Sportshift II - Neutral When Stationary Better?

[JKay]

Sorry if this has been covered but I can't seem to find anything

I read within another thread it's better to have Sportshift II in neutral whenever stopped at lights, I'm guessing to preserve the clutch?

Read through the SSII manual and couldn't find anything.

Is this true then?

Thanks

[roughrider]

Only needed at prolonged stops, ie, road works. Its not good for any manual car to be stopped with clutch depressed for long periods.

[CSK1]

I put the car in neutral at every prolonged stop but I think the clutch isn't engaged when the car is at a standstill or is that only the case with SportshiftIII?

[hashluck]

I tended to do this with my Sportshift for mechanical sympathy and just force of habit really and so easy to do, just pull on both paddles.

I am even doing it in the ZF Auto in the Vanquish but then that does stop the creep.

[roughrider]

CSK1 said:

I put the car in neutral at every prolonged stop but I think the clutch isn't engaged when the car is at a standstill or is that only the case with SportshiftIII?

Any manual, [whether true, or automated], in gear at a standstill, must have the clutch depressed/engaged/open.
In neutral, you can release/close the clutch, without stalling the engine.

[BluePurpleRed]

I have heard this is a good thing to do with the Duo Select on my Maserati QP, so will try that to try to extend clutch life.

[roughrider]

BluePurpleRed said:

I have heard this is a good thing to do with the Duo Select on my Maserati QP, so will try that to try to extend clutch life.

It will extend the life of the diaphragm spring within the clutch cover assembly, and keep a "springy" feel to the clutch pedal [in a true manual]. It will maintain the quality of the gearshift in an automated manual for longer.
If you keep a hot spring under tension for prolonged periods, it will lose its strength/quality. I have met Vantage owners with high mileage cars, that are still on original clutches, whether Sportshift [all variants], or true manual.

[HBradley]

Given that the SS 'box is a manual, I suspect that the clutch is completely disengaged when in neutral & engaged when in gear & therefore perhaps not a great idea to leave it in gear all the time for the reasons stated above.
On a level surface I tend to coast up to traffic lights & stationary traffic in neutral & then re-engage just before pulling away.
On a slope I'm fortunate to have the choice of Hill Start or handbrake. At night or in rain I use the handbrake rather than dazzle the driver behind. Horses for courses I guess.

Edited by HBradley on Thursday 3rd November 11:16

[JKay]

HBradley said:

On a level surface I tend to coast up to traffic lights & stationary traffic in neutral & then re-engage just before pulling away.
.

May sound like a silly question but are there any issues with re-engaging if you haven't come to a complete stop? i.e. go from "N" to 1st/2nd whilst you are still rolling. I know this wouldn't be an issue in a regular manual so i am guessing its not an issue either with SSII?

Thanks

[HBradley]

JKay said:

HBradley said:

On a level surface I tend to coast up to traffic lights & stationary traffic in neutral & then re-engage just before pulling away.
.

May sound like a silly question but are there any issues with re-engaging if you haven't come to a complete stop? i.e. go from "N" to 1st/2nd whilst you are still rolling. I know this wouldn't be an issue in a regular manual so i am guessing its not an issue either with SSII?

Thanks

Not in my experience, the TCU will not allow gears to be selected at too high revs anyway so no chance of doing any damage. I've arrived at traffic lights in 7th, engaged neutral & then almost immediately pulled the right paddle & found myself in 2nd or 1st.

Edited by HBradley on Thursday 3rd November 11:27

[CSK1]

My dealer told me you could put in neutral whilst driving and when pulling a paddle the gearbox will automatically select the right gear.
He told me he has been doing that on the motorway at 100MPH,no problem at all.

[hashluck]

HBradley said:

JKay said:

HBradley said:

On a level surface I tend to coast up to traffic lights & stationary traffic in neutral & then re-engage just before pulling away.
.

May sound like a silly question but are there any issues with re-engaging if you haven't come to a complete stop? i.e. go from "N" to 1st/2nd whilst you are still rolling. I know this wouldn't be an issue in a regular manual so i am guessing its not an issue either with SSII?

Thanks

Not in my experience, the TCU will not allow gears to be selected at too high revs anyway so no chance of doing any damage. I've arrived at traffic lights in 7th, engaged neutral & then almost immediately pulled the right paddle & found myself in 2nd or 1st.

Edited by HBradley on Thursday 3rd November 11:27

Yep, no issues

[HBradley]

CSK1 said:

My dealer told me you could put in neutral whilst driving and when pulling a paddle the gearbox will automatically select the right gear.
He told me he has been doing that on the motorway at 100MPH,no problem at all.

You'd need big balls to play around with that at 100MPH!

[CSK1]

I guess being an official AML dealer he knows what he's doing!

[hashluck]

CSK1 said:

I guess being an official AML dealer he knows what he's doing!

Not sure if serious

[CSK1]

He said he puts the gearbox into neutral to listen to noises for instance. And then pulls a paddle, the gearbox selects the right gear automatically and this at any speed. I have no reason not to believe him. He was speaking of the SportshiftIII gearbox fitted to the V12 Vantage S, not sure if this works for SportshiftI and II or the torque converter boxes fitted to the DB and Gaydon Vanquish.

Edited by CSK1 on Thursday 3rd November 12:52

[hashluck]

My comment was a joke about AML dealers knowledge in general not specific to this topic

[HBradley]

This must be a feature on all the SS range. There isn't a great deal of difference between any of them (SS1 - 3)& it's a basic safety feature.

[HBradley]

This must be a feature on all the SS range. There isn't a great deal of difference between any of them (SS1 - 3)& it's a basic safety feature.

[Jon39]

CSK1 said:

My dealer told me you could put in neutral whilst driving and when pulling a paddle the gearbox will automatically select the right gear.
He told me he has been doing that on the motorway at 100MPH,no problem at all.

Perhaps handy for the M40 westbound going down the Chiltern escarpment.
You can do a full 2 miles without power.
With a starting speed of 70mph (of course), your speed will reach a peak of just over 80 mph.