“F1.” “e-gear.” “Cambiacorsa.” These are examples of terms used to describe an alternative type of transmission found in exotic cars. How do such transmissions differ from traditional 6-speed manual and automatic transmissions?
When driven in manual mode, these alternative transmissions allow the driver to shift up and down gears by use of levers or paddles, typically attached to the steering column. So any driver can have the excitement of manual shifting, without having to know how to drive a 6-speed manual.
What’s more, these alternative transmissions can be used to accomplish things only an expert driver can accomplish when the car uses a traditional 6-speed. For example, in a traditional 6-speed car, in order to go into a lower gear just before entering a turn without encountering the breaking power of engine compression, the driver has to effect a very complicated maneuver called the heel-to-toe shift. The driver has to work all three pedals of the car — clutch, break, gas — simultaneously.
However, any driver can accomplish the same thing in a car equipped with an alternative transmission. That’s because when the driver goes into a lower gear, a computer in the car automatically adjusts and the engine revs upward so that the speed of the car remains the same. That is, there is no engine compression causing the car to slow down like there would be in a traditional 6-speed when the heel-to-toe maneuver is not performed.
In addition to the manual mode, these alternative transmissions also can be driven in automatic mode. When driven in automatic mode, they can act just as aggressive as a traditional automatic in a high-end sports car. That is, when driving normally, they will drop into the lowest optimal gear, typically fourth, fifth or sixth depending upon how fast the car is going. But if the driver mashes the gas pedal to the floor, the car will downshift one or two gears and take off screaming. It’s really something to experience.
Notwithstanding the foregoing glowing comments, buyers and renters must beware. Some alternative transmissions deliver on their promises. But some do not. For some cars with these alternative transmissions, driving in “automatic” mode in city traffic or bumper-to-bumper freeway traffic is terrible. When the car comes to a rolling stop, and the car is downshifting from third to second to first, the car lurches back and forth. It’s unbearable after about 10 minutes, and the only comfortable option is to put the car in manual mode.
In sum, when it comes to alternative transmissions in exotic cars, buyers and renters must beware. Know what you’re getting into before you buy or rent a car with this type of alternative transmission. That knowledge not only can enhance your enjoyment of the car, but also can go a long way in avoiding a very disappointing and expensive experience.
For more information, please contact Michael Rossi at 310-717-8806.