Signs of intelligence from my transmission

[stevenvillatoro]

The paddles have been awesome for shifting, and I thought they would be a necessity due to early reports on the automatic mode of the transmission.

But this morning, on the way to work I gave it a try (out of sheer laziness), and the automatic feature is quite intelligent, once you give it a chance. The lurches reported by the press are not present when you learn to let off the gas for a millisecond. You can control the shift points very nicely with a similar technique. Downshifts are quick and well-timed. At worst, I'd call it quirky, but at best I'd call it somewhat masterful because operationally it seemed better mated to the car than the overly staid transmissions of many luxury cars I've owned or driven.

My only transmission complaint is the sequence required to move the lever from manual mode into 'Park.' But, that's no big deal really.

[dancote]

With all the negatives I've heard about the transmission, I was prepared for the worst. After driving the car home, I'm quite satisfied with the "auto" mode. The paddle shifters are fun but I suspect that I won't bother with them much.

[kmeinhold]

Ive been using the tiprtonic in my Volvo on the way to work for a few weeks now (I always used it quite a bit already) - in preparation to driving my new smart later today.

[SmartCard]

My wife and I had an extended test drive (30 min?) yesterday, and indeed the paddle shifters are great. I had no problem with stomping it and getting up to 60 in a heartbeat (well, ok .........a few heartbeats! ) Went back to auto mode for a bit and the key really is not to attempt to floor it as most automatic drivers normally do. Indeed you can anticipate the shifts and let up on the gas oh so lightly and you do accelerate nicely.

Originally Posted by stevenvillatoro

My only transmission complaint is the sequence required to move the lever from manual mode into 'Park.' But, that's no big deal really.

explain? I don't remember any issue in coming out of manual mode into park?

[spdickey]

You have to push to the right, then up to go from manual to park.

[stevenvillatoro]

Originally Posted by spdickey

You have to push to the right, then up to go from manual to park.

And pull the 'trigger' on the shifter to get it past the lockouts.

[Karl Roth]

This computer has got to be adaptive (optimizes itself) there was a bit of drop the nose on shift that to me seems to be getting less and less. The throttle is a drive by wire design I belive, are we defeating the learning curve by lifting ? would love to have a beer with the guy that designed this setup.
karl

[dbwill]

Originally Posted by kmeinhold

Ive been using the tiprtonic in my Volvo on the way to work for a few weeks now (I always used it quite a bit already) - in preparation to driving my new smart later today.

I have a similar thing in my BMW but there is a LARGE problem! In the BMW pushing the shifter forward down shifts and pulling it rearward up shifts. Just OPPOSITE from the smart.

I don't care which way it is designed but all cars should be standard. I can foresee a problem which I bet will cause someone to get sued.


So, I will be using either automatic or the paddles in the smart

[flywithsean]

Originally Posted by stevenvillatoro

My only transmission complaint is the sequence required to move the lever from manual mode into 'Park.' But, that's no big deal really.

This drives me crazy as well.

[Karl Roth]

still on the first tank of gas and have left the stick in D in an attempt to not get to carried away. find if i want to hold the gear a bit longer gently give it more gas to go up back off, again just a bit. The nose does lift and then settle a bit not bothered by it. Has anyone else tried this?
Karl