Occasional track day
- Thread starter wattj
- Start date
cant see why not, the box changes quick enough and any modern track car would use a paddle system nowadays anyway, id be happy to take mine on track, sports mode and autobox on the si makes for rapid acceleration, you will of course get the purists that disagree that manual is the only way to go but fact is the auto is plenty quick enough to have fun with and on track you get the true benefit of the system, pretty sure if a manual system worked better in those situations thats what racing teams would use no?
dont see why you couldnt use an auto... as long as its in good shape and working well, and you don't overdo it, then it should be fine. And i'd say the same thing for a manual as well.
depending on the gearbox, you might find you get frustrated with requests for downshifts not being delivered, but on the other hand, an autobox wont downshift until its ready anyway - so in that respect its safer than a manual as you can't do a money shift and lunch the engine so easily.
but taking an auto on track removes one of the greatest things about track driving IMO - heel and toe downshifts, or 'hero mode' as i like to call it!
depending on the gearbox, you might find you get frustrated with requests for downshifts not being delivered, but on the other hand, an autobox wont downshift until its ready anyway - so in that respect its safer than a manual as you can't do a money shift and lunch the engine so easily.
but taking an auto on track removes one of the greatest things about track driving IMO - heel and toe downshifts, or 'hero mode' as i like to call it!
oh and again, depending on the gearbox, you might find it upshifts automatically when you get close to the redline, even if you're in manual mode... which can take away from your control of the car. for example, you probably want to hold a gear if you get a bit of oversteer, but an autobox might decide to upshift.
Don't see why you couldn't take it out on track, though I would just be careful to pick the 'right' track day - comparatively the Z4 isn't fast to what's likely going to be on track, but if you pick the right track day with some respectable organisation & other drivers it'll be fine - nothing worse than d!ckheads trying to race or overtake dangerously on a track day!
Also be prepared to replace your brakes afterwards. Maybe a good idea to upgrade the disks/pads and tyres beforehand at the very least. These cars are set up for road use and may be a little 'soft' for track driving without some mods. Though I'm sure it would still be plenty fun!
Also be prepared to replace your brakes afterwards. Maybe a good idea to upgrade the disks/pads and tyres beforehand at the very least. These cars are set up for road use and may be a little 'soft' for track driving without some mods. Though I'm sure it would still be plenty fun!
@ Brillomaster
'oh and again, depending on the gearbox, you might find it upshifts automatically when you get close to the redline'
Been there and done that in my 330d Auto, made for an uncomfortable second half of a sweeping left-hand turn when on quick blast around Derbyshire
I had only had the car 2 days at the time, didn't make the mistake of believing manual meant manual again!!
'oh and again, depending on the gearbox, you might find it upshifts automatically when you get close to the redline'
Been there and done that in my 330d Auto, made for an uncomfortable second half of a sweeping left-hand turn when on quick blast around Derbyshire
I had only had the car 2 days at the time, didn't make the mistake of believing manual meant manual again!!
Sth. Manchester/Cheshire border
ditto for me, when I had a Merc SLK - but with Merc if it's a proper AMG (mine wasn't) with an auto box, then manual mode means manual and it won't change up.Wigsters said:@ Brillomaster
'oh and again, depending on the gearbox, you might find it upshifts automatically when you get close to the redline'
Been there and done that in my 330d Auto, made for an uncomfortable second half of a sweeping left-hand turn when on quick blast around Derbyshire
I had only had the car 2 days at the time, didn't make the mistake of believing manual meant manual again!!
'Auto' boxes in race cars are about as far away from a road car torque converter auto as you can get, they're sequential manual boxes controlled by an electronic system that use clutchless shifting and straight cut dog box gears.mr.tourette said:
Apologies.. I wasn't intimating that an old bm autobox is anything like a modern sports car, just that the theory of using paddles on track is not unheard of and wouldn't be particularly unsuitable for an occasional track daymjennings23 said:
blobslosak
Member
I can't think of anything worse than a torque converter on track. Maybe a CVT.