Types of auto gearboxes

P

Paulr

Active member
 Tunbridge Wells
A Facebook conversation has me confused. As far as I know, there is the traditional old school auto gearbox that uses pressure and valves to operate, and the SMG, a manual box with an auto change instead of a foot operated clutch. The old school auto does not have paddles, the SMG does. Is that right, or can the old school box also have paddles?
Chap on Facebook says his does.
 
Slusher autos can and do have flappy paddles to manually change gear. My current Honda and prior Mazda 6 are 2 examples.
 
So far as I know pre facelifts never came with paddle shifts. The facelift ones did. And obviously SMG do as well.

I know cj10jeeper did the conversion on his Zed. So basically retrofitted the paddle shifts. I think DLV is or maybe has already do it too.
 
kis said:
So far as I know pre facelifts never came with paddle shifts. The facelift ones did. And obviously SMG do as well.

I know cj10jeeper did the conversion on his Zed. So basically retrofitted the paddle shifts. I think DLV is or maybe has already do it too.
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It's on my list!

Mike
 
My auto does not have paddle shift. I can knock the lever over, to change the gears manually, but I just keep in in auto and flick the fun button on and off.
 
kis said:
So far as I know pre facelifts never came with paddle shifts. The facelift ones did. And obviously SMG do as well.

I know cj10jeeper did the conversion on his Zed. So basically retrofitted the paddle shifts. I think DLV is or maybe has already do it too.
Click to expand...
I agree - they added paddles post facelift as by then the idea was getting more popular.
It’s a straightforward conversion as the paddles do no more or less than replicate the effect of pushing the selector back and forth in sort mode
My write up is on here.
 
The SMG is not an auto gearbox. SMG = Sequential Manual Gearbox. It is the 6 speed manual from the 3.0i with a clutch but no clutch pedal. Electronics and hydraulics operate the clutch and select a gear when the driver uses the paddles or lever. It can however be put into full auto mode and driven just like a regular auto but quite frankly it is terrible in this mode. In SMG mode you have to operate the paddles or lever to change up or down. :thumbsup:
 
patriot66 said:
The SMG is not an auto gearbox. SMG = Sequential Manual Gearbox. It is the 6 speed manual from the 3.0i with a clutch but no clutch pedal. Electronics and hydraulics operate the clutch and select a gear when the driver uses the paddles or lever. It can however be put into full auto mode and driven just like a regular auto but quite frankly it is terrible in this mode. In SMG mode you have to operate the paddles or lever to change up or down. :thumbsup:
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I agree that the SMG (7 speed as in my 2006 M6 V-10) is finicky, and often terrible. I keep trying the auto mode to see if it will learn to get better, but most often use the paddles to select up or down. Even then, one must ease off on the accelerator during the shift to make it smoother. Once cruising at highway speeds, I revert to auto mode and the up and downshifts are automatic and smoothly engaged.
David
 
My Smart Roadster had the semi-auto gearbox with steering paddles for gearchange, and even my old 2002 Corsa had this SMG type ‘Easytronic’ gearbox, and if you learned how to drive properly it is was quite a really enjoyable drive. I miss the paddles on my Z4 with its slush box, would be nice if I can do a DIY type after market fit if it is not too much hassle.
 
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