Manual Transmission

[a2jack]

Smart cars are lite and low cost. All component design engineering must point toward this goal.

IMO, the transmission achieved the light and cheap goal, but is greatly lacking in human factors engineering for the US market.

The new selector will make it even worse.

A2Jack.

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by lhoboy

At least with a manual and a bunch of over-revving and double-clutching, you might have made it sound impressive. ;)

There are some who are compelled to do it.

[Lewis]

It's clear from this perch that the company picked the SINGLE most popular variables and decided for starters to standardize on that particular car.

We are a strange breed on this forum. Think about the statistical popularity of manual transmissions (I think they're at 3% of the market now) and diesel cars in the USA as a whole and you can easily see that given the fact Smart wanted only one model for the USA, they settled on the 451 the way we are getting it- from a business perspective it's hard to fault their judgement even though we on the forum would kill for the diesel with a manual transmission.

[dbwill]

Lets see, the transmission is a manual with an electric clutch and is similar to a SMG transmission used on the BMW M5 and Maserati. I suspect that the electric clutch might be a more expensive repair than a pedal operated clutch, but we will find out.


Also someone correct me if I am wrong but I think that there is only one transmission available world wide.

[Old smart]

It could be that the electro-regulated "clutch-in-a-can" may be less subject to abuse than a foot-operated one.

As far as I can see, only the 5-speed Getrag will be in use from '07 onward. Even with the Euro diesels.

[Fredvon4]

My 0.02c ---- Smart gets CVT or the Microdrive or both...but there will not be a true manual or typical automatinc no mater what motor they eventualy offer in NA

[lhoboy]

Originally Posted by fishrdnc

It could be that the electro-regulated "clutch-in-a-can" may be less subject to abuse than a foot-operated one.

As far as I can see, only the 5-speed Getrag will be in use from '07 onward. Even with the Euro diesels.

Nothing wrong with the 5 speed getrag. Good solid unit if you have full control over the clutching. Has anyone seen the engineering detail on the automated clutch? My first mod may well be to convert it to a manual clutch. It might be fun to have a manual clutch coupled with an electric shift mechanism. It would be too difficult to try to create a solid feeling shift linkage from the shifter back to the rear mounted transmission. Remember the Corvair? Shifting that vehicle was like stirring a can of melted ice cream.

[jonnysan]

Originally Posted by fishrdnc

It could be that the electro-regulated "clutch-in-a-can" may be less subject to abuse than a foot-operated one.

You are probably right on that one, Fish. So many people who drive standards don't really know how to use them. Riding the clutch while sitting at lights and not shifting to neutral can lower clutch life by a load. Also, slipping the clutch excessively while starting out is another bad thing done alot. The Getrag takes all those human imperfections out of the equation, doesn't it?....

[DaveInTexas]

Well,

Riding the clutch will wear out the throw-out bearing, but I don't think it would wear out the clutch unless you are one of the guys who likes to pulse forwards and backwards at the stop light on an incline.

I wouldn't mind the clutch pedal, but I know I am in the minority. My Nissan Clutch has 146,000 on it without an issue(knock on wood).

[spdickey]