Sports Shift - The secrets???

[Merlin V8V]

Good evening all

Having unintentionally got stuck in Friday night traffic today I've decided that the 09 V8V with sports shift wasn't designed for stop start driving. Either that or I haven't learnt the tricks needed to enjoy it whilst it flits between neutral - creeper - 1st and 2nd. Your advice would be appreciated.

I had a new clutch and flywheel fitted a few hundred miles ago and the car has been transformed as a result but in traffic it’s still not as smooth as I'd like.

Any tips (other than the obvious comment to buy a manual lol) ? ? ? Drive? Comfort? Paddles?

When in traffic or say first at a set of lights, should I keep putting the car in neutral or just keep it in gear with foot on brake? I usually put in N but that does mean a slow slow get away by the time footbrake hit, gear selected and handbrake released and accelerator floored.

Thanks

Jay

[alxce]

I would be in D and Comfort. I would only be going into neutral at traffic lights or an extended hardstop in traffic. And the handbrake wouldn't come into play unless I was on an incline.
I was out in mine yesterday and caught in traffic a few places, running it as I described was as smooth as I would expect. A 7 speed Mercedes it isn't but does the job all the same.
Just a thought, the only "secret" I'm aware of is pulling both paddles at the same time to get it into neutral, but you probably know that from on here or reading the manual. And then there is the clutch "learning" process, I always wait ten seconds when starting mine up before putting it into any gear.
HTH

Edited by alxce on Saturday 23 October 07:29

[Vantage man]

Have to say I agree. As a recent convert to A M I have a vantage sport shift and in traffic it can be a pain. Non the less I think the car is fantastic and all I thought it was going to be. But any more tips on living with sport shift would be appreciated

[roughrider]

Much like the Vanquish, it helps to allow a gap to develop in front of you in traffic, then move forward fully engaging the clutch to cover the ground. If you anticipate being static for a lengthy period, then drop it into neutral to give the clutch cover/spring a rest. In crawl mode, the clutch is fully engaged at around 5mph.

[mikey k]

I've done 5k miles in mine in 3 months.
It does take a bit of getting used to.

I NEVER use Comfort, it is a contradiction using that word to describe the jolt when it does decide to change

I've found the creep mode works well in the traffic, I tend to leave it in D as well.
You do have to leave both the pedals alone for it to work well. (no throttle or it with confuse it)
It is a bit fast in reverse as well.

Once I'm moving I ALWAYS use the paddles and lift off slightly as I change up.
Sometimes get lazy on down shifts and leave it to put sort that out as I come to a stop.

[Astontec]

how often do you do clutch learns?