V8 Vantage with Sportshift
Discussion
Does anyone think it's as bad as I do? I never test drove with it originally (as it's not my personal car), but every time I have driven the car in the past couple of weeks I've found the transmission to be worse and worse. Stupidly slow to engage either forward or reverse gears from neutral, a horrible lurch from 1st to 2nd gear at low speeds and increasingly hard to execute a smooth gear change when driving on the open road. I'm aware you have to lift your foot slightly off the accelerator but I'm finding I would prefer to take another car instead of the Vantage which is a shame. Compared to the box in the Rapide, the Sportshift is a bit of a dog to be honest.
Added to this every time I come back from a drive you can either smell the brakes (unlikely) or the clutch burning. Not very reassuring.
Added to this every time I come back from a drive you can either smell the brakes (unlikely) or the clutch burning. Not very reassuring.
My sport shift (MY 2011) is as sweet and as quick as I would like on the open road. At the moment I don't use the car in Drive or comfort as I prefer the manual.
Creep is a quality I'm still trying to master but there does seem to be a "rough edge" in the gear box from 1st to 2nd but I put that down to my lack of ability and familiarity with the system.
Clearly the OP has issues that to date haven't touched my car but I've booked myself on the PDC at Millbrook where I was hoping to get some pointers.
The dealer hasn't mentioned the clutch learn procedure.......
Good luck with sorting your issues out quickly and to your satisfaction.
Creep is a quality I'm still trying to master but there does seem to be a "rough edge" in the gear box from 1st to 2nd but I put that down to my lack of ability and familiarity with the system.
Clearly the OP has issues that to date haven't touched my car but I've booked myself on the PDC at Millbrook where I was hoping to get some pointers.
The dealer hasn't mentioned the clutch learn procedure.......
Good luck with sorting your issues out quickly and to your satisfaction.
Love SportShift - in two and a half years, my N400 has been driven in 'D' twice, and one of those was on the way back from the dealer! Once you learn to us it properly, gear changes are smooth, quick and easy.
Having had a manual V8V for three years prior to the N400, I wouldn't go back - Sportshift is quicker and far more fun!
Having had a manual V8V for three years prior to the N400, I wouldn't go back - Sportshift is quicker and far more fun!
famoussas said:
Does anyone think it's as bad as I do?
Yes, I wholeheartedly agree, it spoils the car for me. If/when I buy another Vantage, it will be a manual or i'll have to be convinced the gearbox/software has been improved dramatically. I find it very difficult to make smooth changes when you are pushing the car. Tootling along, it's fine and no problem but otherwise, it's awful. C997 said:
mikey k said:
Rick has a fair point!
Is it a 4.3 or 4.7? The 4.7 software is better.
My 4.7 is slow to make changes in auto & comfort.
TBH I rarely use it in anything other than manual with slight lift on changes
Can the 4.7 software be loaded into a 4.3 car?Is it a 4.3 or 4.7? The 4.7 software is better.
My 4.7 is slow to make changes in auto & comfort.
TBH I rarely use it in anything other than manual with slight lift on changes
Mine was starting to misbehave, the dealer told me about clutch learn which I'll describe below and now it's an awful lot smoother.
From cold and with the air conditioning turned off, foot on brake and start car, hold brake for 10 secs or so until you hear the clutch 'click'. Switch off and then repeat the process 3 or 4 times. The immediate difference I found was how much smoother it became at slow speeds, for instance manoeuvring in tight spaces in now a lot easier than when it would lurch forward before.
In general reference to the gearbox; I came out of a double-clutch Audi S5 which obviously had a blindingly quick change, perfectly smooth rev matches and just too perfect almost but the V8V's gearbox has that sporty bang, it's tough to drive well which is part of what makes it fun when you do it right. I find if you have it in D it's a whole sight better to also be in comfort when it is genuinely comfortable provided you get the footwork with the accelerator pedal right of course! It is not a traditional automatic and is not built to be so, but for someone like me who does most of their driving in town you get the fun of paddle changes and better control over the noise and acceleration while also not having to have a very tired left foot.
In summary, I've grown to really quite like the Sportshift!
From cold and with the air conditioning turned off, foot on brake and start car, hold brake for 10 secs or so until you hear the clutch 'click'. Switch off and then repeat the process 3 or 4 times. The immediate difference I found was how much smoother it became at slow speeds, for instance manoeuvring in tight spaces in now a lot easier than when it would lurch forward before.
In general reference to the gearbox; I came out of a double-clutch Audi S5 which obviously had a blindingly quick change, perfectly smooth rev matches and just too perfect almost but the V8V's gearbox has that sporty bang, it's tough to drive well which is part of what makes it fun when you do it right. I find if you have it in D it's a whole sight better to also be in comfort when it is genuinely comfortable provided you get the footwork with the accelerator pedal right of course! It is not a traditional automatic and is not built to be so, but for someone like me who does most of their driving in town you get the fun of paddle changes and better control over the noise and acceleration while also not having to have a very tired left foot.
In summary, I've grown to really quite like the Sportshift!
mikey k said:
Don't forget the sport shift is not a true auto like DSG, PDK etc
It is actually an actuated manual gearbox!
DSG, PDK etc are not true auto's either, they are dual clutch automated manuals.It is actually an actuated manual gearbox!
Sportshift is a single clutch automated manual like the BMW SMG and the Maserati Cambiocorsa.
VW DSG and Porsche PDK are what I would call a manual automatic. I had a PDK 997 C2S and sold it quickly as I hated it as it lacked involvement and soul and left me feeling somewhat numb especially when driving around town. It was however very quick and very smooth.
BMW SMG and AM Sportshift are what I would call an automatic manual gearbox. I owned two BMW M3's with SMG2 and loved them to pieces. Driving them smoothly however is a skill you need to learn but I always found the driving experience as rewarding as a manual gearbox. SMG2 was lighning fast too - in mode6 the changes under hard acceleration were brutal - hard and ultra fast.
I test drove AM sportshift and quite liked it, and it felt like SMG to me. Having said that I had just come out of the PDK C2S (at a big loss in a short time) so having been burnt by such gearboxes I decided to go back to a true manual for a while.
BMW SMG and AM Sportshift are what I would call an automatic manual gearbox. I owned two BMW M3's with SMG2 and loved them to pieces. Driving them smoothly however is a skill you need to learn but I always found the driving experience as rewarding as a manual gearbox. SMG2 was lighning fast too - in mode6 the changes under hard acceleration were brutal - hard and ultra fast.
I test drove AM sportshift and quite liked it, and it felt like SMG to me. Having said that I had just come out of the PDK C2S (at a big loss in a short time) so having been burnt by such gearboxes I decided to go back to a true manual for a while.
Adam2S said:
VW DSG and Porsche PDK are what I would call a manual automatic.
You might, no one else does. DSG, PDK, BMW's DCT etc are still automated manuals, they just have two seperated 'manual' gearboxes/clutches within a single unit, as opposed to a single gearbox/clutch unit as in SMG, Sportshift etc.
An 'automatic' of whatever make has a fluid torque converter and a plantery gearset.... night and day difference in operation/construction between an automatic and either of the automated manual types.
mikey k said:
Must force a clutch learn on mine to see what it does.
Don't forget the sport shift is not a ture auto like DSG, PDK etc
It is actually an actuated manual gearbox!
Indeed it is ... in fact it is the same gearbox as the manual but with the actuator bits (gearchange and clutch release) "clamped" on to the outside ... for some reason, the whole assembly reminded me of the baby aliens clamped to the victim's face in Alien!!Don't forget the sport shift is not a ture auto like DSG, PDK etc
It is actually an actuated manual gearbox!
Thanks for outlining clutch learn procedure. I'd seen it referred to previously but could never find the specifics via Google search.
I'm hopeful this will resolve the low speed juddering / clunking I experience. Currently feels as though clutch is on its last legs [car has only done 4.5k]!
The other thing I find odd is that paddles are 'fixed', whereas on my M3 they're located on steering wheel. As such I find myself snatching paddles when changing gear while driving in anything other than a straight line.
Are 4.7 cars the same?
I'm hopeful this will resolve the low speed juddering / clunking I experience. Currently feels as though clutch is on its last legs [car has only done 4.5k]!
The other thing I find odd is that paddles are 'fixed', whereas on my M3 they're located on steering wheel. As such I find myself snatching paddles when changing gear while driving in anything other than a straight line.
Are 4.7 cars the same?
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