Semi auto

[Rogue trader]

In regards to the Honda Jazz's mate the early ones had a seven speed CVT box which just translated into 7 different volumes of noise cos you could never feel them change and If you ever floored them off the lights the car would go straight to the red line and stay there all the way to its top speed. Its the same box thats on the Civic hybrid too. The new ones have what they call the i-shift which is basically a manual box that electronically tries to change gear itself which is very jerky and easily confused I remember slowing down at a set of lights and just before I stopped the lights hit green, so I accelerated which confused the car, it didnt know what to do as it was in the middle of going to select first so it revved its bollocks off went to second which by now id allmost stopped and then hit first gear which it snatched really bad so not a great gearbox by any standards. In my humble opinion its either a full auto or a manual all these flappy paddel and semi auto boxes are just shit. We have had a few people come in with failed clutches cos they don't hold on hills so they keep the revs on slightly which on some semi auto's just rides out the clutch what a great idea. And while we are on the subject of shit gearboxes has anyone had the misfurtune of driving a BMW M3,M5 or M6 with the SMG system if not give one a try, one of the worlds best engines married to one of the worst boxes ever. rant over..

[carlo]

I'm glad about this thread. It's sort of convinced me about all my fears and distrust of semi-autos, makes that daft thought of fancying an Alfa 156 auto seem as far away as ever. I can't drive manuals very well so am limited to good automatics, luckily the 405's still doing me proud.

[Spiny Norman]

... makes that daft thought of fancying an Alfa 156 auto seem as far away as ever.

 

The awful Selespeed 2 litre 156 is to be avoided at all costs but If you can find one the V6 Q system auto is a regular slushy torque converter auto, just with a fancy shifter.

[Morgan84]

The semi auto Clio was called the Zoom if memory is correct

 

The Alfa selespeed ( or sillyspeed ) apparently drives nicely once you are used to it,but will most likely break the day after you work out how it works