Reprogrammed Transmission Comments

[jefferios]

Any news on an official rollout date yet?

[headless]

I'm not sure I like the idea of holding the upshift paddle to get the car to go from Manual into D, I presume if you are in D just flicking either the up or down paddle shifts it to manual.
My smart roadster had a button on the side of the floor shifter to switch between manual and auto, or if in auto blip any paddle to change to manual.
But interesting that they have done this mod for you guys, makes you think why did'nt they do it in the first place?
ellis

[Macaw]

Originally Posted by headless

I'm not sure I like the idea of holding the upshift paddle to get the car to go from Manual into D, I presume if you are in D just flicking either the up or down paddle shifts it to manual.
ellis

That's how it works on th '09 touch up/down paddle will shift to manual mode and hold in up to go back to D

[GiantKiller]

Originally Posted by jefferios

Any news on an official rollout date yet?

smart center milwaukee had the official conferance call last wed. Eric said that if you bring your car in for any service it's mandatory for him to install it then.

[Quagmire]

Does the new owners manual explain how this works? If so, can someone post the instructions. I drive my 2008 in manual all the time so I'm not sure I want to mess with this. My stealership is notorious for taking 3 tries to get the job done right.

[Godfather]

I'd be curious to know why a software change would be mandatory if the driver has no complaint with how the car operates. Some of us like it fine the way it is.

[dbwill]

This is just a guess but when the car squats there is extra clutch wear. Supposedly the car no longer squats after the upgrade. I wondered about this when we first noticed it and thought there might be more clutch plate replacements that would normally be required.

This is a guess

[Macaw]

Originally Posted by Godfather

I'd be curious to know why a software change would be mandatory if the driver has no complaint with how the car operates. Some of us like it fine the way it is.

Or possibly the 1-2 upshift slowness (on occasion) is considered a "safety" issue... We also have to do mandatory upgrades on consumer electronics and its is either a safety issue (cover their butt) or government required "feature" update...

[John_H]

Originally Posted by headless

I'm not sure I like the idea of holding the upshift paddle to get the car to go from Manual into D, I presume if you are in D just flicking either the up or down paddle shifts it to manual.
My smart roadster had a button on the side of the floor shifter to switch between manual and auto, or if in auto blip any paddle to change to manual.
But interesting that they have done this mod for you guys, makes you think why did'nt they do it in the first place?
ellis

For the US market, my understanding is they felt they "needed" the PRND style of shifter to properly market the car here.

[magilly00]

Just talked to Smart Car Indy and Lober in Chicago they are not doing any reprogramming yet. Lober said you should be contacted by Smart when it's available and they may be checking and possible updating a number of things not just updating the transmissions.