AutoStick - a true a manual in disguise?
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: East Lansing, MI
AutoStick - a true a manual in disguise?
Question is this just another chrysler autostick or is it something like an SMG (sequential manual gearbox) where when you shift the computer cannot override your shift, even if it is bad for the transmission or engine; thereby making it a real manual when in autostick mode.
Becuase I have realized that even if i try to start in 1st gear with the autostick the car will remain in 1st gear until I shift up, thereby essentially turning the car into a clutchless manual. Most cars with auto sticks, is just a toy that is completely controlled by the cars' ECM similar to the Porsche Tiptronic which is a farse.
Becuase I have realized that even if i try to start in 1st gear with the autostick the car will remain in 1st gear until I shift up, thereby essentially turning the car into a clutchless manual. Most cars with auto sticks, is just a toy that is completely controlled by the cars' ECM similar to the Porsche Tiptronic which is a farse.
Joined: May 2004
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From: West-central Connecticut
Hi...
The Crossfire's automatic transmission WILL upshift on it's own when the redline is hit... regardless of what gear you selected...
It also will not downshift into a gear you select that would cause the redline to be exceeded... it downshifts into the gear that does not cause redlining...
I understand this is controlled by valving in the transmission... not a computer...
Dave...
The Crossfire's automatic transmission WILL upshift on it's own when the redline is hit... regardless of what gear you selected...
It also will not downshift into a gear you select that would cause the redline to be exceeded... it downshifts into the gear that does not cause redlining...
I understand this is controlled by valving in the transmission... not a computer...
Dave...
Joined: Apr 2004
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even my tiptronic eclipse only downshifts for me if it'll stall the engine if i don't downshift and won't let me if i'm going to exceed redline, i think thats pretty common, it never upshifts for me but if i hit redline in 1st gear it just cuts the fuel so i can't go any higher, but i can go past redline in second.
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From: Austin, Texas
The "autostick" that the crossfire comes with is a true automatic transmission. This does not work as well as a tiptronic and no where like a sequential gearbox and definely not like anything like a Ricardo 7 speed, double wet-clutch transmission (shifts gears in 200 miliseconds).
When you hit the plus or minus there is a short delay before the shift. It even managed to shift on me in a low torque situation durning my test drive (wonder if it reverts to automode if there is not manual change over a given time).... It is the same as having a D 4 3 2 L but has a fancy +/-
It is much easier then trying to force your tranny into the traditional 4 3 2 L but shifts just as slow. It does allow you to have some more control over the shift points which would be good in some situations like autocrossing.
When you hit the plus or minus there is a short delay before the shift. It even managed to shift on me in a low torque situation durning my test drive (wonder if it reverts to automode if there is not manual change over a given time).... It is the same as having a D 4 3 2 L but has a fancy +/-
It is much easier then trying to force your tranny into the traditional 4 3 2 L but shifts just as slow. It does allow you to have some more control over the shift points which would be good in some situations like autocrossing.
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From: Berkshire, UK
I actually think it shifts quite quick. I've had a number of automatic cars in the past, including an Audi A6, Mercedes CLK, Rover 800 and Ford Mondeo. The shift on the XFire is much quicker than all of these cars. Yes, it isn't perfect, autos never will be, but it is a lot better than others.
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Manassas, VA
Originally Posted by XFire-Amore
yeah, i've realized that the AS does have that lag time in it b/w shifts. so i change my regular opinion to shotty manual imitation instead.
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From: London, England
I find its a great combo of normal auto driving and then using the autostick for dropping down early when you want to gun it! I find the kickdown in full auto mode slugish so the +/- is a very useful tool.
When i drove the manual i found 1st gear way to short and the whole box very notchy, with a very light clutch too, merc don't do good manuals!
When i drove the manual i found 1st gear way to short and the whole box very notchy, with a very light clutch too, merc don't do good manuals!
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From: Austin, Texas
Originally Posted by David Burns
Originally Posted by XFire-Amore
yeah, i've realized that the AS does have that lag time in it b/w shifts. so i change my regular opinion to shotty manual imitation instead.
Originally Posted by By Joe Wiesenfelder of cars.com
The automatic also includes clutchless-manual operation under the Chrysler name AutoStick, but itfs clearly the same as Mercedesf system, in that the lever can be moved to the left or right to downshift or upshift sequentially without sliding into a separate shift gate. Unfortunately, this mode also operates like the Mercedes feature; selecting one of the higher gears still allows the transmission to kick down to a lower gear, which has not been the Chrysler approach. AutoStick historically has kept the transmission in whatever gear you choose unless you change it or come to a complete stop. Ifm not a big fan of clutchless manuals to begin with, but it seems to me that they should be as manual as possible. The Mercedes and Crossfire systems are little more than the old g4321h gear selector settings that used to follow the D (Drive), but with a different motion to activate them.
Another twist, the driver can hold the shift lever in the left, downshift, position and the computer will automatically select the optimum gear based on the carfs speed, engine rpm and lateral g-force. Other journalists were more taken with this feature than I. Smart drivetrain control is always great to see in an automatic transmission, but this is another way that AutoStick is more Auto and less Stick.
It wonft surprise you that I preferred driving the six-speed manual. This is the transmission that in 2001 rescued the SLK from the only manual transmission Ifve ever warned consumers not to buy. In the SLK, it was a vast improvement over the catastrophic five-speed sold in 2000, but Ifll need more time to decide how I like it in the Crossfire. I prefer it to the automatic just because itfs a manual, but Ifm not sure about the gear ratios. Theyfre the same as in the SLK and C-Class, down to the final-drive ratio, but something seems amiss. Perhaps itfs the Crossfirefs larger drive wheels or the fact that I recently drove Infinitifs G35 Sport Coupe, which has a brilliantly executed six-speed.
I am suprised the aftermarket guys have not come up with a way to reprogram it...
-marc
Joined: May 2004
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From: Crossville, TN
I've got to agree -- the Crossfire autostick is nowhere near as precise or responsive as the Chrysler autostick. I had one in my 300M. When I upshifted or downshifted there was instant response. With the Crossfire, the tranny reacts like "Oh, so you want to shift now. (pause) Well, OK, I guess we can do that (pause)." Then finally a shift. I'm not really excited about a chip upgrade for 20 or so HP, but if that upgrade changed the manual shifting to be more responsive, I'd consider the upgrade in a heartbeat.
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From: Manassas, VA
Originally Posted by Ron H
I've got to agree -- the Crossfire autostick is nowhere near as precise or responsive as the Chrysler autostick. I had one in my 300M. When I upshifted or downshifted there was instant response. With the Crossfire, the tranny reacts like "Oh, so you want to shift now. (pause) Well, OK, I guess we can do that (pause)." Then finally a shift. I'm not really excited about a chip upgrade for 20 or so HP, but if that upgrade changed the manual shifting to be more responsive, I'd consider the upgrade in a heartbeat.
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