GT Auto or MC Shift???

[iainw]

I'm a new owner of a GTS with MC-Shift, coming from the 4200 CC via a 3200 Auto. I have to say, I'm absolutely delighted. Around town I can't fault the gear change - it's so easy! Normal mode - in and out, stop/start - no issues. Then under normal Sport mode (low-med revs) the change is smooth and quick, and we wake everyone up. Then, above 5500 rpm it is awesomely quick and the exhaust note is fantastic. Shame we can't do that on a normal road that often - Officer Sir! I'm driving this car for the thrill - and the MC-Shift provides this. However - I can fully appreciate those wanting the power and noise, but via a more conventional gearbox.
Moz

I am with you Moz - word for word

 

[White tiger]

Have all you GTS MC Shift owners tried the magic pedal reset?

1. Jump in, turn ignition to allow usual lights out check, pump the accelerator pedal to the floor three times then turn key to ignition off.
2. Start the car as normal after the lights out check.
3. Marvel in Wonderment as the gear changes are silky smooth and there is no hesitation at all.

Damo tried this recently whilst I was out with him in is and he couldn't believe it!

Needs to be done every time as a ritual

When you are talking about lights out, are you talking about all lights out or majority of them. If a remember correctly at the momment, when I wait for some time most of the lights go out, but some stay on (like engine, and I think a few more). Would I have to wait more time, that all of them would be out?

 

[bennzwel]

Learning to adapt and operate F1 gearbox is a priceless engagement between you are the car . Something that is non existence in auto or even dual clutch boxes . I have MC shift and now I feel the PDK of my 911 is a boring box . I use my car for cruising around and driving it like a sports car with engine in a sport and gearbox in MC shift mode . The sensation , sound and driving reward is priceless . All while maintains comfort .

My partner is not a car gal at all but she tells me the MC is the most fun car I have owned dispute the length and GT styling .

With clutch wear the more you baby the car the more you wear things out . F136 engine and F1 superfast is meant to be driven spiritly

In MC your accelerator acts somewhat like a clutch , to roll off you use the first quarter of the gas (where the pedal pushes down easier ), and once on the go make sure you change gears within 2500-3000 RPM, best changes are between3500-4500 at higher speed .

Some use the foot off accelerator in the moment of shift for a smoother change, but I was advised against it and it states it in the manual too . The thump of change is part of the fun.

Now I’m just waiting to get my hand on 599GTO TCU firmware to give it extra boost of fun

 

[Goodfella]

Can't comment on the older cars, but on the Sport model (2012 onwards) there is a difference between MC Shift and Auto, but it's not necessarily a deal breaker (certainly wasn't for me).

In "manual sport" mode the shifts are very, very good and it'll hang on to the rev limiter if so desired. Downshifting it does the engine blipping the same way as the MC Shift.

The MC Shift is marginally snappier shifting. But it cannot do the "auto" thing anywhere near as well.

If I could have found an identical car to mine with an MC Shift box for the same price I may well have bought it over the auto I have. But to my knowledge such a car does not exist. And there are times when the auto comes in really handy (with family aboard for example).

100% agree. I appreciate I’m in a minority here, but the GT nature of the Granturismo is just not becoming of the MC shift gearbox IMO. The later MC shift software auto is the best by a New York mile.

 

[bigbob]

100% agree. I appreciate I’m in a minority here, but the GT nature of the Granturismo is just not becoming of the MC shift gearbox IMO. The later MC shift software auto is the best by a New York mile.

It’s been a very lonely time on the naughty step for me (in this regard).....until today.

 

[JonW]

It’s been a very lonely time on the naughty step for me (in this regard).....until today.

I’m another auto fan, and have the MC auto in mine

 

[Andyk]

Every review in the press says that the later MC full Auto box is the best one in the GT. But the press never went a bundle on the MC shift.

 

[Ewan]

As an overall package, and as a daily, I’d agree that the MC auto shift is the one to have. But as a weekend toy, the MC Shift is more fun and more raw (in a good way). For my roads, journeys, use and driving style, the MC Shift is my choice, hence I’m bound to move the GC-MC on in the near future, hopefully to swap to a GT Sport MC Shift.

 

[bigbob]

As an overall package, and as a daily, I’d agree that the MC auto shift is the one to have. But as a weekend toy, the MC Shift is more fun and more raw (in a good way). For my roads, journeys, use and driving style, the MC Shift is my choice, hence I’m bound to move the GC-MC on in the near future, hopefully to swap to a GT Sport MC Shift.

Fully agree it is about usage, weekend blast car versus more regular use. Mind if I wanted a weekend blast car I would not be buying a GranTurismo hence my view that ZF make the best box for the GranTurismo.

 

[zagatoes30]

I think this question should be moved to the Brexit thread, it is up there with Red or Brown sauce, or Jam or Cream first challenges

 

[midlifecrisis]

I think this question should be moved to the Brexit thread, it is up there with Red or Brown sauce, or Jam or Cream first challenges

Oh contraire these are important issues, milk or water first when making a cup of tea with a bag in it...

 

[Felonious Crud]

I ran my MC Shift for 6 years and in a variety of driving conditions, from stuck in traffic to Alpine passes to motorway cruise-control trudges to how-fast-will-it-go-on-the-Autobahn. I never once felt the MC box was anything other than just great. And I never used it in auto, either. How hard can pulling a paddle really be..?

 

[midlifecrisis]

I ran my MC Shift for 6 years and in a variety of driving conditions, from stuck in traffic to Alpine passes to motorway cruise-control trudges to how-fast-will-it-go-on-the-Autobahn. I never once felt the MC box was anything other than just great. And I never used it in auto, either. How hard can pulling a paddle really be..?

Not really that difficult, once I got used to pulling a paddle on my 4200 I never once put it back into Auto except for curiosity, and I also did the ICE mode once and ONLY once. I can see the benefits of the MC Auto Shift, especially having no clutch....££££

 

[Ewan]

And I hear you are soon to be enjoying the benefits of the MC Auto Shift system...

 

[Sommi]

I am firmly in the Mc-Shift camp. Except that I have the Duo-Select version of it, albeit with the FD DBW. I know it's all very last decade but I seriously have not seen heard the double-tap sound between high rpm gear changes I get on the QP on any other car. Also, the down-shifts bring out the child in me. I have to say, and many may not agree, that given a choice I will still choose my QP above the Sport GTS.

 

[BuckRog64]

Fully agree it is about usage, weekend blast car versus more regular use. Mind if I wanted a weekend blast car I would not be buying a GranTurismo hence my view that ZF make the best box for the GranTurismo.

My logic says that a big heavy GT should always be an auto. I tried one with the MC autoshift and thought it was great. But as I already have an auto Merc family wagon I wanted greater engagement from my weekend toy. So I tried an MC Shift and loved it. The car really does encourage you to drive it like a traditional manual. If that box is good enough for a 599...... However, one of the main draws towards Maserati for me was the 4 seats and I no longer need those at the moment. Keeping a close eye on the classifieds for a GTS that takes my fancy but find myself equally attracted to the compact dimensions and 3 pedals offered by a Vantage.

Much is written about clutch life but they appear to last just as long as a fully manual clutch in other manufacturers V8s. The press like the latest double clutch boxes but doesn't their smoothness make them feel like a quick shifting auto box? Friend of mine always uses the paddles in his 4200 but he thought the Audi TTS he bought as a daily had an auto box, but it's a DSG, and he never uses the paddles in that.

 

[hashluck]

The press like the latest double clutch boxes but doesn't their smoothness make them feel like a quick shifting auto box? Friend of mine always uses the paddles in his 4200 but he thought the Audi TTS he bought as a daily had an auto box, but it's a DSG, and he never uses the paddles in that.

This. Have one or the other in my opinion.

 

[Doohickey]

Friend of mine always uses the paddles in his 4200 but he thought the Audi TTS he bought as a daily had an auto box, but it's a DSG, and he never uses the paddles in that.

I use the paddles in my TTS occasionally. I find it can be in the wrong gear for corners or overtaking so use the paddles to change down when I want. You can improve this by having the gearbox in dynamic but I find it holds a lower gear too long. The paddles are pretty fiddly though.