[MicroNut]

One of our Canadian fellow entusiasts has posted a video illustrating the shift from first to second gear. The test was conducted pedal to the floor in manual mode:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTNkRa0SZb4

This should be representative of the gear shift quality we experience on cars in the US.

 

[jwight]

Hopefully someone will post a better video than that on u-tube. Sound is much better than the images. It appears from other threads that the delay is equal to the delay in a manual where the driver has to depress the clutch; in the smart this is done electrically but there is also that momentary wait between gears. Still not sure why M-B didn't put a CVT in this model.

 

[jonnysan]

That does not seem to me to be that bad. I mean it's not like you're flat shifting it all the time or something, you know? The delay to me is reasonable and much like a normal shift with a standard would be if you are not in a hurry or anything. As time goes on, they may figure out a way to quicken up the shift, too, and offer the mod to first adopters.
Driving like that all the time will surely get you in the 30+ mpg range no problem.....

 

[DaveInTexas]

Still not sure why M-B didn't put a CVT in this model.

Please, don't ruin the car M-B!!!

Two bad transmissions in my Honda have me Leary of cvt's.

 

[spdickey]

Perhaps the decision between CVT and the automated manual transmission was due to small engine size and wanting the most torque to the wheels. A fully manual tranny with a clutch peddle would be harder to drive in the urban environment the smart is designed for.

I have a CVT in my Prius and can really tell how much torque is lost, especially at lower speeds.

Good article at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-automatic_transmission

 

[lhoboy]

That does not seem to me to be that bad.

I agree. The delay sounds like it may be a second at most compared to the 4-5 second reports we have heard. With gated synchros, you can't shift much faster than that antway.

 

[lhoboy]

A fully manual tranny with a clutch peddle would be harder to drive in the urban environment the smart is designed for.

I just don't understand that. For as light as the Smart is, driving a full manual transmision in any environment (except maybe San Francisco) is incredibly easy and effortless. Once you get use to driving a manual in city traffic , it's just not a big deal and you get much better control over the vehicle. Try rocking a car out of a pile of snow with anything other than a manual transmission. It's just not as effective.

 

[GHammerly]

I wonder how complicated it may be to convert to a true manual, the mechanical side may be fairly stight FWD but all the electronics tied to this system may be a challenge.

 

[spdickey]

Try rocking a car out of a pile of snow with anything other than a manual transmission. It's just not as effective.

If I ever get it stuck in the snow I'll just ask my buddy to help me pick it up and move it.

 

[spdickey]

I wonder how complicated it may be to convert to a true manual, the mechanical side may be fairly stight FWD but all the electronics tied to this system may be a challenge.

True manual with a clutch pedal? If you want to shift it yourself, use the paddles or the floor shifter. Check clubsmart.ca and read some of the driving reports of their 451 (just arrived in October, but some deliveries are being held up due to Canadian emissions paperwork).

 

[lhoboy]

I wonder how complicated it may be to convert to a true manual, the mechanical side may be fairly stight FWD but all the electronics tied to this system may be a challenge.

I've been thinking that the automated clutch servo could be replaced with a slave cylinde, depending on the design. (I'm still looking for an exploded view of the clutch/transmission). I would tend to stick with the shift by wire, because designing a precise feeling mechanical shifter that reaches back to a rear mounted drivetrain is going to be too challenging.

 

[GiantKiller]

I've been thinking that the automated clutch servo could be replaced with a slave cylinde, depending on the design. (I'm still looking for an exploded view of the clutch/transmission). I would tend to stick with the shift by wire, because designing a precise feeling mechanical shifter that reaches back to a rear mounted drivetrain is going to be too challenging.

I was thinking the same thing. Let us know what you come up with

 

[DaveInTexas]

I'm not so woried about the clutch, but I will definitely be looking for the European shifter.