configuration would be too awkward to build and wouldn’t fit. This "Auto-Manual" was the best to have for maximum fuel mileage. I guess it's not too bad... but I think this will be the #1 issue in the U.S.
I've ordered a 2008 smart passion cabrio (blue/silver), fully loaded and I'm actually looking forward to driving it. It'll be a new experience.

Note: I understand the 451 will handle in the wind about the same as the old (rear engine/air cooled), VW Beetle (ah, yes I remember them well…). When a truck passes the opposite way doing 70, you’ll have your hands on the wheel. Then there are the cross-winds. Those living in the southern California (I-10 in the Ontario area), know exactly what I’m talking about.

It’s good to have these forums telling people what to expect, rather than to have remorse after purchasing your new vehicle. It’s all the nature of the beast.

-Tom L.

[jwight]

a4skiing, gonna move this to the Ops and Maint section since it's really not about website issues.

[Ativan]

It feels like a manual with no clutch pedal. Remember to let up on the gas slightly when it is shifting and it goes fine. I have driven mine for one week in snow, ice and rain and have had no problems.

[eqwalker]

Gosh, I guess I just don't understand all the fuss. I have had no issues at all with the tranny. I have found that I even leave it in auto most of the time and don't even think about it. I guess it must be harder for some to adapt.

[LorbeerTLC]

I think speaking for myself, as a person who drives a manual transmission, my learning curve will be; Not having control of my clutch.
For those who drive a manual transmission, you might know what I mean.

Your stuck behind traffic because of a s-l-o-w truck. But wait! There's a red stop light ahead and the right lane is clear (move-to-right lane to get into position). You're waiting for the light to change. With hand on the gearshift, left foot on the clutch... "GREEN"
You strategically match the gas-to-clutch ratio for optimum torque as you leap forward, catching the truck by surprise... whining out first, you slam it into second and change lanes just as the right lane ends. VICTORY! (the crowd cheers! "HUZZAH!"), and the 1992 Chevy Metro can breath again.

That's the thing I've always enjoyed about a manual transmission. The fun of shifting with a clutch. When a computer operates the clutch... I don't know... I get a feeling it'll just be "average". The "edge" will be missing. The whole “fun factor� equation has changed.
Just like coming up to a really steep hill with a stop sign at the top, it's both fun, challenging, and a bit of skill to operate the gas-to-clutch power-ratio under abnormal conditions. I'm sure I will like my 451 when I get it... it'll just be an adjustment.
Having absolute control of the clutch is just as important and fun to me as shifting. For me they are a grouped package.

This is like the guy trying to answer the question of, “Why do you like riding a motorcycle?� To which he replied; “If I have to explain it, you wouldn’t understand.�
-Tom L.

[AnitaInKC]

Tom:
I SOOOOO understand your feelings about the clutch. I've driven a manual for the last 10 years; learned on one so long ago, and off & on in between. I think I'm going to miss my clutch. Shifting & clutching ARE a grouped package! It's going to be like something is missing...what's my left leg going to do??? LOL! But, like you, I'm sure I'll get used to it, and a few months after we get our new baby cars...we'll be going "What clutch?? Where? When??" At least I hope so.

(Oh, you said Metro...sniff-sniff...my old baby-car died last week. I'm still in mourning, because my smart car hasn't arrived yet.)

[Robbie51]

Originally Posted by LorbeerTLC

I think speaking for myself, as a person who drives a manual transmission, my learning curve will be; Not having control of my clutch.
For those who drive a manual transmission, you might know what I mean.

Your stuck behind traffic because of a s-l-o-w truck. But wait! There's a red stop light ahead and the right lane is clear (move-to-right lane to get into position). You're waiting for the light to change. With hand on the gearshift, left foot on the clutch... "GREEN"
You strategically match the gas-to-clutch ratio for optimum torque as you leap forward, catching the truck by surprise... whining out first, you slam it into second and change lanes just as the right lane ends. VICTORY! (the crowd cheers! "HUZZAH!"), and the 1992 Chevy Metro can breath again.

That's the thing I've always enjoyed about a manual transmission. The fun of shifting with a clutch. When a computer operates the clutch... I don't know... I get a feeling it'll just be "average". The "edge" will be missing. The whole “fun factor� equation has changed.
Just like coming up to a really steep hill with a stop sign at the top, it's both fun, challenging, and a bit of skill to operate the gas-to-clutch power-ratio under abnormal conditions. I'm sure I will like my 451 when I get it... it'll just be an adjustment.
Having absolute control of the clutch is just as important and fun to me as shifting. For me they are a grouped package.

This is like the guy trying to answer the question of, “Why do you like riding a motorcycle?� To which he replied; “If I have to explain it, you wouldn’t understand.�
-Tom L.

That is the one thing that disappoints me about this car, it's not a true stick. I don't believe in manumatic. It's either one or the other. I'm so hooked on driving stick. My Scion xB is stick!!!...oh well I'll just have to deal with it

[lhoboy]

Originally Posted by Robbie51

That is the one thing that disappoints me about this car, it's not a true stick. I don't believe in manumatic. It's either one or the other. I'm so hooked on driving stick. My Scion xB is stick!!!...oh well I'll just have to deal with it

My 2 cents on the subject, AGAIN. I hate automatic transmissions and have never owned one in 38 years of driving. The manumatic is even worse than an automatic. The first thing I will attempt to do is wire up an electronically modulated clutch. The current slave actuator may already be suitable unless it is a simple in/out solenoid rather than an attenuated actuator. If so, isolating the actuator from the computer and connecting it to a variable potentiometer at the end of a clutch pedal should do the job. Until I see the clutch schematics, though, this is merely conjecture.