Emira i4 - gearbox - is latency ok left in auto mode?

[RS_MAN_CHILD]

Most of the recent reviews I see talk about the gearbox in a negative way especially about latency when used manually! But what about if you just leave it in auto let AMG handle it all in auto mode surely its not laggy then is it?

For me Auto is my only choice as I live in West London so to get anywhere takes a lot of gearchanges I could not live with the manual box which means Auto or no Emira for me (not many V6 autos about not seen any reviews of them either!).

Just curious about the auto box left in auto mode letting the AMG + Lotus combo handle changes cannot believe its that bad is it?

[MarkHP]

I've tested the i4 and thought it was excellent in auto - didn't really try the manual change much in the test tbh as I'd be looking at it as a daily and could live with a slightly slow manual change as I expect you just have to get used to it / anticipate it a bit... it will certainly be a quicker change than my S1 manual Evora, which I have to be 'thoughtful' with.
I felt that, though not the same presence as the V6, the noise of the i4 was good enough, especially with the valves open and the auto blip on down-change was great.
Certainly quick enough on the road, really shifts up through the gears and I thought that the balance of steering feedback to grip / handling was very impressive on a bumpy B road, probably a bit easier (touring suspension) than my early Evora to drive quickly due to the reduced feedback, which I felt paradoxically provided a bit more confidence.
Give one a go, it's the only real way to know if it will work for you.

[RS_MAN_CHILD]

MarkHP said:

I've tested the i4 and thought it was excellent in auto - didn't really try the manual change much in the test tbh as I'd be looking at it as a daily and could live with a slightly slow manual change as I expect you just have to get used to it / anticipate it a bit... it will certainly be a quicker change than my S1 manual Evora, which I have to be 'thoughtful' with.
I felt that, though not the same presence as the V6, the noise of the i4 was good enough, especially with the valves open and the auto blip on down-change was great.
Certainly quick enough on the road, really shifts up through the gears and I thought that the balance of steering feedback to grip / handling was very impressive on a bumpy B road, probably a bit easier (touring suspension) than my early Evora to drive quickly due to the reduced feedback, which I felt paradoxically provided a bit more confidence.
Give one a go, it's the only real way to know if it will work for you.

Thanks very much for the detailed feedback Mark. Not so bothered about the slight power difference vs the V6 as both hit NSL in sub 6 secs like my current car (which I am keeping anyway!).

Many years ago my 1st car was a rather beautiful Lotus Esprit S4s which obviously had a manual box & required extreme effort to drive around London due to how often you had to change gears to preserve the clutch life (several thousand to replace if you can even get the parts! - therefore easier to look after than abuse it! especially as it once burnt out damaging the flywheel causing a massive repair bill!!).

So for me an Auto is essential as takes me ages to escape from London onto some decent roads. Just seems to be so much negativity around it though guess I just need to get an extended test drive take it from there.

[cayman-black]

RS you should check out Harrys Garage video, he compares the two .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKQCYnoEUAM

Edited by cayman-black on Thursday 3rd October 10:16

[BertBert]

Interesting review as always from Harry (and son). I think that few people will use manual mode on the road - looks pretty tedious to me. Maybe for a blat up a mountain pass. Auto mode looks fine. I drove an Evora with the auto (slush)box and rather liked it (leaving it in auto mode).

[Greshamst]

I had an hour solo test drive on an i4. Gearbox definitely wasn’t as smooth around town as the auto in the Jag F-type that I’m coming from. (Both in gear selection and speed of gear change).

However, this didn’t bother me. It was a much more visceral experience, and engaging and entertaining drive than a GT car. I didn’t feel it was too much of a problem.

[Panamax]

RS_MAN_CHILD said:

letting the AMG + Lotus combo handle changes

Is there much "Lotus" involved or is it a question of letting AMG get on with it? As regards shifts that i4 lump puts out a lot of torque and the transmission will need time for engine torque management during shifts to stop itself getting ripped to pieces. Inevitably that will be more noticeable when it's "surprised" by a request for a manual shift than when it's in auto and broadly speaking knows what's likely to happen next.

[M Daddy]

I got one of the first UK i4's back in April and after the reviews, the gear change was my biggest worry. I can honestly say that in auto I have zero concerns. It's actually better at predicting gears than my RS3 and previous M3. There is a small lag with the manual shifts but it's nothing like what seemed to be there in the early review cars like the one Harry and son drove. I would say it's an equivalent lag to the RS3 but not as snappy as the M3 was.

Some owners have been told there's a gearbox software update due. I will be contacting my dealer to check this out. It could make a difference or it might be just to address the longer delay when shifting from reverse to neutral to drive (that is ponderous by anyone's standards!)

[RS_MAN_CHILD]

cayman-black said:

RS you should check out Harrys Garage video, he compares the two .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKQCYnoEUAM

Edited by cayman-black on Thursday 3rd October 10:16

I did thanks but he talked about the latency being an issue! hence me asking those who might know is it an issue or just Harry talking about it for webclicks!

[RS_MAN_CHILD]

M Daddy said:

I got one of the first UK i4's back in April and after the reviews, the gear change was my biggest worry. I can honestly say that in auto I have zero concerns. It's actually better at predicting gears than my RS3 and previous M3. There is a small lag with the manual shifts but it's nothing like what seemed to be there in the early review cars like the one Harry and son drove. I would say it's an equivalent lag to the RS3 but not as snappy as the M3 was.

Some owners have been told there's a gearbox software update due. I will be contacting my dealer to check this out. It could make a difference or it might be just to address the longer delay when shifting from reverse to neutral to drive (that is ponderous by anyone's standards!)

Thanks mate sounds like I need to get an extended test drive before deciding I can live with latency as long as in auto mode its good enough...its not like you can even legally use the 100mph of performance after NSL is it anyway............!

[Panamax]

As ever, if you want a manual car buy a manual car. An auto driven in manual mode is never the same experience. Most particularly, with an 8-speed transmission you won't have a clue what gear you're in unless you're staring at the dash instead of out the windscreen. And you'll almost certainly be slower in manual than in auto.

[bcr5784]

Panamax said:

As ever, if you want a manual car buy a manual car. An auto driven in manual mode is never the same experience. Most particularly, with an 8-speed transmission you won't have a clue what gear you're in unless you're staring at the dash instead of out the windscreen. And you'll almost certainly be slower in manual than in auto.

I accept entirely that changing gear manually in an auto is not the same as an auto, neither tactile, nor in terms of the skill required. However there is an important reason common to auto and manual - control. I want to be in the right gear BEFORE an overtake or a bend (and during it too) - not in the middle of it. I want to hold a gear on give and take roads so I can use engine braking. That's just as true of both auto or manual. If you want the tactile experience of a manual or exercise your skill - there's a good argument for a manual. But whether you are faster changing gear manually in an auto is, on the roads at least, pretty irrellevant.

But please please don't turn this into yet another interminal auto v manual argument. There are perfectly valid reasons for choosing either depending on your circumstances and preferences.

[Panamax]

bcr5784 said:

Please don't turn this into yet another interminal auto v manual argument. There are perfectly valid reasons for choosing either depending on your circumstances and preferences.

Well yes, but if you want to "choose" it's quite a good idea to pick a car that actually offers the choice...

[Frimley111R]

BertBert said:

. I drove an Evora with the auto (slush)box and rather liked it (leaving it in auto mode).

Mine was auto too. People moaned it didn't change gear like something Lewis Hamilton would drive but it was a st lot faster than I could change gear in either manual or auto. I loved it! I can't believe the much newer Merc one isn't even better.

[Frimley111R]

I'm concerned about your dilemma and so to help you out I'm going to get 24hrs in a 2.0 DCT on Friday. You're welcome