Questions on Smart Trans.

[lhoboy]

fishrndc,

Is your avatar a seven or super seven?

[Old smart]

Lohboy

It is a street-drivable, competition Caterham Seven 1700 SuperSprint (what the Brits call a

[delyan]

Originally Posted by a2jack

The transmission is quirky. and in my opinon, needs to be re-programed to better fit the USA aggressive driving style.

I'm concerned about the fact that 2008 Smart ForTwo is a new generation model and every new generation model has problems at the beginning!

[smartmx]

Originally Posted by delyan

I'm concerned about the fact that 2008 Smart ForTwo is a new generation model and every new generation model has problems at the beginning!

I am sorry to inform you but the 2008 smart is a third generation, and the transmission has always been the same, actually it just got better so if this is as good as it gets ... don't expect better

[SmartCard]

I believe the 451's tranny is new (5 vs 6 speed for the 450), and different manufacturer to boot?

[lhoboy]

I'd rather have the 6 speed manual. The transmission on the tour demo felt very much like that on a gas powered golf cart with centrifugal clutch.

[prash]

When I test drove the car I too was told the transmissions would be reporgrammed. I asked how they could possibly reprogram the transmission any better than the Euro versions we were driving. I was told by the dealer (Euromotorcar) that there would be electonics standard on all US versions that allow them to better manage the shifting. Those electronics are not on all Euro versions, according to the dealer personnel. I think it was the electronic brake assist, but can't really remember. I do notice that that feature is not listed as standard on all smart versions.

[Ralph Finneren]

I noticed during the test drive that the 1-2 shift was "helped" by letting off the gas, as if shifting a manual. That said, the performance of the trans in the demo fleet is not acceptable, at least in this neck of the woods. The auto manufacturer I work for wouldn't dream of letting it out the door like this. MB certainly has the resources to fix it, it will be a deal breaker for many that walk in the door and test drive the car.

[PassionforPassionCT]

Originally Posted by Ralph Finneren

I noticed during the test drive that the 1-2 shift was "helped" by letting off the gas, as if shifting a manual. That said, the performance of the trans in the demo fleet is not acceptable, at least in this neck of the woods. The auto manufacturer I work for wouldn't dream of letting it out the door like this. MB certainly has the resources to fix it, it will be a deal breaker for many that walk in the door and test drive the car.

In what terms? its also a transmission that has not been in the US either, its not an automatic and shouldn't be treated this way. It really is a manual transmission, thats the basis there. And from driving the car, its the smoothest stick shift I have ever driven.

[Ralph Finneren]

Re: automated manual trans---
Assuming no changes in trans performance, then yes, the trans can be adapted to, it is driveable, and I'm sure the smartie enthusiasts/gearheads on this website will have no problem with it. I'm thinking of the average American driver, used to a slushbox, who can't even drive a manual, & now looking for a city/mileage car, wandering into a smart dealer and taking a test drive. A two to three second lag in the first upshift is going to be a killer, not to mention the noticable increased rpm before the car begins moving. This consumer will have no interest in adapting or shifting with the paddles, to them this is just another automatic and they aren't going to like it. They'll be on their way to the Honda, Chevy, or Toyota dealer.......
MB knows how to build great transmissions, I suspect the performance quirks are related to the packaging--the whole powertrain has to be about 30% of the volume of the average subcompact's. And there are some great automated manuals out there, go to the VW dealer and test drive a Jetta or Golf with the dual-clutch DSG auto/manual trans, this trans is absolutely first-rate. Of course, maybe the smartie should just stay in the hands of enthusiasts, or maybe thats the point. I know I'm going to drive ours in the manual mode anyway.