by "Cé hé sin" (michael-m-mouse)
Published 08/28/2017 at 18:53
by "Cé hé sin" (michael-m-mouse)
Published 08/28/2017 at 18:53
Tags: Smart
STARS: 3
Today’s thing:
North American Smart Mk2s (model 451) are different from everyone else’s and the difference is right here:
Rest of us
No P position, different layout to conventional automatic with R right and back, neutral to the right and manual/automatic positions to the left. No creep. Button selects manual or automatic modes.
NA
Conventional layout with a P position. Also creep, produced by dragging the clutch.
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
08/28/2017 at 18:59, STARS: 0
I prefer the European way, as my beloved Chelsea has:
The creep mode on the US spec smarts is absolutely annoying. Driving in bumper to bumper traffic dragging that clutch along is one of the most grueling experience ever.
I wonder if creep can be deactivated by using my new Star machine, but I need to figure out how it works to begin with. lol
"For Sweden" (rallybeetle)
08/28/2017 at 18:59, STARS: 11
Also, while the Europeans have an Eco mode, the Americans have storage for money. There’s a metaphor in that.
"The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock" (jukesjukesjukes)
08/28/2017 at 19:07, STARS: 1
Now Miss Mercedes will try to find a way to swap that one in.
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
08/28/2017 at 19:09, STARS: 0
Not possible! (trust me, I’ve tried figuring it out) xD
The shift modules are completely different. The only way I can replicate the one my 450 has would be to figure out how to delete creep mode without hurting stability control.
"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
08/28/2017 at 19:14, STARS: 0
Why can manufacturers never get the order right when they put manual modes on their automatics? You pull the shifter to go up a gear. That is how it is on all the sequential transmissions they are trying to imitate. Get it right.
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
08/28/2017 at 19:15, STARS: 1
The Eco mode in the European version activates the mhd system. It’s basically a belt-driven alternator that’s horridly expensive to replace, breaks often, and doesn’t do much for fuel economy...In every other car it’s known as a start/stop system.
"For Sweden" (rallybeetle)
08/28/2017 at 19:28, STARS: 2
This greatly expands the metaphor
"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
08/28/2017 at 19:37, STARS: 0
It’s doubly-annoying when downshifting and you’re moving forward but you have to pull it back at the same time. If it was the other way around, it would be more controllable.
"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
08/28/2017 at 20:23, STARS: 0
That’s part of the reason why it is done that way in an actual sequential.
"Cé hé sin" (michael-m-mouse)
08/29/2017 at 07:04, STARS: 0
I’ve driven several automated manuals and the only one with a creep function was a Peugeot 107 (aka Toyota Aygo and Citroën C1). I found it fine. You release the brake and then after a second or two the clutch starts to drag. The Focus with twin clutch box does just the same.
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
08/29/2017 at 08:42, STARS: 0
There’s nothing wrong with the functionality itself. It imitates an automatic and I have no issue with those!
My problem comes with how the US spec version is programmed to work, specifically on the 451. Basically, if I do one near full throttle start on a green light in my commute, the transmission assumes all starts for the next 48 hours will be full throttle and violently tries to engage gear the second I let off my brake. Now that I’m into higher mileage, this means a 50/50 chance of limp mode.
I asked the dealer about it, and they said that during one of my warranty visits they updated my transmission to this software. So they say, it’s programming put in there to try to satisfy Americans’ complaints about the car shifting slow.
IMO, they perfected creep in the 453. It feels no different than an automatic to me. I’d still prefer the 450 way, but I can’t complain. :)