DBS Touchtronic II Auto Gearbox - How good (or bad) is it??
Discussion
George H said:
peterr96 said:
Because it's cheaper/easier to do that way!
And better! I have paddles on the wheel in my Polo and they aren't as good to use imo. I'm pretty sure that all forms of motor sport utilise paddles attached to the wheel (F1 certainly does)
I find it hard to believe that they never considered leaving them static.
You might be interested to see what the cutting edge and beloved by some Mclaren MP4-12C has to say on the matter (4th paragraph)
http://www.mclarenautomotive.com/uk/chapters/pages...
You'll note that as it's essentially money no object they use push or pull. It's not clear whether that means pull either side for change down or pull or push on left hand side for change down. Whatever it's going to cost significantly more to do that kind of technology over a couple of wands attached to the steering binnacle.
Each to their own I guess
AMDBSNick said:
If I was in opposite lock action I would clearly be correcting something that had come as a bit of a suprise. The last thing I would be thinking about is changing gear.
However if I was mid bend needing to change up I would far rather the paddles were on the wheel.
The 'correct' way is static paddles (on the column) so that you don't get confused between up and down when spinning the steering wheel while having moved your hands.However if I was mid bend needing to change up I would far rather the paddles were on the wheel.
F1 paddles can be on the wheel, but then the wheel hardly turns more than 90 degrees each way, so hands are always where they are supposed to be.
Paddles on the wheel are constantly criticized by the motoring press, and rightly so, for being incorrect.
peterr96 said:
Hmmm.
I'm pretty sure that all forms of motor sport utilise paddles attached to the wheel (F1 certainly does)
I find it hard to believe that they never considered leaving them static.
You might be interested to see what the cutting edge and beloved by some Mclaren MP4-12C has to say on the matter (4th paragraph)
http://www.mclarenautomotive.com/uk/chapters/pages...
You'll note that as it's essentially money no object they use push or pull. It's not clear whether that means pull either side for change down or pull or push on left hand side for change down. Whatever it's going to cost significantly more to do that kind of technology over a couple of wands attached to the steering binnacle.
Each to their own I guess
F1 uses them on the steering wheel because it has limited travel (i.e. can't turn more than 180 degrees). Plus the clutch is hand operated next to the gear paddles, so they probably try to keep their hands on both as much as possible. I'm pretty sure that all forms of motor sport utilise paddles attached to the wheel (F1 certainly does)
I find it hard to believe that they never considered leaving them static.
You might be interested to see what the cutting edge and beloved by some Mclaren MP4-12C has to say on the matter (4th paragraph)
http://www.mclarenautomotive.com/uk/chapters/pages...
You'll note that as it's essentially money no object they use push or pull. It's not clear whether that means pull either side for change down or pull or push on left hand side for change down. Whatever it's going to cost significantly more to do that kind of technology over a couple of wands attached to the steering binnacle.
Each to their own I guess
I'm fairly sure GT racing uses fixed paddles on the majority of cars.
As for the Mclaren, the way my mate explained it to me after his test drive was that the paddles are one piece and pivot around the centre of the steering column, so as you pull one it pushes the other forward. Meaning you can try to change gear by pulling the wrong paddle forwards to get the right gear... if that makes sense
peterr96 said:
OK
That's settled then. A manual stick on the transmission tunnel is a far more sensible, predictable and good idea.
No argument is now going to supplant that.
Simples
Indeed.... if you live in the 1940s.That's settled then. A manual stick on the transmission tunnel is a far more sensible, predictable and good idea.
No argument is now going to supplant that.
Simples
Day 2. Sport Mode on. Serious whiplash injuries when up shifting at full throttle this morning. Had another go on the way home and seemed to manage a smoother run. So an improvement.
But this is what ruins the experience for me......
George in my own car with the 1940's stick shift I can control the revs at any given point. In this 21st Century masterpiece IT controls them and for me thats not good. Sorry
Further update tomorrow when I shall do some serious country lanes.
No update Thursday as I'm in soho for drinkies
But this is what ruins the experience for me......
George in my own car with the 1940's stick shift I can control the revs at any given point. In this 21st Century masterpiece IT controls them and for me thats not good. Sorry
Further update tomorrow when I shall do some serious country lanes.
No update Thursday as I'm in soho for drinkies
yeti said:
Cross eyed, shortarsed, bling bonnet-vented hedgefinder (in 7 degrees or lower, be sure to check temps before you venture out, every time)...
Or the world's most elegant and beautiful sporting grand tourer?
Stick with the DBS idea, it was a good one
As someone I know said ....Or the world's most elegant and beautiful sporting grand tourer?
Stick with the DBS idea, it was a good one
And at this juncture, as ever, we agree to disagree
AMDBSNick said:
But this is what ruins the experience for me......
George in my own car with the 1940's stick shift I can control the revs at any given point. In this 21st Century masterpiece IT controls them and for me thats not good. Sorry
I'm puzzled here by what you mean. How is IT controlling the revs at any given point as compared to a manual? With either box you can select the gear which gives you the desired revs for a given road speed. I don't see the difference.George in my own car with the 1940's stick shift I can control the revs at any given point. In this 21st Century masterpiece IT controls them and for me thats not good. Sorry
Now, I'm not talking about auto up changes/down changes; a wholly different story. But don't the paddles select and stay in any gear you choose until you decide to change, same as a manual?
DB9VolanteDriver said:
But don't the paddles select and stay in any gear you choose until you decide to change, same as a manual?
They do in sport mode, it will let you keep bouncing the revs off the limiter if you so wish (can't imagine why anyone would). With sport mode off it will change up automatically if you hit the rev limiter. DB9VolanteDriver said:
With either box you can select the gear which gives you the desired revs for a given road speed. I don't see the difference.
The clutch is the difference. Should you choose to you can vary the revs when feeding in the power when the clutch is in and also control the speed at which you let it out. Plus when you blip for a downshift, it's real, not fake 
Peterr96 has asked me to wrap this up so I shall.
Day 3 was a write off due to weather and Day 4 I was in Soho drinking
Day 5 I returned the (for the benefit of the OP) £150000 ish TT to collect my 3yro 1940's stick shift which cost considerably less. In fact enough to buy a lovely 355 but that's another story. One of my drinking mates in Soho also has a TT and he openly admits he just hits "D" and off he goes. I suspect the reason AM have pursued this route is that's what the majority want. I have posted why I love my '40's box and stand by that. Yeti's comments are also valid.
The biggest shame is going forward I suspect we will have no choice and that is WRONG
Day 3 was a write off due to weather and Day 4 I was in Soho drinking
Day 5 I returned the (for the benefit of the OP) £150000 ish TT to collect my 3yro 1940's stick shift which cost considerably less. In fact enough to buy a lovely 355 but that's another story. One of my drinking mates in Soho also has a TT and he openly admits he just hits "D" and off he goes. I suspect the reason AM have pursued this route is that's what the majority want. I have posted why I love my '40's box and stand by that. Yeti's comments are also valid.
The biggest shame is going forward I suspect we will have no choice and that is WRONG
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