automated manual transmission.

[MaybeWereCrazyBaby]

what does that mean? Im only 17, and I dont know a whole lot of specs about cars. But i was watching a youtube video and noticed there was no gas on the floor of the smart. Does that mean you use the clutch or something? I only saw a break.. i think


Is it hard to get used to

[Dougg]

You'll find several other threads on this subject here with lots of discussion... and disagreement over whether the transmission is evil or heavenly. Very similar to the setup in late-model tractor-trailer rigs, so said a truck driver here. A computer controls the clutch, blips the throttle, and slips it into the next gear. Computer-automated manual transmission; no hydraulic torque converter like your common auto trans has. It works smoother as the car gets broken in; I like it, it's smart, but others hate it. You can also choose to make the shifts happen when you want. The pedals you see on the floor are accelerator & brake. No clutch pedal.

[DFWehman]

To be clear, the car has a gas pedal. The car operates much like an automatic. The difference is how the car shifts, internally there is a big difference, but if you just put it in "D" and go, the difference is slim. Automatics have gears and bands that do the shifting, the smart has gears and clutches, both are automatically operated for you. Just as you can shift an automatic from 1, 2, 3, D, so can you in a smart (except the smart goes from 1 - 5) if you want to, again, no clutch. Not sure if that helps, but thats the best I can do without getting technical.

[Karl Roth]

For me the transaxle is one of the neatest things about the car. It requires no special skills to operate. The manual sequential gearbox is computer controlled and will allow you manual control to a point, it will not let you do something to hurt it. You can still drive the car into a tree but you can't miss a shift. When the cars are new the clutch is a bit grabby and is not a paragon of smoothness but that resolves itself with a little time and burnishing of the dry clutch plate. Slipping is a clutches job by the way, the entire driveline is computer controlled and works well. I am headed out for a ride now, enjoy your car.
karl