Discussion
Good morning guys,
First time poster! Have read most of prior threads on this topic but I feel I need some more clarification. I am picking up my very FIRST 09 Vantage tomorrow and have a 200mi drive back home. I want to make sure I'm doing it right. As I've mentioned, I've read most of the posts here as well as the V8 Vantage driving guide PDF and have seen some YT videos but need additional clarification on the following:
I plan to daily my car and part of that entails highway driving in heavy traffic.
To limit stress on the original clutch I understand I should wait for a gap in front and then keep foot on throttle to engage clutch to come out of crawl mode. Does crawl mode wear out the clutch too much? What about coasting specifically? Let's say I am coming to a stop, I let off the throttle and allow the car to coast to a stop by gently hovering over the brake pedal. Does that have any bad consequence on the clutch in a SS1 car?
I plan to use mostly paddle shift mode but when I seldom may use Auto Drive Mode (probably for highway traffic), can someone kindly elaborate on coasting and coming to a halt and picking up again in stop and go traffic?
Kindly appreciate everyone's time and energy
First time poster! Have read most of prior threads on this topic but I feel I need some more clarification. I am picking up my very FIRST 09 Vantage tomorrow and have a 200mi drive back home. I want to make sure I'm doing it right. As I've mentioned, I've read most of the posts here as well as the V8 Vantage driving guide PDF and have seen some YT videos but need additional clarification on the following:
I plan to daily my car and part of that entails highway driving in heavy traffic.
To limit stress on the original clutch I understand I should wait for a gap in front and then keep foot on throttle to engage clutch to come out of crawl mode. Does crawl mode wear out the clutch too much? What about coasting specifically? Let's say I am coming to a stop, I let off the throttle and allow the car to coast to a stop by gently hovering over the brake pedal. Does that have any bad consequence on the clutch in a SS1 car?
I plan to use mostly paddle shift mode but when I seldom may use Auto Drive Mode (probably for highway traffic), can someone kindly elaborate on coasting and coming to a halt and picking up again in stop and go traffic?
Kindly appreciate everyone's time and energy
SilverJag said:
Good morning guys,
First time poster! Have read most of prior threads on this topic but I feel I need some more clarification. I am picking up my very FIRST 09 Vantage tomorrow and have a 200mi drive back home. I when I seldom may use Auto Drive Mode (probably for highway traffic), can someone kindly elaborate on coasting and coming to a halt and picking up again in stop and go traffic?
First time poster! Have read most of prior threads on this topic but I feel I need some more clarification. I am picking up my very FIRST 09 Vantage tomorrow and have a 200mi drive back home. I when I seldom may use Auto Drive Mode (probably for highway traffic), can someone kindly elaborate on coasting and coming to a halt and picking up again in stop and go traffic?
Welcome SiverJag.
An exciting day tomorrow. Am sure you will enjoy your drive home.
I have owned an 09 for a long time, but cannot offer any Sportshift guidance.
One thing which applies to both gear change systems, is try to avoid reversing up slopes too often. The gear ratio is very high and clutches can suffer.
Have fun tomorrow!
I can only offer some insights into using SS3.
First, when in slow moving traffic use the throttle purposefully. This isn’t always that easy - you don’t want to end up sitting in the rear seats of the car in front of you.
Second, the thing you can’t do with a SS box that you can do with a manual is feather the clutch at low speeds in 2. Instead (and this is the above scenario) at low speeds in 2 you have a fully engaged clutch which doesn’t really like a light application of throttle. I find if I’m in a slow moving queue it is better to drop to 1 using the paddles once I’m at 6-7mph. The car will pull away better in 1 with a light throttle.
Third, on upshifts, it is paddle-pedal: on the upshifts pull the paddle first and just after you do so, lift ever so slightly off the throttle.
I can only offer some insights into using SS3.
First, when in slow moving traffic use the throttle purposefully. This isn’t always that easy - you don’t want to end up sitting in the rear seats of the car in front of you.
Second, the thing you can’t do with a SS box that you can do with a manual is feather the clutch at low speeds in 2. Instead (and this is the above scenario) at low speeds in 2 you have a fully engaged clutch which doesn’t really like a light application of throttle. I find if I’m in a slow moving queue it is better to drop to 1 using the paddles once I’m at 6-7mph. The car will pull away better in 1 with a light throttle.
Third, on upshifts, it is paddle-pedal: on the upshifts pull the paddle first and just after you do so, lift ever so slightly off the throttle.
Edited by BlackTails on Monday 9th September 22:26
Hi,
You’ve already had some great advice above. By the time you get home, I’m sure you’ll be used to it.
When you drive a manual, you lift of the gas quickly as you change gear and then put your foot back on the gas. It’s the same in a paddle shift car. The only difference is, the car changes gear far quicker than you would in a manual. I personally come off the throttle just as I pull the lever up and then go back on the throttle and I gear smooth gear changes that way.
Don’t over think it. Just enjoy the drive and you’ll naturally feel what works and it’ll all come together for you.
Is it the 4.7 glass key? You’re right on the cusp of changeover.
You’ve already had some great advice above. By the time you get home, I’m sure you’ll be used to it.
When you drive a manual, you lift of the gas quickly as you change gear and then put your foot back on the gas. It’s the same in a paddle shift car. The only difference is, the car changes gear far quicker than you would in a manual. I personally come off the throttle just as I pull the lever up and then go back on the throttle and I gear smooth gear changes that way.
Don’t over think it. Just enjoy the drive and you’ll naturally feel what works and it’ll all come together for you.
Is it the 4.7 glass key? You’re right on the cusp of changeover.
Welcome Silver Jag (need to change the PH name now..)
I've had a SS car for the best part of a decade. Comments below... It's SS2 but the changes were specific and the mode of operation and general weaknesses are the same.
I've had a SS car for the best part of a decade. Comments below... It's SS2 but the changes were specific and the mode of operation and general weaknesses are the same.
SilverJag said:
Good morning guys,
First time poster! Have read most of prior threads on this topic but I feel I need some more clarification. I am picking up my very FIRST 09 Vantage tomorrow and have a 200mi drive back home. I want to make sure I'm doing it right. As I've mentioned, I've read most of the posts here as well as the V8 Vantage driving guide PDF and have seen some YT videos but need additional clarification on the following:
I plan to daily my car and part of that entails highway driving in heavy traffic.
To limit stress on the original clutch I understand I should wait for a gap in front and then keep foot on throttle to engage clutch to come out of crawl mode.
Correct
Does crawl mode wear out the clutch too much?
In a word, yes. It's not an auto. The car is slipping the clutch.
What about coasting specifically?
It's not a problem
Let's say I am coming to a stop, I let off the throttle and allow the car to coast to a stop by gently hovering over the brake pedal. Does that have any bad consequence on the clutch in a SS1 car?
No.
I plan to use mostly paddle shift mode but when I seldom may use Auto Drive Mode (probably for highway traffic), can someone kindly elaborate on coasting and coming to a halt and picking up again in stop and go traffic?
The clutch wear occurs far more prominently with acceleration not deceleration. The issue is the car slipping the clutch either in reverse (uphill, round corners, on gravel, low speed) or forward (stop start - traffic jams). It is exacerbated by the (absurdly) tall reverse gear and high 1st gear of a high performance car.
Top tip to avoid drivetrain backlash when decelerating in stop start traffic is to use both paddles to select neutral when decelerating below 10-20mph and use momentum and brakes to stop where you want or need to, engage back to gear with a single paddle flick just before you come to a full stop. If you don't stop you will be in the correct gear to continue. If you don't flick back to gear before you come close to a full stop you will need to press the brake to engage.
Practise makes perfect
Kindly appreciate everyone's time and energy
First time poster! Have read most of prior threads on this topic but I feel I need some more clarification. I am picking up my very FIRST 09 Vantage tomorrow and have a 200mi drive back home. I want to make sure I'm doing it right. As I've mentioned, I've read most of the posts here as well as the V8 Vantage driving guide PDF and have seen some YT videos but need additional clarification on the following:
I plan to daily my car and part of that entails highway driving in heavy traffic.
To limit stress on the original clutch I understand I should wait for a gap in front and then keep foot on throttle to engage clutch to come out of crawl mode.
Correct
Does crawl mode wear out the clutch too much?
In a word, yes. It's not an auto. The car is slipping the clutch.
What about coasting specifically?
It's not a problem
Let's say I am coming to a stop, I let off the throttle and allow the car to coast to a stop by gently hovering over the brake pedal. Does that have any bad consequence on the clutch in a SS1 car?
No.
I plan to use mostly paddle shift mode but when I seldom may use Auto Drive Mode (probably for highway traffic), can someone kindly elaborate on coasting and coming to a halt and picking up again in stop and go traffic?
The clutch wear occurs far more prominently with acceleration not deceleration. The issue is the car slipping the clutch either in reverse (uphill, round corners, on gravel, low speed) or forward (stop start - traffic jams). It is exacerbated by the (absurdly) tall reverse gear and high 1st gear of a high performance car.
Top tip to avoid drivetrain backlash when decelerating in stop start traffic is to use both paddles to select neutral when decelerating below 10-20mph and use momentum and brakes to stop where you want or need to, engage back to gear with a single paddle flick just before you come to a full stop. If you don't stop you will be in the correct gear to continue. If you don't flick back to gear before you come close to a full stop you will need to press the brake to engage.
Practise makes perfect
Kindly appreciate everyone's time and energy
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