Kia xceed first edition DCT gearbox ?

luci

Thanks for the info Goudy, very useful. I am taking delivery of a 2022/23 Kia 1.5 GDi GT-Line S DCT this week. I have never driven an automatic before, so it will be a learning curve. Your comments have helped me know what to expect.

Goudy

There's not much too get used to really, particularly coming direct from a manual. 

DCT's "feel" like there are in gear just like a manual car as opposed to them feeling like the gears are slipping with a CVT or torque converter auto.

It's hard to explain if you've never driven autos before, but torque convertors and CVTs can produce an odd feeling, like the revs and road speed aren't always well matched. 
If you were driving a manual, you'd swear the clutch was slipping some of the time!

The relation to gear, road speed and engine load in a DCT feels much more positive, it's just the car is making the changes, almost instantly.

The chances of catching one out are slim, but it's possible as I described in my earlier post.
You might get the odd hard down change if you slow enough then decide accelerate again sharpishly, but that should be few and far between.

Too tell the truth, am having much more trouble with the gearing on a Zoe I'm using for work at the moment.
The regen kicks a split second after I lift my foot off the pedal and I'm just not gliding to a junction or traffic lights on the over run as I'm used to.

It retards much faster than I'm used too and I'm finding myself back on the accelerator to get my those last hundred yards. At the minute it all feels a bit disjointed (and more effort).

I also find the gear selector a bit fiddly on the Zoe.
The DCT in my Clio is a mechanical lever, you just pull it through the notches in one motion until you are in the right gear.
The Zoe is large knob on what feels like a very lightweight rocker switch with a pathetic "click" between gears and I find myself getting a bit frustrated with it as I nudge it back and forth while waiting for the telltale light to come on.
Obviously the mechanical lever feels much more positive to me.

luci

Goudy said:

Too tell the truth, am having much more trouble with the gearing on a Zoe I'm using for work at the moment.
The regen kicks a split second after I lift my foot off the pedal and I'm just not gliding to a junction or traffic lights on the over run as I'm used to.

It retards much faster than I'm used too and I'm finding myself back on the accelerator to get my those last hundred yards. At the minute it all feels a bit disjointed (and more effort).

That was the comment I particularly noted.

I haven't driven a DCT on the road, but I did have 10 minutes with a friend's one in a large car park. OH said I took to it like a duck to water. I did manage to reverse it between the parking lines and didn't have any issues. My concern is that there is so much more to think about and be aware of when actually driving it on the road. We have a rural ring road with a 60mph limit, so I am thinking of trying it out on there for my first attempt. It's junctions in the middle of town I'm more concerned about.

Goudy

That particular comment was aimed at a Zoe, which is an EV so no "real" gearbox.

You have more time to "think" as you aren't having to think about changing gear, slipping clutches etc.

If it has an electronic handbrake, turn it on to "auto".

Most automatics creep (automated manuals don't tend to creep), ie they will move forward/backward slowly by themselves if you take your foot off the brake in drive/reverse.

It makes tight manoeuvres like reversing a doddle and helps with hill starts as you won't roll back.
The car just shuffles slowly along itself.

(In fact, when reversing don't touch the accelerator at all, just let the car creep on it's own while you steer and cover the brake pedal with your right foot. It might seem a little slower than when you reversed a manual, but you will have better control over it)

Normally with an auto, when you come to traffic lights or a junction you need to hold the foot brake down to stop it creeping until you are ready to go

If you have an electronic handbrake and turn the auto function on (smaller button next to the electronic handbrake switch) whenever you come to a full stop on the brakes, it will hold the brakes on for you automatically.

You don't need to hold the brake pedal down or apply the handbrake yourself or put it in park*.

It doesn't matter if you are on a hill or on the flat, it will hold the car until you press the accelerator again to move off, then it automatically disengages the brake and off you go.

It makes town driving so much easier and less stress.
Just come to stop on the brakes and you can take you foot off the pedal while the car holds you there until you are ready to go again.

*if you're stopped for any length of time, then do put it in park.

luci

Hopefully, I'll get used to a different way of driving without too many problems. I used to commute 15000 miles a year and was a confident driver. Since I stopped, I am far less confident and my driving can be questionable some days.

I noticed the car creeping forward in my friend's car.

Yes, it does have an electronic handbrake so all useful info. I read on another thread about pressing another button before making the handbrake auto for some reason, but I can't remember which button it was. I have read so many threads on here that I'm forgetting what I saw where!

Goudy

luci said:

 I read on another thread about pressing another button before making the handbrake auto for some reason, but I can't remember which button it was. I have read so many threads on here that I'm forgetting what I saw where!

Maybe turning the stop/start off. (Kia call it ISG)

With the Auto Hold off and you holding the brake on, the car will restart the instant you lift you foot off the brake.

With Auto Hold on and the car holding the brake on, the car will only restart when you press the accelerator.
This can cause a bit of a delay as the engine needs to start and the gearbox get into gear before you get moving.

Mine will restart when I turn the steering wheel a little as the steering is electrically assisted and needs lots of power. To get this it runs the engine.
I can pre-empt the restart by just tugging the steering wheel, but usually I leave the stop/start turned off. 

luci

Brilliant, thanks. We have stop/start on the Focus and there is a delay when it restarts, so sounds like the Auto Hold will be similar. The stop/start rarely engages as we don't often drive in built up areas so will be no problem to leave it off.

photome

luci said:

Why did you decide against buying it, was it the colour? Hope you are liking your SEAT.

Your thread has still been useful, as it made me look at the Kia owner's club forum as suggested by davejp. Just spent a couple of hours browsing there and picked up a lot of info.

A few reasons , wife thought it had done to many miles and I was still a little concerned about the warranty, car was very nice and drove very well.

i think mainly , it was we the fact we have had 2 x SEAT with no issues and really wanted a more upright car than the X ceed.  Do miss having all the toys the xceed had though

luci

I would have been concerned about the warranty too with the overdue services.

We've had 6 Ford Focuses between us since 2006 and I couldn't see past them. I just feel it's time for a change, so have changed both the manufacturer and from a manual to an automatic. The XCeed seems to be kitted out like a half-aeroplane, it has so many gadgets and gizmos. Will take ages to work out what they all do.