Manual v Sportshift

[pdc41]

Hi

Can anyone tell me if living with the Sportshift is as bad as my test drive.

I know I need to change my style and need the 4.7 according to the dealer.

But what's it really like and would all plump for the manual, I assume its for the purest and my preference but having real issues finding a manual along with all the other things I need to tick on the car

I live in city and last time I checked will not be spending most of the time on the track.

Thanks

[bigeckfaetherigs]

pdc41 - having just purchased a Sportshift last weekend I know exactly where you are coming from. Soon as I started to drive it back up to Aberdeen I thought OMG what have I done buying this and not the manual - very jerky gear changes.

However within a few days I had mastered a few of the techniques. The biggest revelation was putting the car through the clutch learning mode, which I did several times, then took the car out and the difference was almost night and day. I have since also found that if you are driving the car sensibly then a progressive throttle control gives a much smoother gear change. Although when you want to have a bit of fun with the paddles I blip the throttle at gear change (read that on the forum here)and this also smooth's out the gear change.

To summarise I am finding the car a lot easier to drive having now driven it for a week in all kinds of road/driving conditions.

[pdc41]

Bigeck...

Thanks...helpful but what's the learning mode?

[X7LDA]

When you turn the car on, with the air-con off, leave your foot on the brake in neutral for 10 seconds and you will hear a click. Clutch has now reset (basically).

I have had a manual Vantage and now onto a Sportshift and have to say I would never go back to a manual. Once you get used to it, the Sportshift is a lot lot better in my opinion.

Remember to lift slightly before you change up the gears. If in traffic and crawling and need to change down, either let the car do it for you, or don't change until you are below 1k revs and it's fine. Any other time (i.e. normal driving) I think changing down is like it is in a manual.

[Jon39]

I have a 4.7 manual, so know almost nothing about the Sportshift.

pdc41 - from your post, it appears that you drove a 4.3 Sportshift.

bigeckfaetherigs - your car is described as a 4.7 Sportshift.

Perhaps there is a difference between the two gearbox systems. Is the 4.3 Sportshift 1, and the 4.7 Sportshift 2?

Possibly Sportshift 2 did not arrive until the Vantage S, but it might be worth clarifying.

The normal advice on this forum, is to test drive both Sportshift and Manual, then you can decide which is your own preference.

Enjoy the hunt Paul. Take time if you can, because the pre-owned stock list keeps changing. Your ideal car may appear if you can be patient, although some specifications can be very rare, so then it is not so easy.

Edited by Jon39 on Sunday 30th June 17:09

[Neil1300R]

Sport shift 2 only available with the S.

[Phil74891]

I test drove a 4.7 manual and an S with Sportshift II. Hands down the S won it for me, I loved the SS II. I found the manual to be just 'ok'. Also the stick was just in the wrong position for me. Tungsten S with black interior (how unbelievably boring is that?) arriving later this year.............obviously can't wait. Drive them both and you'll decide quite easily i think.

[mikey k]

Neil1300R said:

Sport shift 2 only available with the S.

& +MY12 standard cars
The learn doesn't "reset" the clutch it relearns the kiss and bite point to optimise the clutch, in this way it will wear less and adjust for any wear each time it does a learn

ASM1 on 4.3 & 4.7 only differs with ECU updates

OP from ~30k miles in ASM1 and ASM2 I was the same as you to start with and took some convincing.
I've learnt a few trick over the miles
1) do several learns in succession when you first get the car
2) then do one each day you drive the car
3) ASM1 benefits from a slight lift as you change up (not needed on ASM2 or down shifts)
4) don't use D
5) don't use comfort
6) avoid creep mode (also works in reverse)
6) avoid reversing especially up hill
7) it is possible to stall an ASM car

[hashlove]

mikey k said:

7) it is possible to stall an ASM car

I'll testify to that, happened to me too.

[bigeckfaetherigs]

4) don't use D
5) don't use comfort
6) avoid creep mode (also works in reverse)

Mikey K - are you a saying use the car with paddles all the time and no comfort mode at all? Can you expand a little please, as you know I just got a Sportshift and am keen to make the most of it.

[mikey k]

It is a robotised manual and seems to be behave better when driven just on the paddles
I do the same on my ASM2 equipped S as well

[bigeckfaetherigs]

Ah - I understand what you mean, although around town I prefer the lazy option if you know what I mean. Went out today for a 30 mile run on country roads and had a lot of fun with different styles of driving from ambling along to driving like it was stolen and have to say it is truly the most involving driving I have ever experienced and loving it and already looking to the next AM - DBS or V12 Vantage...................

[pdc41]

Thanks to all. I am looking at 4.7 but not a S as too much I am afraid.

It seems all is not lost, if I take one,

Does the d work ok when around town

[yeti]

pdc41 said:

Does the d work ok when around town

Apparently it's awful! The single plate clutch just doesn't allow smoothness in D mode so people have started swapping that out for a twin-plate unit and lightened flywheel when it wears out. Reported as much better!

[pdc41]

Is there any reason to buy one or just stick to manual?

[X7LDA]

Yes, as above, some people think they are better.

D isn't that bad on my car. But never use it - prefer the paddles

[hashlove]

I changed up to the twin plate clutch within two months of my purchase. And have to say D mode was so much better, but the paddles still work best, even in town. Would whole heatedly recommend the upgraded clutch if you are thinking of ASM. It really is night and day.

[bigeckfaetherigs]

yeti said:

pdc41 said:

Does the d work ok when around town

Apparently it's awful! The single plate clutch just doesn't allow smoothness in D mode so people have started swapping that out for a twin-plate unit and lightened flywheel when it wears out. Reported as much better!

Yeti - without having to trawl the forums; any idea on the cost of this and roughly what is the life span of the standard auto clutch?

[Jon39]

pdc41 said:

Is there any reason to buy one or just stick to manual?

It is all personal preference.

With a manual, you won't get Mike's book entitled, 'Seven Rules of Sportshift'.

The only criticisms of the manual that you hear;
1). 1st to 2nd is slightly heavy when cold (but soon becomes normal)
2). When gear changing, some drivers dislike having to lift their elbow above the central locker.

There is a fair amount of torque with a 4·7 so with a manual, if you want to be lazy you can. Rather ridiculous, but foot down at 30 mph in 6th gear, and it will accelerate.

[mikey k]

Jon39 said:

With a manual, you won't get Mike's book entitled, 'Seven Rules of Sportshift'.

Nor the free updates