Where's the logic in this....

[Stulc]

While looking at car's yesterday, I came accross a Merc A160 semi auto.....still has a gear lever but no clutch!, but you still have put it into gear to move...:?.
Now maybe it's just me, but good god either have one or the other eg full auto or manual....fekin' stupid if you ask me..:roll:

 

[jberks]

kind of a half way house.
Its for people like me who can't see the point in spending half your life pressing the clutch up and down and up and down ....when there's a perfectly good automated solution, but unlike me, still want the illusion that they are in control by having a manual.

Plus, on a 1.4/1.6 the power overhead of having an auto hits performance too much so its a pretty good compromise, the direct drive of a manual but none of the drawbacks of the clutch pedal.

 

[Stulc]

Sorry....but I just do not see any logic in it at all....must be me then.

 

[Rory]

I thought they worked just the same as normal auto in you left them in 'Auto' or something?

 

[Stulc]

They haven't got an "auto" Rory, just "gears" eg 1-4/5 like an ordinary set up, only diffirence being there's no clutch.
it still wont move till you put in one, and seemingly if your stopped eg light's ect and in the wrong gear forgetting, when you take off (or attempt to) there's (so the salesman said) a bell/buzzer type thing that let's you know your in the wrong gear.

Still ****** pointless I think...

 

[BIG RICKY]

i find the semi auto box quiet good as my mum has a a160 semi auto good enought to drive but think it is just for the lazzy people lol

 

[Stulc]

A proper auto is even lazier......cause you still have to change with these thing's as you'll know.......:roll:

 

[television]

A proper auto is even lazier......cause you still have to change with these thing's as you'll know.......:roll:

Its not lazy at all, you are always in the right gear at the right time, and I can sit at the trafic lights and think about Xmas pudding.

Malcolm

 

[Stulc]

How can you be in the right gear all the time when you have to phsyically move the lever into gear to get moving then move up as you "on the move"...

 

[Stulc]

Its not lazy at all, you are always in the right gear at the right time, and I can sit at the trafic lights and think about Xmas pudding.

Malcolm

I meant a proper auto is lazy....and yes your allways in the right gear.....it's the semi auto's I meant.....you have to phsyically change them yourself allbeit not having a clutch...

 

[television]

I meant a proper auto is lazy....and yes your allways in the right gear.....it's the semi auto's I meant.....you have to phsyically change them yourself allbeit not having a clutch...

Sorry Stulc, semi auto, not for me either.

Malcolm

 

[davebox]

If I had a wooden left leg I would consider it, But I do not so would not. I have a full auto so I can be lazy.

 

[Stulc]

Yep....either proper auto or manual...not this semi crap.

 

[jberks]

Don't be too eager to knock it. I've driven one and its really not that bad. It takes a bit of getting used to but in some ways it has all the benefits of a manual without the downside.

I don't mind changing gear, what I object to is all that farting around with the clutch pedal. In a traffic jam its a real pain, up down back to biting point, balance the throttle, inch forward, back in ... etc. And all for what?. So, Just leave it in 2nd and trickle along in traffic just like an auto and swap cogs as you see fit when you want to. I know autos have the tiptronic for manual override, but lets be honest, its not great and often by the time its switched gear, the opportunity has gone. I guess thats why some folk prefer manuals. In many ways, this is the best of both worlds. Total control but no clutch.

Personally, running an E class, I can't see why anyone would have a manual, clutchless or otherwise. Its a big lumbering limo after all (even with stiff suspension and fat tyres) so the auto is best suited to its character. After 8 years of running auto mercs, I wouldn't have another manual ever again if I can possibly help it. But for those who feel the need to manually swap cogs, its actually a pretty good compromise.

 

[SJMaxson]

Semi auto boxes - nothing new

I first came across a semi-auto box on a Y reg (first-time around) Leyland Tiger coach. The same company also had a fully automatic Leyland Tiger, and a manual Leyland Tiger. The auto was a wonderful drive (and a very easy drive, too). The manual was a pig - particularly around town. The semi auto was easy to drive, no need to worry about clutch, co-ordinating hill starts with air brakes, etc. Having driven all three on the same vehicle, my preference would be auto, semi-auto, manual.

As with anything else, its horses for courses. I doubt that I'd buy a Merc with a semi-auto that couldn't be run as an auto.

 

[Seeker_UK]

It's funny. Saab tried this with their "Sensonic" gears and I have yet to speak to any specialist who doesn't offer a conversion to 'proper' manual.

 

[television]

the Citreon C-Matic was OK and I had lots of those, Then the NSU R080 with the rotary engine came along, that was OK too, so I will shut up.

Malcolm

Ps the forum will not allow me to type the name of the engine

 

[maldon]

I quite like it. You have control of the gearbox (a bit aof a joke in an A160 but hey) without the right foot work.

They are particualry good in stop/start town driving.

 

[Stulc]

They are particualry good in stop/start town driving.

So are auto's....thats why people buy them.

 

[maldon]

Auto of course is better - I'm not really sure why MB went to the bother anyway... The only reason we have the clutchless manual was because I was able to beat the seller down to a silly price.

I would not spec clutchless auto as an option on a new car, but like I said they are OK.