sports shift or manual
Discussion
If you run a search on the fourum you will find lots of views and ultimately it's a personal choice. The SS system is different from PDK and runs more like a manual box. I tried SS1 and found it not to be to my liking at slow speed - downshifts were great and at pace I was happy going up through the box... but recently tried SS3 in a Vantage V12S... me likey. Someone has suggested the test drive and this is the best way to go.
Hope I didn't offend anyone in this... there's always a risk of calling someone's baby ugly!
Hope I didn't offend anyone in this... there's always a risk of calling someone's baby ugly!
JimboA said:
Hope I didn't offend anyone in this... there's always a risk of calling someone's baby ugly!
And ultimately everyone will defend their own choices......so get a manual!
I understand that SportShifts get progressively better from SS1 > SS2 > SS3. I have only driven the first incarnation and can confirm it's an acquired taste, but lots of people love it and the SS3 'box in the V12VS gets lots of good reviews. Just don't expect it to be a DSG / PDK / DCT type experience. Think more SMG / TipTronic.
If you have to do very little town/city driving then SS comes into its own on faster, flowing roads whereas it can be a pig in traffic.
AdamV8V said:
And ultimately everyone will defend their own choices...
...so get a manual!
I understand that SportShifts get progressively better from SS1 > SS2 > SS3. I have only driven the first incarnation and can confirm it's an acquired taste, but lots of people love it and the SS3 'box in the V12VS gets lots of good reviews. Just don't expect it to be a DSG / PDK / DCT type experience. Think more SMG / TipTronic.
If you have to do very little town/city driving then SS comes into its own on faster, flowing roads whereas it can be a pig in traffic.
Of course, I do have a manual V8... fully agree with the comments above ...so get a manual!
I understand that SportShifts get progressively better from SS1 > SS2 > SS3. I have only driven the first incarnation and can confirm it's an acquired taste, but lots of people love it and the SS3 'box in the V12VS gets lots of good reviews. Just don't expect it to be a DSG / PDK / DCT type experience. Think more SMG / TipTronic.
If you have to do very little town/city driving then SS comes into its own on faster, flowing roads whereas it can be a pig in traffic.
Would I buy a V12 with SS3... in a heartbeat.kazino said:
I would suggest manual simply to avoid any issue of any potential clutch wear issues with the sportshift.
Manual is just as suspectibleASM2 & 3 are actually a lot better than ASM1 especially as they don't have creep or the stupidly high reverse which is still retained on manuals today
After years of watching discussions on this topic, I would summarize it this way:
- Some people like Sportshift and some people don't (some actually hate it).
- Some people have had problems with Sportshift and some have not.
- Almost everyone who owns the manual gearbox loves it.
- Almost no one has had issues with the manual gearbox (other than slight notchiness when cold).
So one is polarizing while the other is almost unanimously praised. You decide.
- Some people like Sportshift and some people don't (some actually hate it).
- Some people have had problems with Sportshift and some have not.
- Almost everyone who owns the manual gearbox loves it.
- Almost no one has had issues with the manual gearbox (other than slight notchiness when cold).
So one is polarizing while the other is almost unanimously praised. You decide.
Personally I hated the SS1 I had in my 4.7 2009 V8, so much so that I sold the car. I found it awful at slow speed, parking was a nightmare and reversing....don't get me started.
I've since tried the SS2 in the V8S and thought it was a million times better, and then tried the SS3 in the V12S.........
My budget doesn't stretch to a V12S yet, so I went with the manual SP10 (which is epic). My next move however will be to a V12SR.......simply amazing.
Echoing what others have said, try both. Make sure however that when you try the SS that you try it at low speed making sure to try low speed tasks like traffic creeping and reverse parking.
Horses for courses........
PS - I managed to drive the SP in 6th all the way to the train station at 6am today, roundabouts and all sorts. Almost like a challenge.....the torque is awesome, pulled from 1k rpm in 6th no problem (and no I didn't pull away from the driveway in 6th)
I've since tried the SS2 in the V8S and thought it was a million times better, and then tried the SS3 in the V12S.........
My budget doesn't stretch to a V12S yet, so I went with the manual SP10 (which is epic). My next move however will be to a V12SR.......simply amazing.
Echoing what others have said, try both. Make sure however that when you try the SS that you try it at low speed making sure to try low speed tasks like traffic creeping and reverse parking.
Horses for courses........
PS - I managed to drive the SP in 6th all the way to the train station at 6am today, roundabouts and all sorts. Almost like a challenge.....the torque is awesome, pulled from 1k rpm in 6th no problem (and no I didn't pull away from the driveway in 6th)
TuonoPants said:
This is what I did and knew immediately that I would be happier with a manual and it's not a decision that I have regretted.
But don't expect SS2 to be as slick as PDK, it's good but it's not that good.
Agreed.....even SS3 isn't like the PDK (i've had a PDK). That said, the PDK in my opinion has faults in other ways. I really disliked the way that if you planted you foot down it would actually drop 2 gears and catapult you forward. Nice some might say, but I found it a PITA. I much prefer the smooth power delivery of the SS3 (and SS2), if I want 4th gear i'll select it myself thanks, I don't need the car to do it for me.But don't expect SS2 to be as slick as PDK, it's good but it's not that good.
To be fair though, if it's the smoothness of a PDK/DSG that you're after then buy a DB9 and get the full magic carpet ride
My experience with a 2011 SportShift 1 roadster I own for 15 months is ok. I'm happy with what I have and the way I utilize the car. I have to say the car is not a daily driver. It's for fun, weekends and short vacations. SS1 works good for me.
Ref. parking, slow traffic and traffic jam situations: slow traffic and traffic jams used to be somewhat stressful - the first few 100 miles with the new car. Now I adopted to the way the gearbox works. For traffic light stops I go into neutral coasting. In case traffic is flowing again shift up and all's fine. In traffic yams and slow traffic I keep an bigger gap to the car in front as usual - no big deal. And hill start or reversing - the handbrake is my friend. Works good after you get used to it (again). I never smelled the clutch again after adjusting to the gearbox. The first two or three weeks the clutch reminded me two or three times to try harder on improving.
Back to the beginning. Initially I tried for a 4.7 roadster with a manual only. No luck. Too few cars available and in 2013 ASM2 cars (as they are supposed to be way better than SS1) were out of scope for me. So SS1 it is. I like the way it shifts if you push it hard(er). That's like a manual quick-shift where I still feel that there is in fact a gearbox. If you don't like this lift the throttle. How much better SS2 is I don't know/care as I don't have anything to complain right now. Even the few slow speed miles I drove it in "D"on't mode were acceptable.
Next car will be a SS2/3, too - or a manual V12 :-)
and btw, in case you're in doubt test drive both or all of them.
Ref. parking, slow traffic and traffic jam situations: slow traffic and traffic jams used to be somewhat stressful - the first few 100 miles with the new car. Now I adopted to the way the gearbox works. For traffic light stops I go into neutral coasting. In case traffic is flowing again shift up and all's fine. In traffic yams and slow traffic I keep an bigger gap to the car in front as usual - no big deal. And hill start or reversing - the handbrake is my friend. Works good after you get used to it (again). I never smelled the clutch again after adjusting to the gearbox. The first two or three weeks the clutch reminded me two or three times to try harder on improving.
Back to the beginning. Initially I tried for a 4.7 roadster with a manual only. No luck. Too few cars available and in 2013 ASM2 cars (as they are supposed to be way better than SS1) were out of scope for me. So SS1 it is. I like the way it shifts if you push it hard(er). That's like a manual quick-shift where I still feel that there is in fact a gearbox. If you don't like this lift the throttle. How much better SS2 is I don't know/care as I don't have anything to complain right now. Even the few slow speed miles I drove it in "D"on't mode were acceptable.
Next car will be a SS2/3, too - or a manual V12 :-)
and btw, in case you're in doubt test drive both or all of them.
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