Understanding the F1 box
Discussion
Can anyone help me with understanding the make up of the F1 transmission (in layman terms). I understand it is an automated manual box. i.e. It is still a conventional manual box but with the paddles acting as clutch and gear change.
I hear some people talking about lifting off the accelerator as you change up to make it a smoother change and it rev matching automatically on the down changes.
What is going on with the paddles, how does the transmission engage the clutch with the paddles, is it a binary option as in flip the paddle full clutch engaged. i.e. with foot you can find bite point. How does the engine disengage the revs if you keep you foot depressed on the throttle as you flip gears.
I want to get a better understanding of how the mechanics work so I can drive it better and wondered whether somebody could point me in teh right direction.
I hear some people talking about lifting off the accelerator as you change up to make it a smoother change and it rev matching automatically on the down changes.
What is going on with the paddles, how does the transmission engage the clutch with the paddles, is it a binary option as in flip the paddle full clutch engaged. i.e. with foot you can find bite point. How does the engine disengage the revs if you keep you foot depressed on the throttle as you flip gears.
I want to get a better understanding of how the mechanics work so I can drive it better and wondered whether somebody could point me in teh right direction.
This is a start https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0mIWy_0hE0
There is a fairly good description of how to drive it in the owners handbook which if you do not have your car yet can be downloaded at www.ferraridatabase.com
Also there have been threads in the past here about how to extend clutch life on F1 which effectively summarise driving style suggestions - one chap in particular has posted a a few times his good advice - thansk to steelej
The readings should be used as a guide only smile one time i got a 48% reading then a few hundred miles later 46% smile heat can affect the reading so like i said use as a guide only smile
Here is my list of tips for driving F1, some may disagree but it works for me, my car is on 31k with just over 50% wear.
- Drive in sport or race mode, snow and wet modes slip the clutch more. First 1000 miles of using my car I used wet mode and used 3% clutch in 1000 miles. Since going sport or race i've averaged around 1% per 1000 miles.
- When reversing, blip to get momentum, don't ride the pedal. Avoid reversing uphill
- Nice smooth getaway when moving off, allow the clutch to fully engage without too many revs
- Flip to N when coming to a stop at a light, I don't go down the gears, I just go straight to N from the gear I'm in.
- When in slow moving traffic, allow some space in front so clutch can fully engage.
- Don't use Launch control
Hope that helps, but try not to worry about it too much, just enjoy smile
John.
There is a fairly good description of how to drive it in the owners handbook which if you do not have your car yet can be downloaded at www.ferraridatabase.com
Also there have been threads in the past here about how to extend clutch life on F1 which effectively summarise driving style suggestions - one chap in particular has posted a a few times his good advice - thansk to steelej
The readings should be used as a guide only smile one time i got a 48% reading then a few hundred miles later 46% smile heat can affect the reading so like i said use as a guide only smile
Here is my list of tips for driving F1, some may disagree but it works for me, my car is on 31k with just over 50% wear.
- Drive in sport or race mode, snow and wet modes slip the clutch more. First 1000 miles of using my car I used wet mode and used 3% clutch in 1000 miles. Since going sport or race i've averaged around 1% per 1000 miles.
- When reversing, blip to get momentum, don't ride the pedal. Avoid reversing uphill
- Nice smooth getaway when moving off, allow the clutch to fully engage without too many revs
- Flip to N when coming to a stop at a light, I don't go down the gears, I just go straight to N from the gear I'm in.
- When in slow moving traffic, allow some space in front so clutch can fully engage.
- Don't use Launch control
Hope that helps, but try not to worry about it too much, just enjoy smile
John.
Edited by johnnyreggae on Tuesday 10th February 16:03
Edited by johnnyreggae on Tuesday 10th February 16:11
johnnyreggae said:
- Flip to N when coming to a stop at a light, I don't go down the gears, I just go straight to N from the gear I'm in.
- When in slow moving traffic, allow some space in front so clutch can fully engage.
I've found both of the above work well for me.- When in slow moving traffic, allow some space in front so clutch can fully engage.
Fattrader said:
How does the engine disengage the revs if you keep you foot depressed on the throttle as you flip gears.
The throttle is fly-by-wire. The car knows what's going on!Kyodo said:
johnnyreggae said:
Fattrader said:
How does the engine disengage the revs if you keep you foot depressed on the throttle as you flip gears.
The throttle is fly-by-wire. The car knows what's going on!Cerberaherts said:
Pull both paddles back together to put it in Neutral. It makes no difference if you sit in gear or neutral stationary, either way the clutch isn't engaged until you apply some throttle.
not too sure of the logic behind this ( maybe there's some bite with no throttle if everything's not perfectly calibrated ? ), but i was told firstly jump to neutral whenever possible, secondly to leave it in neutral when stillI'm just curious, can't see that I'd ever want to go to N at any speed to a stop by choice even if it saves a small percentage of clutch life, surely part of the driving pleasure is listening to the engine as it drops down the gears, it reminds me of being a young driver free rolling as far as possible to save fuel in my MkII Escort haha
dvb247 said:
I'm just curious, can't see that I'd ever want to go to N at any speed to a stop by choice even if it saves a small percentage of clutch life, surely part of the driving pleasure is listening to the engine as it drops down the gears, it reminds me of being a young driver free rolling as far as possible to save fuel in my MkII Escort haha
I remember those days amazed how far I got the escort with the fuel light on!!V8FGO said:
excellent info. thank youjohnnyreggae said:
- Drive in sport or race mode, snow and wet modes slip the clutch more.
- When reversing, blip to get momentum, don't ride the pedal. Avoid reversing uphill
- Nice smooth getaway when moving off, allow the clutch to fully engage without too many revs
- Flip to N when coming to a stop at a light,
- When in slow moving traffic, allow some space in front so clutch can fully engage.
- Don't use Launch control
Hope that helps, but try not to worry about it too much, just enjoy smile
I followed most of the above, always down changed though rather than going into N, did not lift when changing up, my car @ 20k had 12% clutch wear.- When reversing, blip to get momentum, don't ride the pedal. Avoid reversing uphill
- Nice smooth getaway when moving off, allow the clutch to fully engage without too many revs
- Flip to N when coming to a stop at a light,
- When in slow moving traffic, allow some space in front so clutch can fully engage.
- Don't use Launch control
Hope that helps, but try not to worry about it too much, just enjoy smile
Edited by johnnyreggae on Tuesday 10th February 16:11
dvb247 said:
I'm just curious, can't see that I'd ever want to go to N at any speed to a stop by choice even if it saves a small percentage of clutch life, surely part of the driving pleasure is listening to the engine as it drops down the gears
I'd agree with that but it depends on the situation. I find when I'm rolling along in traffic I'll pull neutral and coast to a stop rather than head down through every gear. If it turns out the traffic moves before I get there, I shift up and the car selects the gear for me and I carry on.I find that in traffic it's difficult to make an F1 360 with a standard exhaust really noisy without looking like a prat or stuffing it into the back of someone. It's actually quite mature, no revving for the sake of it. A time and place and all that…
(that sounds boring and I'm by no means mature)
Edited by Kyodo on Wednesday 11th February 11:06
TISPKJ said:
red_duke said:
dvb247 said:
Before I pick my car up and drive an F1 box for the first time ...
You're spending circa £70,000 on a car you haven't driven yet? 
I suppose an independent pre-purchase inspection is for pussies too is it?
red_duke said:
I'm not questioning the marque, model or gearbox configuration but I'd want to check the car out first hand before splashing the cash.
I suppose an independent pre-purchase inspection is for pussies too is it?
To be fair to him, he's not saying that.I suppose an independent pre-purchase inspection is for pussies too is it?
If one is sold on (more likely in love with) buying a F430, or any supercar, then whatever quirks it might have are largely just what you have to accept.
The reality is that the F430 is a very practical car, the F1 gearbox is (imo) a joy to use and pretty much idiot proof notwithstanding the points made above about avoiding certain behaviours that are rough on the clutch. I would hope that any dealer selling you a F430 would be telling you all of this though!
First time I drove a F430 I ended up stuck at some traffic lights after dropping it into neutral for about 2 minutes because I forgot that you have to have your foot on the brake to engage a gear again. Quite embarassing.
Edited by Durzel on Wednesday 11th February 11:34
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