driven automatics all my life, will I like/hate ford powershift?

knightstyle

We have had our nissan Juke 1.6 petrol auto for two weeks and it has a belt type box and torque converter. Have had many autos, from old 3 speed B/W boxes to modern CVT and even a Hillman "Easydrive"
The Juke is the smoothest drive I have ever experienced.

Joe_Horner

It always amazes me how much dislike there is for CVTs out there.

Yes, they're different to drive than a standard auto. But that's just a matter of getting used to them. They're also inherently more efficient and, if they're set up well, will give the best possible performance AND economy from any engine - far better than an equivalent car with manual box!

Honest question, what's not to like about them - apart from people's unwilliingness to adapt to something "new"?

gilbert_and_sullivan

Some CVT's are fine, some have proved to be unreliable junk.

They are reasonable to drive, if in some set ups a bit 'whiney' aspecially if you want to press on, but in general they are pleasant enough to drive.

Maybe some people haven't sampled the difference between one of those and that spawn of satan the automated manual, if you imagine trying to drive the car with you operating the throttle and some random stranger operating an imaginary clutch, thats the automanual in a nutshell, might be fine for those who run around as if in a motorised shopping trolley.

Joe_Horner

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

Some CVT's are fine, some have proved to be unreliable junk.

They are reasonable to drive, if in some set ups a bit 'whiney' aspecially if you want to press on, but in general they are pleasant enough to drive.

Maybe some people haven't sampled the difference between one of those and that spawn of satan the automated manual, if you imagine trying to drive the car with you operating the throttle and some random stranger operating an imaginary clutch, thats the automanual in a nutshell, might be fine for those who run around as if in a motorised shopping trolley.

Yeah, I can see the thing with the automated mechanical, especially if you're used to a traditional auto and expect the same responses. At least with a CVT you should be expecting a different experience from the start.

We had a Colt with AMT for 3 years and it worked well enough once you adapted your driving style to suit - and weren't afraid to reach for the manual selector when appropriate!

I guess a lot of drivers with traditional auto slush-boxes never really learn how to drive the box either and they (probably) are more forgiving in that case than the alternatives

bikingbarney

Ive got an smax with the powershift gearbox.

Its my first auto and I think its brilliant.

Im not sure why people are comparing it to a cvt gearbox as its nothing of the sort.

Its actually a dual clutch auto and pre selects the next gear giving seamless changes. It has been said by people that it is better than the audi/vw dsg version.

DUTR

The thread seems to have drifted onto CVT transmission, where as the powershift system the OP refers to , elsewhere is documented as a dual clutch sequential transmission without the flappy paddles.

easy

DUTR wrote: »

The thread seems to have drifted onto CVT transmission, where as the powershift system the OP refers to , elsewhere is documented as a dual clutch sequential transmission without the flappy paddles.

yep, I was thinking the same thing. I really don't want anything with CVT, that much I know.

What I need to know about the 1.6 petrol powershift specifically is :- do you still get the 'creep effect' which makes maneuvering so easy, and how are hill starts effected (I think I know the answer to that, I suspect I can't hold on the throttle on a steep hill like I would be able to in a TC auto, but I'm prepared to be corrected).

oldagetraveller

" I suspect I can't hold on the throttle on a steep hill like I would be able to in a TC auto, but I'm prepared to be corrected)."

You can but the clutch will soon overheat and possibly burn out if done too often!
A hill start is just like a conventional manual. Hold on the handbrake and press accelerator pedal until you feel the clutch bite. You soon get the hang of it.
I know the Toyota version of the automated clutch transmission "creeps".
I've recently replaced a MMT Yaris with a Multimode(CVT) Yaris and find this one a far easier and seamless transmission.

easy

oldagetraveller wrote: »

" I suspect I can't hold on the throttle on a steep hill like I would be able to in a TC auto, but I'm prepared to be corrected)."

You can but the clutch will soon overheat and possibly burn out if done too often!

Yes, thats what I mean by "I can't" !

oldagetraveller wrote: »

A hill start is just like a conventional manual. Hold on the handbrake and press accelerator pedal until you feel the clutch bite. You soon get the hang of it.

I know I would, it's just me being a bit sheepish about making the change - and fretting when OH drives it, cos his is a conventional auto.

oldagetraveller wrote: »

I know the Toyota version of the automated clutch transmission "creeps".
I've recently replaced a MMT Yaris with a Multimode(CVT) Yaris and find this one a far easier and seamless transmission.

Thanks for the info.

bikingbarney

The powershift in my smax has a bit of creep which helps with parking.

Mine also has something called hill launch assist which holds it on the brake for you on a hill. It's very good actually and I never feel as though I'm slipping the clutch.