Auto or MC shift?

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atreyu1

Member
Messages
183
I've seen a 2008 GranTurismo 4.7 S auto that I could be interested in after previously owning a 4200.

I've read the MC shift cars (with a clutch) don't have a gear lever where as all the Automatic cars do. Is this true? The car is advertised as an auto but only has two buttons on the center consol, 1 and R.
 
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Cdn17Sport6MT

Junior Member
Messages
72
It's a single clutch automated manual, late in the period of time when these were developed. It represents amongst the best and most developed of the automated manuals. My personal sense is that unless you recognize this to be intended to be run as a manual (i.e. without you having to push the clutch in... because it automates this aspect) - you will be disappointed with it. It is not as good an automatic as a torque converter based regular automatic, and this is my opinion...really should not be run in automatic mode much if at all. Also, it demands more maintenance diligence and pre-emptive component change-outs to avert breakdowns. It does cost more to run this car (in terms of a bit more fuel + a moderate-to-substantial amount more of mtce. $). It also really wears out clutches when run in heavy traffic. If you recognize these considerations (and don't minimize the impacts you expect them to have on you) then the car is REALLY a nice one that performs well. Its system actually is better than the same gearshift system that is found in most Ferrari's of the same era. It's the same system, but more developed and refined.
 
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Ewan

Ewan

Member
Messages
6,812
atreyu1 said:
I've seen a 2008 GranTurismo 4.7 S auto that I could be interested in after previously owning a 4200.

I've read the MC shift cars (with a clutch) don't have a gear lever where as all the Automatic cars do. Is this true? The car is advertised as an auto but only has two buttons on the center consol, 1 and R.
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The car you’ve seen is incorrectly advertised. It’s not an auto. It’s an MC Shift, so a manual, operated by flappy paddles (plus a button for reverse).
 
ScottH

ScottH

Member
Messages
219
It does have an ‘auto’ mode but in nearly a year I haven’t used it at all.

General feeling seems to be it’s not very good, for most the startup process involves switching to manual ;)
 
hashluck

hashluck

Member
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1,523
Important to remember it is an 'automated MANUAL' gearbox. Drive it as you would a manual but just without the clutch pedal (or gearstick of course but paddles are intuitive)
 
Wanderer

Wanderer

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5,791
I remember this guy outside a pub in Rush ogling at my QP DS (similar to MC Shift) and asking if the little forward/reverse selector was the gear stick...
 
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bigbob

Member
Messages
8,972
The 4.7 auto did not come out till 2009 but it would help if dealers could get the basic facts right.

If you like SMG on an M series BMW then the MC Shift will work for you, if you don't then it won't.
 
hashluck

hashluck

Member
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1,523
bigbob said:
If you like SMG on an M series BMW then the MC Shift will work for you, if you don't then it won't.
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Sort of agree but MC-Shift is far more intuitive to me than BMW SMG (and similar to Sportshift on Astons which is also very good (but much maligned by those who don't get it). Not to say SMG is no good, I would still choose that, I just find the interface lacking.
 
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bigbob

Member
Messages
8,972
hashluck said:
Sort of agree but MC-Shift is far more intuitive to me than BMW SMG (and similar to Sportshift on Astons which is also very good (but much maligned by those who don't get it). Not to say SMG is no good, I would still choose that, I just find the interface lacking.
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I've not driven the Aston version but I've driven the M5, 4200, Spyder and GranTurismo with these gearboxes and they don't work for me but I fully understand why some people like them.
 
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cheburator

Member
Messages
144
Yet to drive a MC Shift car, but if it's as good as the system in the 430 F1 then I would be quite happy. My only gripe - the SMG in my daily E46 M3 would not need a clutch until normally 90k+ miles. My E61 M5 needed a clutch at 50k miles, while it seems to me that an MC Shift clutch cannot last more than 35-40k miles? Or is that an internet myth?
 
Wanderer

Wanderer

Member
Messages
5,791
cheburator said:
Yet to drive a MC Shift car, but if it's as good as the system in the 430 F1 then I would be quite happy. My only gripe - the SMG in my daily E46 M3 would not need a clutch until normally 90k+ miles. My E61 M5 needed a clutch at 50k miles, while it seems to me that an MC Shift clutch cannot last more than 35-40k miles? Or is that an internet myth?
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My QP DS did 92k on its first clutch. Car came with full service history from Charles Hurst so I’ve no reason to doubt it
 
safrane

safrane

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16,869
Clutch wear is down to the number of gear changes not miles... spend your time on motorways/freeways doing long distance and of course it will last for ages. On a crowded city street or the M25 it will wear out more rapidly.

My mix of long trips and country roads and motorway results in 1-2% per 1k miles, when measured against the three CC (MC) gearbox cars I have had.

Of course a poorly set up one, or driving it inappropriately will eat into its life prematurely.
 
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cheburator

Member
Messages
144
safrane said:
Clutch wear is down to the number of gear changes not miles... spend your time on motorways/freeways doing long distance and of course it will last for ages. On a crowded city street or the M25 it will wear out more rapidly.

My mix of long trips and country roads and motorway results in 1-2% per 1k miles, when measured against the three CC (MC) gearbox cars I have had.

Of course a poorly set up one, or driving it inappropriately will eat into its life prematurely.
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Of course, but my old M3 which is now with my dad and which we have had for 20yrs needed a clutch at 95k miles - Always a Central London and plenty of UK and European track days... I bought the car at less than a year old with 8k on the clock from Germany... Always serviced by Park Lane, who are BMW owned... and most SMG cars will do crazy miles on the original clutch... Just wondered if the 30-40k service life of a Maserati clutch in contrast is a myth or no (in general)
 
Sam McGoo

Sam McGoo

Member
Messages
1,773
Not sure I agree with the clutch wear depending on number of gear changes. That would wear the actuator, not the clutch plates.
Clutch plates wear with slippage - i.e sitting in traffic, hill starts and to a certain extent probably using it in 'auto' mode lots as it tries to smooth out the gear change too much.

A town car will go through clutches, a motorway mile muncher or country lane toy, not so much.

I looked at a 'London' car a couple of years ago, it's second clutch was 50% worn and the car had only done 20k miles. A non-town car should do 40k without too much trouble.
 
Wattie

Wattie

Member
Messages
8,640
I enjoyed my Mc. I did get a little nervous if I was in a tight parking space or on a slope.....reversing etc.
That said I was not aware of the “smooth start” procedure at the time.
 
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