Comfort button and clutch operation questions
Discussion
After a month with my V8V N420 and coming from a Maserati GranTurismo with a full auto ZF transmission, I have the following questions:
Comfort button
The manual is pretty vague on this.
What this button do exactly? I know it changes the way gears are shifted while on D (automatic) but what are the benefits if driving with paddles?
Does it relax the suspensions too (like the Maserati)?
Does it change the accelerator response making it more relaxed (like the Maserati)?
The clutch myths
Is it true the clutch lasts longer if the car is used with the paddles instead of automatic?
Is it useful to put the car on neutral (N) at every stop while driving?
Is crawl mode bad for the clutch?
Comfort button
The manual is pretty vague on this.
What this button do exactly? I know it changes the way gears are shifted while on D (automatic) but what are the benefits if driving with paddles?
Does it relax the suspensions too (like the Maserati)?
Does it change the accelerator response making it more relaxed (like the Maserati)?
The clutch myths
Is it true the clutch lasts longer if the car is used with the paddles instead of automatic?
Is it useful to put the car on neutral (N) at every stop while driving?
Is crawl mode bad for the clutch?
EVR said:
After a month with my V8V N420 and coming from a Maserati GranTurismo with a full auto ZF transmission, I have the following questions:
Comfort button
The manual is pretty vague on this.
What this button do exactly? I know it changes the way gears are shifted while on D (automatic) but what are the benefits if driving with paddles?
Does it relax the suspensions too (like the Maserati)?
Does it change the accelerator response making it more relaxed (like the Maserati)?
The clutch myths
Is it true the clutch lasts longer if the car is used with the paddles instead of automatic?
Is it useful to put the car on neutral (N) at every stop while driving?
Is crawl mode bad for the clutch?
The Sportshift gearbox is essentially a Graziano manual gearbox (with a clutch) that has been automated using hydraulic actuation & paddles to change gearComfort button
The manual is pretty vague on this.
What this button do exactly? I know it changes the way gears are shifted while on D (automatic) but what are the benefits if driving with paddles?
Does it relax the suspensions too (like the Maserati)?
Does it change the accelerator response making it more relaxed (like the Maserati)?
The clutch myths
Is it true the clutch lasts longer if the car is used with the paddles instead of automatic?
Is it useful to put the car on neutral (N) at every stop while driving?
Is crawl mode bad for the clutch?
In my opinion it is designed to be driven using the paddles in sport mode.
The comfort setting does not as far as I know have any impact on the suspension or throttle settings.
I was told that the comfort mode just slips the clutch for a less aggressive/snappy gear change.
I usually pull both paddles to put it into neutral at a stop unless it is for a very brief stop
The clutch life depends on such a huge variety of factors then it would be difficult to say if comfort or sport mode is better for wear
The newer twin plate clutch that are now available make Sportshift much better (not perfect) but is a definite improvement and I would recommend this when a replacement is due
My comments are from 6 years driving a Sportshift version 1, not sure which version you have?
I really only use the comfort mode in very rare circumstances, ie sometimes in winter at start up the comfort mode is better until the car heats up.
I drive 99% of the time with paddles and sport mode.
The Sportshift gearbox got a bad press for various reasons and in actual fact it was the single plate clutch fitted at the factory which was the culprit as it was not up to the job (a cost cutting exercise I believe)
A lot of people expected it to be like a true automatic, which it is not.
Are you aware that when you start the car, especially from cold you should allow the clutch to do a learn (it only takes seconds)?
The twin plate clutch kits that are available now use the clutch as fitted to a V12S (I believe) so is a lot more substantial than the old single plate.
I actually changed mine to the twin plate to get rid of a juddering that I would get frequently and by fitting one of the twin plate kits you can get Sportshift version 1 as near as possible to Sportshift version 3 (final version) without buying a later spec car.
AM do their own AMR twin plate clutch kit now and others are available from at least two independents, however when I was recently visiting my local AM specialist he was just about to fit the AMR one to a car in their workshop and although the clutch itself was very similar, the lightened flywheel that comes with the kit was perhaps not machined as well as the independent one they fitted to my car (in their opinion).
I really only use the comfort mode in very rare circumstances, ie sometimes in winter at start up the comfort mode is better until the car heats up.
I drive 99% of the time with paddles and sport mode.
The Sportshift gearbox got a bad press for various reasons and in actual fact it was the single plate clutch fitted at the factory which was the culprit as it was not up to the job (a cost cutting exercise I believe)
A lot of people expected it to be like a true automatic, which it is not.
Are you aware that when you start the car, especially from cold you should allow the clutch to do a learn (it only takes seconds)?
The twin plate clutch kits that are available now use the clutch as fitted to a V12S (I believe) so is a lot more substantial than the old single plate.
I actually changed mine to the twin plate to get rid of a juddering that I would get frequently and by fitting one of the twin plate kits you can get Sportshift version 1 as near as possible to Sportshift version 3 (final version) without buying a later spec car.
AM do their own AMR twin plate clutch kit now and others are available from at least two independents, however when I was recently visiting my local AM specialist he was just about to fit the AMR one to a car in their workshop and although the clutch itself was very similar, the lightened flywheel that comes with the kit was perhaps not machined as well as the independent one they fitted to my car (in their opinion).
Thank you for the update. I have a SportShift 1.5, car is a MY 2011N420.
As far as I understood, comfort mode if using the paddle is pretty useless.
We are pretty much on the same page, paddles and sport mode basically all the time. But sometimes, the comfort (read: laziness) kicks in and I am tempted by the automatic mode. But knowing that it will destroy my clutch (if somewhat proven) is a bad feeling.
I am aware of the learning procedure, I do it every time: basically keeping the brake pressed for around 10 secs at start-up, correct?
Thank you for your advice on the double clutch, I will deep dive into it when time is ripe, hopefully later than earlier.
As far as I understood, comfort mode if using the paddle is pretty useless.
We are pretty much on the same page, paddles and sport mode basically all the time. But sometimes, the comfort (read: laziness) kicks in and I am tempted by the automatic mode. But knowing that it will destroy my clutch (if somewhat proven) is a bad feeling.
I am aware of the learning procedure, I do it every time: basically keeping the brake pressed for around 10 secs at start-up, correct?
Thank you for your advice on the double clutch, I will deep dive into it when time is ripe, hopefully later than earlier.
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