Owners experience with F1 360 gearbox
Discussion
You read a lot that the 360 F1 gearbox is horrendous and how its terrible in every aspect.
Is it really that bad and undriveable? Or is it people who are going by what they hear having never driven one and reading Internet stories?
I am not expecting it to be like the modern DCT boxes you have in M BMW'S but surely its not that bad?
Be great to hear from owners
Is it really that bad and undriveable? Or is it people who are going by what they hear having never driven one and reading Internet stories?
I am not expecting it to be like the modern DCT boxes you have in M BMW'S but surely its not that bad?
Be great to hear from owners
Most people are use to driving manual cars don’t usually like paddle shift cars to start with. I was always a diehard manual fan. However, one year I was given an Aston Martin vantage paddleshift as a courtesy car for a few weeks. The first day I hated it, but by day 2 after I had learned how to drive it I absolutely loved it. Now i don’t like manuals and always buy paddleshift.
The 360 is a single clutch automated manual box. It’s more brutal than the new double clutch boxes, but I really liked it, especially when accelerating hard as it slams into the next gear.
You really need more than a test drive to get to know it though. You can get the 360 challenge tcu which improves it too.
The 360 is a single clutch automated manual box. It’s more brutal than the new double clutch boxes, but I really liked it, especially when accelerating hard as it slams into the next gear.
You really need more than a test drive to get to know it though. You can get the 360 challenge tcu which improves it too.
I have a 360 with the F1 box
You have to think of it as a manual. Eg don’t creep the car at low speeds it will eat the clutch.
In a busy city centre it’s annoying, on the open road it’s fantastic, quick changes etc, you can rev match easily enough too. I dont like it in auto mode in any circumstance.
I’m happy with mine.
You have to think of it as a manual. Eg don’t creep the car at low speeds it will eat the clutch.
In a busy city centre it’s annoying, on the open road it’s fantastic, quick changes etc, you can rev match easily enough too. I dont like it in auto mode in any circumstance.
I’m happy with mine.
Edited by blueg33 on Monday 17th January 09:01
I have a CS and in normal mode it is noticeable how sluggish the gear changes are (it really thinks about it and there's a pregnant pause) but in race mode it's not such an issue. All can be helped by lifting off etc when shifting. As someone else stated, the fact it hits you in the back only adds to the drama and sense of occasion!
I have a 430 Challenge (much slower box than the Scuderia, so probably not dissimilar to a 360 I assume) and Scuderia and both boxes are fine (the Scuderia box is probably the best non-manual box I have ever driven). I prefer single clutch to double clutch boxes and manual over both of them if available.
blueg33 said:
I have a 360 with the F1 box
You have to think of it as a manual. Eg don’t creep the car at low speeds it will eat the clutch.
In a busy city centre it’s annoying, on the open road it’s fantastic, quick changes etc, you can rev match easily enough too. I dont like it in auto mode in any circumstance.
I'd go with this 100%. I had a 360 with the F1 box and on the open road it was sublime. It's pretty much a manual but without the clutch pedal and a lot lot quicker in changing when you 'give it some'. The only thing I didn't like so much was the slightly laggy drive away from standstill but we fitted a Challenge Stradale TCU which sorted that out somewhat. All in all, it's a pretty cool system, albeit not the best city car!You have to think of it as a manual. Eg don’t creep the car at low speeds it will eat the clutch.
In a busy city centre it’s annoying, on the open road it’s fantastic, quick changes etc, you can rev match easily enough too. I dont like it in auto mode in any circumstance.
I had the F355 F1 which is supposed to be 'even worse' than the F1 in the 360 and it was sublime.
My wife's V8 Vantage had sportshift and she found it extremely easy to use (given her Ferrari experience) despite the dealer's dire warnings ahead of the test drive.
The reason that robotised manaul boxes have a poor reputation is due to poor expectations management. The majority of people seem to expect them to drive like a torque converter auto and are disappointed when they don't.
As others have said, the trick is to feather the throttle at the change point just as you would if you were changing gears manually.
Anyone who says that robotised manuals are terrible has either;
a) not driven one or
b) can't drive.
My wife's V8 Vantage had sportshift and she found it extremely easy to use (given her Ferrari experience) despite the dealer's dire warnings ahead of the test drive.
The reason that robotised manaul boxes have a poor reputation is due to poor expectations management. The majority of people seem to expect them to drive like a torque converter auto and are disappointed when they don't.
As others have said, the trick is to feather the throttle at the change point just as you would if you were changing gears manually.
Anyone who says that robotised manuals are terrible has either;
a) not driven one or
b) can't drive.
goatherder2001 said:
I have a CS and in normal mode it is noticeable how sluggish the gear changes are (it really thinks about it and there's a pregnant pause) but in race mode it's not such an issue. All can be helped by lifting off etc when shifting. As someone else stated, the fact it hits you in the back only adds to the drama and sense of occasion!
Agree. I haven't driven a 'regular' 360 F1 for many, many years but in non-race mode my CS feels a lot like my old SMG E46 M3. As it should, it's basically the same system IIRC.It's a bit slurry when cold and generally a bit vague when changing gear at low throttle. If you learn how to drive it you can make it smooth. It's much better at high revs. It's not amazing, by modern standards, but in my opinion it suits the car. It's of the time.
In race mode obviously it's a lot better all round. Not modern DCT speeds, or even 430 Sucderia speeds (still my favourite automated gearbox on a road car), but again it suits the car as it's what things were like back then.
I wouldn't be put off a 360 because of the F1 gearbox. Get the TCU upgraded to CS spec and enjoy.
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