Vlad

If I remember well from what I've read, the only trade off is money. The manual is traditionally lighter than auto, faster than auto and more economic than auto (in most cases) and there is a technology already to make clutchless manual quite light too. It just cost a lot of $$$ right now. But with the way things going, at least in sports car/luxury sedans industry, all of them will have SMT in nearest future. And the price will come down. I'm happy that BMW set up trend so early (they could've wait couple years).

Remember how it was with computers? Nobody could think that a person will be able to afford/will need to have a computer at home!

N74DV

our auto tranny in the Z is lighter than the manual..... As I recall it's like 7lb lighter.

DmitryZ

do a search

I am calm


Dmitry

350zroadster

iTrader: (1)

I am not disputing the fact that there are lots of threads on auto vs manual. I'm saying this thread isn't it.

DeludedBuzz

Note that the 03 Toyota MR-2 Spyder also comes with a sequential manual transmission. It's only a $905 option, so I don't think cost is too much of a drawback (if it's already on a $25k car.)

I'm hoping these things get more and more popular, I'd love to stick with manuals, but I'm afraid of trying to teach my wife how to drive a stick...

Vlad

Well, the option on BMW costs $2400. I'm not sure if it's much better. But I can expect BMW's one to be faster than Toyota's... and also I'm not sure mr2 has an "auto" mode.

Hmm... I'd gladly pay $2400 to install SMT into my Z. I predict 2005 or 2006 model of Z to have one as an option. They have to realize "semimanual" not good enough anymore... minivans have them now.

kohlersc

Sorry I should have been more specific.

When I was talking about double down shifting from 5th to 3rd while in manual mode I wasn't talking about it while braking. I am concerned when I am accelerating say up a steep hill trying to get around a truck or something.

I was not able to get it do just double down **** quickly when needing it to accelerate.

Was this just an anomoly I experienced or is this normal?

N74DV

hmmmmm...... mine double dowshifts fine anytime.... while braking or under accleration.

Boomer

I see. I haven't encountered that situation. I'm pretty lazy, I would switch to full auto and floor it. There shouldn't be a problem, however, if you are keeping steady pressure on the throttle. It should downshift from 5th to 3rd; it just doesn't work to try it to 2nd, the trans won't let you close to overreving. N74 says it works for him either way, so maybe he has some technique we haven't thought of yet.

N74DV

no special technique.... just a quick double tap .....


on another note.... here's a real rough schematic for those who requested more info on tapping into the microswitches for remote shifting.

It's just a quick sketch I did..... it's one of those things that I could show you in 5 minutes but it would take an hour to draw and write it up.....


NC is the "normally closed" side of the switch and NO is the "normally open"

also the before sketch is slightly innacurate.... in the stock configuration the NO of one switch actually is wired to the NC of the other and then from there the rest of the wires go to the computer.

The main purpose of the sketches is to show that the stock microswitches are rewired so that they manually activate the relays on the wireless receiver. This way either the wireless receiver does the shifting via the buttons on the transmitter or you can still use the stick and the stock microswitches activate the relays on the receiver.....

nighthawk350z

Vlad's quote:

no the mr2's SMG does not feature an auto mode. you must upshift and downshift by urself. kinda sucks but if u get used to it i guess it would be alright..hope that helps.