Transmission observation...

[rfernatt]

Originally Posted by fortow

The dash tells you when to shift because it wants you to shift at the same engine speeds that the auto programming shifts at. There's no advantage to using the manual mode if you are going to follow that.
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Try using 3000 rpm initially and after that you will get to know how you want the car to perform and what the engine sounds and feels like at the shift points you use. You may choose to shift at a lower rpm than that some times and at a higher rpm at others depending on how you want the car to perform.
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The auto mode has been programmed to get maximum mileage - it is not programmed to shift at the best rpm range. It tends to shift at an rpm level that is far too low, almost at the point of lugging the engine. You get very little power, the shifts are rough, and the engine vibrates. It also wants to keep shifting to a higher gear even when that is not appropriate. That is one of the benefits of shifting manually - you can keep the transmission in an appropriate gear for the circumstances.

+1. Rolling, hilly terrain is the bane of the transmission. Just when it thinks it's safe to upshift, it gets it wrong. 3K is about perfect for shifts in my case.

Originally Posted by JD10367

The shift arrow is useless (just as it is in my Saturn). If I happen to have it in paddle mode, whenever it tells me to shift is usually the wrong time. You shift by "ear", and/or when you simply need more or less power. In other words, if you're going uphill or breaking away from a red light, you might leave it in the gear longer and let the engine get higher in the RPMs; if you're leisurely pulling away down an empty straight (or downhill) road you might shift lower in the gear to keep the engine from straining unnecessarily.

+1

Originally Posted by NCC1701

I put in a little D driving time in town yesterday for the first time since I got my 2.0 upgrade. Probably because I wasn't in a hurry and was being gentle with the gas peddle, but it does seem like the shifts are smoother than they used to be. It also seemed to wait to shift to 5th gear a little longer than it used to. For what it's worth, according to SSII, I seem to get my best MPGs when the engine is running around 1,500 RPM on level roads. At that engine speed you get a bit of the lugging sensation though. Others have stated that it isn't really lugging at that speed but it doesn't sound happy to me. ??

I agree that after the 2.0 upgrade, it seems to hold the gear on hills better than before. The grade logic seems to have been improved in 2.0 instead of hunting all over the place. I hate the lugging sensation and think it does shift into 5th too early on level ground. In manual shifting, I don't shift into 5th until I'm at about 45 mph. But, pretty much all shifts are done right at 3K on the tach for me unless I need more in some situations.

AC usage also dictates shift point to a degree. Since it's pulling some of the little power available, you want to be in a little higher rev range before shifting when the AC (or defroster) is running to compensate for the compressor being on. I wonder if auto mode has any compensation for the compressor?

[JD10367]

NCC: we say that the little guy is "grumbling" with unhappiness when he's in low 5th, 'cause he really wants to go faster. The car LOVES going 70.

rfer: I haven't noticed much of a power drop with the A/C. Then again, I think my A/C is broken, LOL. I have to have it checked when I go in for my new key.

[RVGRINGO]

That little car is smarter than most of us.

[headless]

Originally Posted by RVGRINGO

That little car is smarter than most of us.

Mine is'nt, it's as thick as 2 short planks, if left to change gear on it's own it either changes stupidly early then lugs or holds on to gears way too long and screams, and it get's really confused on hills as well, when going down an incline in auto it changes down then screams the engine using engine braking to stop it running away.
I very rarely use auto now, only if I am stuck in commuter traffic doing 10 miles an hour on the way home after a bad day, and can't even be bothered to move my fingers onto the paddles as it is too much effort
As to the question, how do you know when to change gear?

I Use the force, the force runs strong in our family.

[fortow]

Originally Posted by RVGRINGO

That little car is smarter than most of us.

As headless mentioned - it's as dumb as a doorknob.
The shift points in auto are chosen to satisfy fuel mileage concerns and to be able to advertise it as a top fuel efficient car.
There is no concern for practical shifting with that auto mode. It gets it all wrong most of the time. And this is what all the negative reviews are about. They are not wrong at all.

Unfortunately most buyers in North America, particularly the US, have little experience with manual shifting and are afraid to use the manual mode. They simply don't know how fun and efficient the shifting can be. It is so simple to operate a child could do it. There is no clutch to manipulate which is usually the difficult part of learning to use a manual shift car. Once a driver understands about engine power characteristics then knowing when to shift will not be a problem.
Smart brought this car to North America with the understanding that Americans don't use manual shifts. That's why they led people to believe it is an automatic so the car would sell in enough numbers to make it a viable concern - it isn't an automatic though and really is a bad implementation of an automated manual so the reviews are keeping many potential buyers away.

You should not be running this engine below 2000 rpm most of the time except under conditions of no load It is only a three cylinder engine which will be very rough at low rpms and is more prone to lugging because of the 3 cyl design. If a driver has any mechanical empathy at all, he or she will not allow that low rpm operation - unless coasting downhill or in first and maybe second gears, of course.

This car is unique in it's design for sure - but the engineers didn't get everything right. There is much room for improvement in several aspects. Regarding the transmission, the re-flash to bring the first iteration brought to the US up to the changes made in the '09's was a step in the right direction but it really makes a very minor improvement. The complaints about the original iteration are still valid.

Personally I have no complaints about the transmission but that is because I never use the auto mode. Those who have only used the auto mode really do not know how pleasing this transmission could be. However, to get the best out of it you need to know how to shift at appropriate times and how to coordinate the throttle properly with the shifting.
A skilled, knowledgable driver is a lot smarter than that dumb programming of the "auto" mode.

[Krootie]

Do you realize what a wonderful option we Smart owners have? Manual or Auto (Drive)!! Is there another car that does that? It took me about a month to attempt to use the paddles in manual mode. And rarely do I use the Auto now - only if I'm having a really challenging day.

Surprised it took me a month to try the manual - as I had a '68 VW Beetle with that semi-auto transmission for eight years You had to put it through the gears and take your foot off the gas pedal, and not as fun to drive as our (s).

[mvaldes]

Originally Posted by Krootie

Do you realize what a wonderful option we Smart owners have? Manual or Auto (Drive)!! Is there another car that does that? ).

Sure, Mini Cooper and Aston Martin to name two that I've driven recently with both auto and with paddles.

[joey17]

dodge stratus has auto stick to lol but it sucks. when i get my car im going to use paddles 99.99999% of the time but one qustion is the mpg's really affectid when in manuel mode if im shifting at 3-3500?

p.s sorry for spelling its been a long day

[SuperGeek]

When I run manual mode in the city, I get about 30-32 because I hold RPMs higher than auto when I shift. If I use manual on the highway, it's the same 40-45 as in auto because the only difference is when it shifts -- and at constant speed, no need to shift.

Drive it how you want to drive, not for some arbitrary number. If you get 30 or 33 MPG it only matters if you're competing for a recordbook... you're already getting one of the highest city MPG ratings possible, so why not drive for the fun of it?

Oh, and I usually shift 1-2 around 4000, 5000 if I'm going uphill with AC on. By the time the shift's over, it's right around the 3000 boost to get 2nd moving really well, then I shift to 3rd around 3500. Auto mode doesn't really anticipate the RPM dropoff when shifting; they could probably improve the auto mode feel by aiming for optimal on the opposite end of the shift, but the calculations involved for varying inclines would be tough.

[dlomshek]

My 2004 BMW M3 has an SMG transmission with both manual and auto modes. It's an auto/manual tranny with a computer activated clutch. It will also shift the gears as well as operate the clutch when in auto mode.