canis Posted May 19, 2004 Share Posted May 19, 2004 I've driven a couple different vehicles with automatics with steering wheel shift controls. This should be similar to Subaru's Sportshift, if I'm not mistaken. I'm posting my opinion in hopes that I'm just missing something, and y'all can fill me in. When I drove these vehicles, I quickly decided that I don't like it. If you get the car in the twisties, there will inevitably be times when you are shifting and turning at the same time. But if the shift buttons are on the steering wheel, then the buttons are constantly moving around. When piloting 3,400lbs. of metal at high speeds near the limits of traction, would you want to be stabbing at a moving target to hit the right gear? With a manual, in the USDM, the shifting mechanism is always at your lower right, and you right hand can be trained to find it in a fraction of a second, even with your eyes closed. With the sportshift, the shifting mechanism is spinning in a circle. You have to take an extra second or so to find the right button, track it down and push it. All to often (for me) this resulted in late shifts. Am I missing something? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sub-attraction Posted May 19, 2004 Share Posted May 19, 2004 Then use the manual shift on the lever in those situations. Otherwise when your hands are in the correct position on the wheel (10-2), your thumb should be able to find the correct button by touch rather than sight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUBE555 Posted May 19, 2004 Share Posted May 19, 2004 They have twisties in Florida? :mrgreen: Now I'm a manual person, but I can't imagine it would be that much harder to for the fraction of a second pitch the shift lever front or back when turning hard enough to make it more difficult to find the buttons. Call me old skool, but I just hate all the buttons and such on the wheel. I was driving in a Ferrari simulator in Vegas last year, and I found it much harder to be shifting with buttons than rowing the box. But that's just me and probably what I'm used to. If you are looking at tracking, I'm told this is defintely not the tranny for you as it will heat up faster on the track while in manual mode and will put itself in normal auto mode until it cools enough. A tranny oil cooler (or larger one if there is already one) would be necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akm3 Posted May 19, 2004 Share Posted May 19, 2004 The obvious solution is paddle style shifting like the BMW M3...That was sooooo sexy. -Allen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canis Posted May 19, 2004 Author Share Posted May 19, 2004 Paddle shifters offer the same problem (assuming they're attached to the back of the steering wheel). If you are shuffle-steering or palm-steering, your hands are not at 10/2. 10/2 works in track situations in an F1 car, b/c the steering wheel is really small and simply doesn't turn very far from lock to lock. But in a normal car, lock to lock can be over two revolutions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBY Posted May 19, 2004 Share Posted May 19, 2004 I'd still take paddles over buttons, it just seems more natural. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agctr Posted May 20, 2004 Share Posted May 20, 2004 Yes the buttons at warp speed in twisties can be quite messy regardless what cog u swap to. The only way to maybe fix this if u wanted to use the buttons, is have it so the buttons only shift up or down on either side of the oval. This could get messy especially with wiring at that, but if you could perfect a system, u would be way in front. Using the stick could be fun too although i do agree paddles would be much more the go. How can Ferrari be wrong ?? :o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PPower Posted May 20, 2004 Share Posted May 20, 2004 What's the problem? You can always change gears on the center console on the Sportshift as well as the M3 w/ SMGII. As for shifting while turning, I can't think of much of a time when that is really appropriate to do. Downshift before you start turning and don't shift until you come out of it. If you shift mid-turn, you can get lift throttle oversteer if nothing else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goneskiian Posted May 20, 2004 Share Posted May 20, 2004 Comparison of manual and sportshift posted in "Reviews and Articles" thread. -Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agctr Posted May 22, 2004 Share Posted May 22, 2004 Not sure its actually about changing gears mid corner, its more about accidently changing gears mid corner by hitting the buttons as there is no way of turning them off or on. A change of gear mid corner could see u spearing off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUBE555 Posted May 22, 2004 Share Posted May 22, 2004 And thats one reason why manuals are great! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drift Monkey Posted May 22, 2004 Share Posted May 22, 2004 manual > manumatics! :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agctr Posted May 23, 2004 Share Posted May 23, 2004 Yes that is very true.......... but the buttons and the sportshift could be pretty cool once u have it worked out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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