Gearchanges - Noble vs. Smart
Discussion
Ok a bit tongue in cheek here. But I'm having all sorts of trouble changing gear quickly in the Noble. It's a Ford box and should change quickly and smoothly, but I swear that my Smart changes gear quicker.
It's a tad frustrating since with quick 1st-2nd and 2nd-3rd shifts, this car would shred anything on the road short of a bike or an extreme Caterham.
Perhaps I have funny shape arms but I also get badly tangled up with the handbrake when changing from 1st to 2nd.
2nd to 3rd is simply slow, I need to wiggle the stick around to make sure I get the right slot (oo-err, didn't intend double entendre there, squire
)
Any ideas? Is it standard on all M12s or just 2.5 litre cars? The other alternative of forgetting 1st gear and pulling off in 2nd - I don't fancy this as if I want a quick getaway, I can see it trashing the clutch. I don't fancy Ferrari-style clutch longevity...
It's a tad frustrating since with quick 1st-2nd and 2nd-3rd shifts, this car would shred anything on the road short of a bike or an extreme Caterham.
Perhaps I have funny shape arms but I also get badly tangled up with the handbrake when changing from 1st to 2nd.
2nd to 3rd is simply slow, I need to wiggle the stick around to make sure I get the right slot (oo-err, didn't intend double entendre there, squire
) Any ideas? Is it standard on all M12s or just 2.5 litre cars? The other alternative of forgetting 1st gear and pulling off in 2nd - I don't fancy this as if I want a quick getaway, I can see it trashing the clutch. I don't fancy Ferrari-style clutch longevity...
Well just took my business partner out for a thrash. He is (luckily) also a bit of a petrolhead, otherwise no doubt the Noble would have made him ill.
Joust - you are right, (as expected) the fastest way to change gear is to be brutal. This doesn't come naturally to me as I tend to be more mechanically sympathetic. Any idea whether the 'sod it, force the gear in' approach will knacker the gearbox?? Either that or stretch / screw the cables??
Funnily (or not) enough, I can make a very fast and smooth shift from 4th to 3rd. Let's hope I can get away with 3rd and 4th only at Brands on the 28th April!!!!!!
Joust - you are right, (as expected) the fastest way to change gear is to be brutal. This doesn't come naturally to me as I tend to be more mechanically sympathetic. Any idea whether the 'sod it, force the gear in' approach will knacker the gearbox?? Either that or stretch / screw the cables??
Funnily (or not) enough, I can make a very fast and smooth shift from 4th to 3rd. Let's hope I can get away with 3rd and 4th only at Brands on the 28th April!!!!!!
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