Anyone know why the 458 does not downshift from 7 to 5 or 7 to 3 or 5 to 3...? It only downshifts ONE gear at a time. 7 to 6, 6 to 5, 5 to 4, and so on. It does NOT downshift like 7 to 5 or 7 to 4 like the FF does. I test drove the FF the other day and that car does that when 458 does not. Any ideas? (I'm talking about the AUTO mode on the transmission).
That what my 458 does, one gear at a time. The shifter in the 458 is adaptive. All that means is it will slect the time between gears depending on how it thinks you want to drive, i.e. agressive or normal. So if you are driving sgressive it will up shift or down shift quickly or slowly if normal. The racing mode also makes a diference. Good luck Lee
It's in the nature of the double clutch system. There are two concentric shafts, with one shaft having the even numbered gears and the other having the odd numbered gears. By shifting one gear at a time, the system disengages with the clutch serving one shaft (for example the one with even numbered gears) and nearly simultaneously engages with the clutch on the other shaft (for example the one with odd numbered gears). This enables very rapid shifts via the computer.
The problem is... My porsche 911 turbo S is a PDK as well but it jumps more than 2 gears when needed. That is, it jumps to whatever gear it's needed to achieve max acceleration. So does the mp4-12c, ferrari's own FF.
Maybe I didnt put the question so that people could understand... Let me try it again. When you drive a honda or mercedes that has automatic transmission, you drive on a highway at 75mph and rpm is like 3000. You are at gear 5. Now you floor it. What does it do? It goes to 3, not 4. Lexus for example, it goes from 8 to 3 or 4. My 458 goes from 7 to 6 even if you floor it when you are in auto mode. I find this really stupid. This is probably the only feature I hate about my 458. Other than this, it's a perfect car. Just don't understand how Ferrari didn't apply the most basic rule in auto mode...
Wow. I never used auto. I thought nobody did. I have no idea why but my thinking is so that it's in the proper gear if you want to re-accelerate quickly. Just a guess. The FF also has a 12 cylinder engine with more torque. They may do it to make the car more smooth.
I don't believe the 12c or FF can jump to whatever gear is needed. Both are dual clutch gearboxes. One clutch is engaged and the second is ready to go 1 gear up or down the box, in the case of the 12c you can simply tell it which way you are going to go so it is ready. I'm not technical but my understanding is that a dual clutch box can never drop 2 gears as this would mean the same clutch that is currently being used would also be needed for the new gear and they simply aren't designed to work that way! I'm sure others will give a proper technical answer. You need a Scud/16M/GTO if you want super fast gear changes that can also jump gears.
So take your left arm, move it from the door armrest, and pull left paddle. Pretty simple, or you could use your Lexus when you want a lazy cruise?
This is correct. In theory you can design a DCT system to drop or go up two gears but it will be slower and lurchier because it requires the same clutch to disengage and re-engage. Think earlier F1 boxes as if they had only even or odd gears. As for automatic mode, I think its use is properly confined to extreme acceleration or a need to maximize fuel efficiency instead of performance driving.
I rarely if ever used automatic on my past 360 and 430, so not sure how the 458 works. My Porsche 997 Twin Turbo's PDK transmission, is a pleasure. Never worry about shifting but when the need arises can immediately hit a down paddle and "shift" at will. Is this also true of the 458? Do most people use automatic daily driving and if not why not? Does one mode or the other affect the clutch wear any differently? Best
Sorry I did not understand the first time My 458 goes down one gear at a time. If I am at low speed and high gear and I floor the car it goes to the lower gear one at a time very very quickly. This is in race mode automatic. I seldom run different setting so I do not remember what happens with the others setting choices Lee
I use auto all of the time in race mode. The transmission in the 458 is a technical marvel it ia smooth and very fast to shift gears. The auto setting in my mind is the same as manual because you can still paddle shift or overide the computer logic at any time and if you chose not to at the next turn it just does the work. On the Lambo Galardo of the same year if you use automatic and sport, the throttle is hit when the car is going down through the gears. A nice sound Lee
On my past paddle shifter cars it was recommended that you shift to neutral at a stop except for the 458. I still do it but the dealer said it was not needed on the 458. The lambo Galardo of the same year a 2010 it is recommended. The 458 will kick into neutral if the stop is long and or on a hill. The dealer told me that manual is best for the clutch but it does not really make much difference. Of course this is not what I do Lee
Please don't try to think about the mechanism or scientific. The fact is that some Dual clutch cars DO and some dual clutch cars DON'T. In case of McL and FF, they do. I just drove the FF last week because Newport Beach Ferrari was convincing me to buy that car and let me have it for one full day. They always do this for me whenever they want to sell me a car. I was on freeway at around 80 and top gear (7) and in auto mode. I floored the gas pedal. The transmission changed to THIRD gear!!! I'm saying 7-> 3. Direct. No hesitation. DIRECT like any other conventional torque-converted automatics. Also, my friend has the McLauren MP4-12C and also Newport Beach Lambo/McLauren is always contacting me to buy that car so I drove both cars. They both do what FF does. Jump to whatever gear it's necessary to obtain the maximum acceleration. So, here is the summary (as of now, so far I know...) Nissan GTR and Ferrari 458 does NOT jump more than one gear when in auto mode and downshifting by flooring method. McLauren MP4-12C and Ferrari FF DO jump more than one gear when in auto mode and downshifting by flooring method. . . . . WHY???
probably gearbox design (captain obvious) I use auto in the drive through at starbucks. thats about it
It would be nice (FF is surprisingly good~!) but I would miss the 458's nimbleness since FF does not come even close to 458 when it comes to it. Plus, 458 is and feels much faster off the line even without being an AWD car.
It is not possible for a dual clutch transmission to skip gears in the way a traditional automatic gearbox or manual can. The FF has newer, faster, software that allows something similar to skipping gears, but can not skip gears. Its basically running different updated software. I see that you own a 2010 458, the 2012 is running different updated software.
I still do not get it and would appreciate clarification. I don't need a lecture on dual clutches, I get the point(s). What still is not clear is if the 458 operates the same way as the Porsche PDK. My Twin Turbo is perfect for me. I start the car (it is in automatic) and when the need or desire arises, I can shift paddles anytime. Is this true of the 458? When first starting the 458, is it automatically in "auto" mode and allows you the choice of race or sport mode? Best
Well, auto mode can be run in any setting of 5 settings just like the suspension can be set to soft in race mode and so on. You can downshift or up shift with the paddles whilst being in auto as well.
I've got a Porsche Turbo S with PDK and a 458. The Porsche in Auto mode (sport) is always in the right gear and I leave it in Auto. The 458 isn't as suited to sporty driving in Auto (it screams its head off downshifting too keenly into corners) so I always use it in manual mode out of town.
