Sport shift I vs Sport shift II

[JKay]

Hello

I am sure a thread for the above exists but I just can't find anything, so apologies if this has been covered (please direct me to the relevant thread if there is one)

If not, is anyone able to tell me the differences between Sportshift I and Sportshift II? AFAIK I have sportshoft II on my MY14 V8 Vantage, and just want to learn about the different sport shift transmissions etc. Ive read the driving guide etc

Any inför much appreciated

Thank you

[HBradley]

Hi Jay,
Key difference is SS1= 6 gears, SS2 7 gears.
SS2 was introduced on the V8VS in 2011.
They both have the single-plate clutch.
They're are also some other differences which reflect the evolution from SS1 - SS2 which Mike from Bamford Rose (or other independent AM specialists) & more knowledgeable folks here will be able to highlight.

[JKay]

Thanks Hbradley. From what I can see seems it's just got an extra cog (7 speed) and has updated software it seems.

Thanks for all the other bits of info too re when it was updated etc

[dalecan]

I believe that the SSII shifted to being aircooled rather than oil. Thus, it is lighter.

[HBradley]

dalecan said:

I believe that the SSII shifted to being aircooled rather than oil. Thus, it is lighter.

Indeed, very true.
Jay, as has been mentioned as nauseoum (by me as well), any SS needs learning & it takes a little getting used to, but once you've nailed it, it's a great gearbox.
In due time it would be worth considering a twin-plate clutch & lightened flywheel kit, it does make a huge difference.
In the meantime enjoy the very special AM experience.

[JW5]

Hi,
Out of interest does anyone know roughly how much it costs to have the twin plate clutch with lightened flywheel fitted to replace the standard set up on cars with SSII?
James.

[AMV8S]

The biggest improvement from Sportshift l and Sportshift ll was that Spotshift ll lost the creep function which basically made the car impossible to manoeuvre at low speed and also made it difficult to move away smoothly from a standing start. Having owned both I can honestly say that there is no comparison between them. The SSll is far superior in every way possible.

[HBradley]

JW5 said:

Hi,
Out of interest does anyone know roughly how much it costs to have the twin plate clutch with lightened flywheel fitted to replace the standard set up on cars with SSII?
James.

James PM me & I they you know what it cost me recently
H

[JKay]

Thanks for all the replies. A few days into ownership and I'm actually liking the Sportshift and can't relate to the complaints I've read

I think the key is not to treat it like an auto/twin clutch system, but rather as a manual with little men running around inside changing gears for you. All you have to do is lift off the throttle when necessary

[v8vantage]

Nicest thing about Sportshift is that it's like having a manual gearbox but without having to push in the clutch to change gears, the computer does it. Fantastic in town and traffic and brilliant on the track. Adds a whole other dimension to the car and is a perfect compliment to a digital car.

[JKay]

v8vantage said:

Nicest thing about Sportshift is that it's like having a manual gearbox but without having to push in the clutch to change gears, the computer does it. Fantastic in town and traffic and brilliant on the track. Adds a whole other dimension to the car and is a perfect compliment to a digital car.

I think people who hate it just don't understand it, and have "auto" expectations

[CSK1]

Exactly, same with journalists test driving a Sportshift equipped car. It's an automated manual gearbox, use it as such (use paddles only, don't touch the D button) or buy a manual stickshift or a torque converter auto.

[The_Orange]

When I bought my Vantage, 5 minutes in the car and I already loved the SS transmission.

My friend has a Porsche with a PDK, and i don't see that much of a difference. Mind you, I drive like an old man, so maybe when you drive fast, it's different?

I think a lot comes from hearsay, and Jeremy Clarkon. He hated the transmission in the original vanquish. And all of a sudden, everyone hated the transmission.

When testing the car he said something like 'it won't change down when I want it to. Look'. And then he pushes the left paddle like a mad man and nothing happens. Uhhh, Jeremy, you were almost redlining the car. Ofcourse it won't downshift. The computer prevents a downshift when you're in the high revs.

The Ferrari F335 and 360 use the almost exact system (if i'm not mistaken, that is) ...

[JKay]

I may be in the minority but I even like it in "D"

Accelerate and anticipate the change, lift off, it changes, I accelerate, happens really smoothly most of the time. There's the odd time when I wrongly anticipate a gear change but it's no biggie

[Rapid rental]

I disliked the original SS so much i drove it in D most of the time. Just could not get on with the forward creep and having to wait for the gearbox to learn the settings each time you started the car in the morning. Its a real shame as I wanted to like it but it was a deciding factor when I sold the car.

[HBradley]

I use D mode for slow traffic & manoeuvring only, purely because I like the feeling of involvement. The gearchanges are much quicker & I certainly don't miss the 3rd pedal.
I find anticipating changes in D mode tricky.

[Jon39]

HBradley said:

Key difference is SS1= 6 gears, SS2 7 gears.
SS2 was introduced on the V8VS in 2011.

I try to pay attention to model changes, but realise that I do not know about the following.

As you said, V8VS introduced in 2011 with 7 speed Sportshift 2.
More recently, I believe a manual V8VS as been made available.

Has that 7 speed gearbox since been introduced on the V8V, or is that model still using the 6 speed Sportshift 1?

[TKP]

v8vantage said:

Nicest thing about Sportshift is that it's like having a manual gearbox but without having to push in the clutch to change gears, the computer does it. Fantastic in town and traffic and brilliant on the track. Adds a whole other dimension to the car and is a perfect compliment to a digital car.

I've driven a V8V 4.3 SS I a couple of days ago on a race track and it was quite good; I had expected a lot worse after all the tests you read.

However:
1) If you compare it to the other "automated" gearboxes out there, it's not state of the art. An unfair comparison, but I drove later that day an AMG GT on the same racetrack and that is a different world. The gearbox is so much better. I'm aware that there are 10 or 15 years of development in between, but that doesn't make the SS I any better. It's an outdated gearbox imo.

2) I have a Playstation and I have a car. And in a car I want a clutch and a gear knob. So for me SS was never an option, be it I or II. But I think this is a matter of personal taste, everybody should go for what they like best.

[JKay]

Jon39 said:

.

Has that 7 speed gearbox since been introduced on the V8V, or is that model still using the 6 speed Sportshift 1?

Hey Jon

I don't know the answer to all you've asked but I do know my MY14 (non S) has 7 gears on the Sportshift (which I assume is SS II)

Thanks

[HBradley]

Jon39 said:

I try to pay attention to model changes, but realise that I do not know about the following.

As you said, V8VS introduced in 2011 with 7 speed Sportshift 2.
More recently, I believe a manual V8VS as been made available.

Has that 7 speed gearbox since been introduced on the V8V, or is that model still using the 6 speed Sportshift 1?

I understand that the V8V was fitted with a 7 speed SSII in 2012 when the whole V8 Vantage range went through a refresh (it gained a Garmin sat nag & a few other tweaks). The V8VS is now 6 speeds manual as std, SSII as an option.