Smooth Down Shifts

[Eiger120]

I am currently driving a 166 3.0 with a 'sportronic' gear box, 2001 reg. I am sure I have read someone describing how to smooth out the downshifts when overriding the auto but cannot find the thread or the forum (it was not alfa specific). The ecu does not blip the throttle when downshifting.

On a slightly different note when did the technology to adjust the engine speed during a gearchange become widely available? Had a drive in a P reg 911 targa at the weekend, also sportronic/tiptronic, and was surprised at the smoothness (or lack of) of the downchange at higher revs. Is it only recently this feature has become widely available?

Thank you all in advance!!

[Don]

Eiger120 said:

I am currently driving a 166 3.0 with a 'sportronic' gear box, 2001 reg. I am sure I have read someone describing how to smooth out the downshifts when overriding the auto but cannot find the thread or the forum (it was not alfa specific). The ecu does not blip the throttle when downshifting.

Wish I could say anything helpful here. I am trying very, very hard not to suggest selling the car and buying a manual! I suppose you could try gentle accelerator pressure whilst thumbing the downshift button? Beats me.

Eiger120 said:

On a slightly different note when did the technology to adjust the engine speed during a gearchange become widely available? Had a drive in a P reg 911 targa at the weekend, also sportronic/tiptronic, and was surprised at the smoothness (or lack of) of the downchange at higher revs. Is it only recently this feature has become widely available? Thank you all in advance!!

This is, indeed, a recent advance - despite manual gearboxes and heel and toe shifts having been around since the car began! In fact - I the only cars I can think of which have this are vehicles with a computer controlled clutch - rather than a true auto. e.g. Ferrari 360 etc. I believe the BMW SMG system (also a computer controlled clutch, IIRC) can also rev-match on the downshift.

However. Some auto-boxes, despite not having this "rev-match on downshift" feature can be very, very good. Despite not being perfectly smooth they are often better than the dreadful hash most drivers make of a manual box!

Still - if you want perfectly smooth changes then the best way to achieve it today is to get a manual box and learn to rev-match on downshift - either with heel and toe or by braking first then changing gear after whilst blipping the throttle. Or buy a Ferrari.

[pentoman]

Press the accelerator while downshifting. If braking it will require left-foot braking. There's a whole different way you can drive, a bit like a go kart, and make a (good) automatic a good companion.

In my 190E's, apart from being less fun I don't bemoan the automatic one when I'm driving it quickly instead of the manual. But you have to bring the revs up as force a downshift otherwise it bangs into the lower gear. Mercedes' system is designed to let you do this (I can explain in more detail but won't ), and being an old-school hydraulic box does not try to control everything for you but nonetheless, try playing with the accelerator when changing gears and you might discover a lot.

good luck


Russell

[eiger120]

Don said:

or by braking first then changing gear after whilst blipping the throttle.

Why the braking first? If you need to slow down to reduce revs? then surely you are better off staying in the origional gear? Please explain!!!! (The situation I was thinking of was more along the lines of cruising along, coming to a corner & wanting to drop a gear before turning in, rather than needing to slow down?) Or have I missed the point completely?

BTW how would I find out about the local IAM group?

BTW (part 2) Just updated my profile - manual shannanigans saved for the weekend fun car. Much prefer autos for the daily commute!!!!

[GreenV8S]

eiger120 said:

Why the braking first?

If you seperate the braking from the gearchange, you can match revs without the need to heel-and-toe.

[al4carol48]

Eiger120 said:

I am currently driving a 166 3.0 with a 'sportronic' gear box, 2001 reg. I am sure I have read someone describing how to smooth out the downshifts when overriding the auto but cannot find the thread or the forum (it was not alfa specific). The ecu does not blip the throttle when downshifting.

I've got a Sept 2000 Selespeed 156 which blips throttle beautfully on downchanges. Mind you thats not strictly an automatic gearbox. I'm surprised Alfa can't manage that on your 166. Great car by the way.