Vantage sportshift advice please.
Discussion
Hello all. As per previous thread, which I really appreciate the excellent replies people took the time to add, I have another question.
I'll be buying a vantage soon..ish TVR sale dependent. I was after a manual initially but now I'm thinking of opening up the field a little with a sportshift. Having never driven with paddles i was wondering what 'actual' ownership rather than just a test drive is like.
Once again help gratefully received
I'll be buying a vantage soon..ish TVR sale dependent. I was after a manual initially but now I'm thinking of opening up the field a little with a sportshift. Having never driven with paddles i was wondering what 'actual' ownership rather than just a test drive is like.
Once again help gratefully received
My advice would be to go for a manual (I had an SS for a few days and hated it - was an SS2). SS1 meant to be comparatively worse and SS3 is meant to be comparatively better than an SS2!
It's very personal though, so you need to drive both really - some people love them! If you can gel with it, they're markedly cheaper like for like.
It's very personal though, so you need to drive both really - some people love them! If you can gel with it, they're markedly cheaper like for like.
Edited by johnnyBv8 on Thursday 6th June 17:10
I have SS3, so if you are looking at SS2 take this with a pinch of salt.
First, it's an automated manual, not an automatic. Real clutch, mechanically operated.
If you leave it in D, it is like driving a manual but with an invisible passenger who quite slowly pulls the invisible gear lever through the gate from gear to gear. And who then brings the clutch in quite heavily.
If you use the paddles though, it is more like driving a manual without having to use your left foot. Smoother quicker (or so it feels) shifts. You want to feather the throttle just after flicking the paddle: paddle/pedal. The timing of this, and the weight to lift off the throttle take some practice to get right. Above 5500 rpm you can forget about having to feather the throttle as AM's "hypershift" takes over. And it will let you hit the limiter and back off the rpms itself - there's no "safety" auto upshift at the top of the rev range. It's not a dual clutch like Porsche/Audi/VW, so the shifts are not as lightning quick as a pdk etc box. But they are quicker than I could shift.
It will shift down for you even when you are on the paddles. Once in a blue moon this will be annoying because you will go to downshift just as it does and you'll drop two gears rather than one. Being in 1 when you want to be in 2 can be embarrassing. I did it once on a Sunday in the City of London and had a lot of noise bouncing off the buildings either side of me.
Sport with or without paddles sharpens the throttle response, opens the exhaust valve and quickens the shifts.
I drive a fair amount in London and for me SS3 is perfect. It keeps me engaged with the process of driving, makes me work a little bit, but doesn't mean I have to keep working the clutch pedal.
One thing SS3 can't do, and which I assume SS2 can't either, is feather the clutch in slow moving traffic when you are in 2. Below about 8mph the clutch will start to disengage. If you brush the throttle at about 4mph, you get a quite jerky movement: you can't dip the clutch and feed it back in as you would do in the same circs in a manual. Instead you need instead to use the throttle "purposively" (as my dealer explained to me). If you only have 20-30' in front of you to move into that can be a bit alarming. I tend to drop to 1 once the speed drops below 5mph (the downshift is smooth), and then I get a smooth rolling pullaway without having to prod the gas too hard.
I understand SS2 creeps forwards in 1 on the flat. SS3 doesn't - the clutch fully disengages when you come to a halt even though the gear selector says 1. It may be that the low speed behaviour of SS3 isn't quite the same as that of SS2.
SS can be driven like an auto, but it isn't an auto. And it isn't a manual. It's very much an "in between". I'd say if you test drive it, it is much more likely that you won't like it than that you will. I came away from my test drive thinking that I would probably get used to it (I didn't want a manual because London). In fact I got used to it quite quickly and once I did, I loved it. And still do.
But if you really hanker for a manual, it won't do it for you is my guess.
First, it's an automated manual, not an automatic. Real clutch, mechanically operated.
If you leave it in D, it is like driving a manual but with an invisible passenger who quite slowly pulls the invisible gear lever through the gate from gear to gear. And who then brings the clutch in quite heavily.
If you use the paddles though, it is more like driving a manual without having to use your left foot. Smoother quicker (or so it feels) shifts. You want to feather the throttle just after flicking the paddle: paddle/pedal. The timing of this, and the weight to lift off the throttle take some practice to get right. Above 5500 rpm you can forget about having to feather the throttle as AM's "hypershift" takes over. And it will let you hit the limiter and back off the rpms itself - there's no "safety" auto upshift at the top of the rev range. It's not a dual clutch like Porsche/Audi/VW, so the shifts are not as lightning quick as a pdk etc box. But they are quicker than I could shift.
It will shift down for you even when you are on the paddles. Once in a blue moon this will be annoying because you will go to downshift just as it does and you'll drop two gears rather than one. Being in 1 when you want to be in 2 can be embarrassing. I did it once on a Sunday in the City of London and had a lot of noise bouncing off the buildings either side of me.
Sport with or without paddles sharpens the throttle response, opens the exhaust valve and quickens the shifts.
I drive a fair amount in London and for me SS3 is perfect. It keeps me engaged with the process of driving, makes me work a little bit, but doesn't mean I have to keep working the clutch pedal.
One thing SS3 can't do, and which I assume SS2 can't either, is feather the clutch in slow moving traffic when you are in 2. Below about 8mph the clutch will start to disengage. If you brush the throttle at about 4mph, you get a quite jerky movement: you can't dip the clutch and feed it back in as you would do in the same circs in a manual. Instead you need instead to use the throttle "purposively" (as my dealer explained to me). If you only have 20-30' in front of you to move into that can be a bit alarming. I tend to drop to 1 once the speed drops below 5mph (the downshift is smooth), and then I get a smooth rolling pullaway without having to prod the gas too hard.
I understand SS2 creeps forwards in 1 on the flat. SS3 doesn't - the clutch fully disengages when you come to a halt even though the gear selector says 1. It may be that the low speed behaviour of SS3 isn't quite the same as that of SS2.
SS can be driven like an auto, but it isn't an auto. And it isn't a manual. It's very much an "in between". I'd say if you test drive it, it is much more likely that you won't like it than that you will. I came away from my test drive thinking that I would probably get used to it (I didn't want a manual because London). In fact I got used to it quite quickly and once I did, I loved it. And still do.
But if you really hanker for a manual, it won't do it for you is my guess.
Joining in here out of curiosity
Has anyone compared the SS to an E46 M3 smg?
I had one and found it pretty good overall. Great when pressing on, less so at low speeds and junctions where you didn’t quite stop.
It was great cross country though and for overtaking.
If the SS is similar I reckon it’s ok
Has anyone compared the SS to an E46 M3 smg?
I had one and found it pretty good overall. Great when pressing on, less so at low speeds and junctions where you didn’t quite stop.
It was great cross country though and for overtaking.
If the SS is similar I reckon it’s ok
What Greg said! I too have V12 SS3, and wanted a car with it. I love it.
I thought 1st gear creep was only in SS1?
If you are looking at V8’s then if you can get one I recommend a seven speed SS2, a great ratio set and a lower reverse ratio than the 6 speed SS1 that helps control reversing without riding the clutch.
I thought 1st gear creep was only in SS1?
If you are looking at V8’s then if you can get one I recommend a seven speed SS2, a great ratio set and a lower reverse ratio than the 6 speed SS1 that helps control reversing without riding the clutch.
I have only driven an SS3, and then it was only at high speeds on the Performance Driving Course, so did not do parking, manoeuvring, reversing, or slow traffic driving. These seem to be the driving circumstances, which people criticise on here.
You might enjoy a SS, but I suppose the no risk choice would be a manual. To me, the 6 speed manual is very good. It seems normal for 1st to 2nd when cold, to be slightly notchy, but the initial mile for me is only in 1st gear anyway, so no problem. I would find a gear indicator useful though, because I have been in 4th a few times, when I thought it was 6th. At 70 mph the engine revs are fairly low in either gear, so little sound difference.
Drive both thoroughly to make up your mind. The uncertainty about this aspect is common, so most dealers should be helpful to you.
Edited by Jon39 on Thursday 6th June 19:43
Have had a manual coupe and two Sportshift Roadsters and much prefer the Sportshift but I only ever use the paddles. If I was using it daily in stop start traffic I am sure the manual is more controllable but for me it’s a second car.
I guess it’s like blonde or brunette, it’s personal choice.
If you are ever in South Hampshire I am happy to meet up and show you my car.
I guess it’s like blonde or brunette, it’s personal choice.
If you are ever in South Hampshire I am happy to meet up and show you my car.
Owned both, preferred the manual as it adds an extra dimension to driving (personal opinion).
There is no right or wrong answer so best best would be to try both and see what works for you, a big part of it will be the type of roads you drive on.
If you are thinking of using it as an auto - just don't!
There is no right or wrong answer so best best would be to try both and see what works for you, a big part of it will be the type of roads you drive on.
If you are thinking of using it as an auto - just don't!
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