Re: Seeking advise on SMG.
you know that I mean nothing personal to anybody. don't take it wrong. But I am going to criticize the entire regime of robotized manual today. As usual some of what I talk is coming from my ass so if anybody can correct me please do.
several years ago, when robotized manual was made availble to the mainstream via the Alfa 156 Selespeed, I was overjoyed. The shift was crap, but I thought better things may come.
In the meantime, Ferrari, Maser, Lambo, BMW already have robotized manual. BMW released their high pressure SMG2 with 10 shift modes manually selectable, and WOW it was fast but the shifts were still jerky if you did not LIFT your pedal. But still, shifts done within 0.15 seconds and it was faster than any slushbox around. I was still quite happy but less happy than the beginning.
Then DSG came out on the Audi TT and Golf GTI and I was overjoyed again. Then I tried the GTI the first time and was even happier. But after I tried second time, third time, fourth time, and also tried the TT2 DSG, I was trying so hard to drive smoothly but just CANNOT do it as smooth as I can with a manual or Auto. i was not happy, but not sad also.
The the 335i ZF slushbox made me revise all my opinions. The transmission feel like the torque converter is NOT a torque converter, or it is LOCKED all the time. Yet the shifts are seamless. The shift is 0.1 seconds without feeling that the trans is going to break. Wow! That's faster than the race mode on SMG2, and as fast as F1 car kind of speed. Like, WTF? Even better than the AMG Auto5, except that .... the AMG is better in gear selection in auto mode, but in manual mode, that is irrelevant.
So, now, to me, to hell with all the robotized manuals. I'm not even holding out for a good DSG. If I want a automated gearbox, it'll be the ZF. Yes, if the car doesn't have the ZF, I'll wait for it to have the ZF. ZF has perfected the auto trans, now all it has to do is weight reduction. If the people try before they buy, Magneti marelli is screwed IMHO, and Ferrari and Aston etc. will all jump ship to ZF soon. Even Maser has screwed them. SMG, SMG2 is obsolete.
And an entire chapter of robotized manuals, at least to me, comes to an end, especially good ending since I never found it very elegant to attach a high pressure robot to a transmission if you could save 200 pounds and use your hand on the gearstick.
All this is not to say that I want a auto car to drive with pleasure. That will still be a manual, as a manual stick gives me IMMEDIATE feedback which gear I'm in just by feeling the stick.
SMG owners don't be insulted. You've had your fun with SMG while it was not obsolete. Now I'm talking the future, from my limited perspective.
Phew, I wanted to write this for a long long time while it was bothering me, now it's a load off my chest.
