Looking for some clarifications about DuoSelect

[WLJayne]

Hey guys,

Thanks for the warm welcome in the newbie section, I can see this is a great forum! I have some queries about DuoSelect as I can't quite work it out from what I've read. So if I have it right, you can choose between a traditional automatic mode, and then a semi automatic flappy-paddle mode. Is that right? I've read many complaints about the harshness of the gear changes in auto mode, and some have described it as sluggish and dim-witted. However I haven't heard much about flappy-paddle mode at all, but the snippets I have seen have indicated that it's much crisper and quicker just a little involved to drive with.

So can anyone give me their experiences and opinions? Do you prefer one mode over the other? Do you share are of the gripes or do you disagree with them? What's it like around town with the paddle shift, especially when parking or in traffic?

I tried a search but there were a lot of results to sift through, sorry if this has been done to death already ! I've only even driven manual so I don't have much a frame of reference.

Cheers,

Will.

 

[CatmanV2]

Sport mode in manual is where it's at.
Auto is said to wear the clutch, but those who actually know this stuff tell me the shift parameters are exactly the same in auto / sport as they are in manual / sport.

Same gearbox on the 4200. It's OK in town. Not great, but perfectly usable. Not harsh at all when you get the knack. Then you get on the open road

C

 

[Andyk]

Remember this is an early paddle shift so will not be as fast as the more modern boxes you can get but it is still a great box and loads of fun......No one really drives in auto mode as it is not that great as you have said but once the learn how to drive the paddle mode then you will never turn back.

 

[WLJayne]

Sounds good, I do like the act of gear changes (even with the notchy gearbox in my Discovery that needs replacing!!) Paddle shifting does sound fun. I've heard something about some kind of gearbox remap that can speed it up a little bit, is this true?

 

[Ewan]

Pressing the sport button speeds up the shifts. I tended to leave mine in auto all the time, but then manually override this by using the paddles. In reality this meant that I controlled the up shifts and let the computer do the down shifts. Full manual mode (+ sports button) is only really needed if you are pressing on.

I don't think that the use of auto over manual (or vice versa) has any effect on clutch wear. But lots of stop-start and creeping in traffic most certainly does. Living in the countryside means you can get 50k miles from a clutch. Live in town and you might struggle to get to 20k miles.

 

[Contigo]

Don't agree there, In D mode (automatic) even in Sport mode it is dim witted especially around town, it changes gear too slowly and too soon. To get the smoothest out of the DS you need to drive it in Manual Sport mode all of the time. It's second nature to me now, as soon as I climb in, start then press the M/D button and away I go.

 

[WLJayne]

Interesting! Sounds like it takes a little getting used to but the general vibe I'm getting is that Manual Sport mode is where it's at. I live in a small Warwickshire town and my business is a 15 minute drive to a rural industrial park. So hopefully that would be alright on the clutch!

 

[zagatoes30]

Best advice is to get out there and drive one. You soon get use to the gearbox and most times I wonder why all cars aren't this way.

 

[WLJayne]

Well hopefully I'll get the chance one day soon. For now I'm still feeling out whether this is the right car stick to a wall where I'll see it every day. Yes it's wildly unnecessary, hugely out of my current means, eye wateringly expensive to maintain - but so is more or less everything I've ever set my heart on before eventually getting it, and having no regrets ever. So far yes, I think a quattroporte and I would get on rather famously.

 

[D Walker]

Contigo's (Phil,s) Qp would be a good starting point, well looked after car!

 

[Contigo]

Yep it's for sale and ready to drive away! It can be seen at the Ace on Thursday!

 

[WLJayne]

It looks stunning! I'm sure someone will snap it up! Unfortunately I'm still in the very very early stages of considering getting one, I'm probably a good year or two away from being able to seriously consider one and that's if things go well. I like to research my purchases very thoroughly, so for the moment I remain a wannabe.

It really is a gorgeous example though!

 

[Ewan]

Don't agree there, In D mode (automatic) even in Sport mode it is dim witted especially around town, it changes gear too slowly and too soon. To get the smoothest out of the DS you need to drive it in Manual Sport mode all of the time.

But the gear changes when in sport mode are the same speed whether in manual or auto. There are only two gear change speeds - normal mode and sport mode. Being in manual doesn't speed it up or smooth it out - it just means you pull the lever instead of the cars inbuilt computer pulling it. Of course, the key advantage of manual mode is that the driver dictates exactly when the change happens.

 

[Contigo]

Yes which as I say in auto mode hangs onto the gear and doesn't change at the sweet spot. The auto part of any Robitic clutch system is an afterthought. The only way to drive them is using the paddles for every change be it an upchange or a down change.

 

[Ewan]

Quite right Phil. The auto mode does indeed tend to hang on to the gear too long, especially in the low gears when you are cruising around town. I tended to bypass this problem by using the up-shift lever, even though I had the car set in auto mode. So I'd generally leave the car in auto, but drive it like a manual using the paddles.

 

[Contigo]

It is probably hard to measure it but I'd say that in auto mode the gear changes take longer.

 

[Gixerboy]

If you mean the QP Duoselect 2006 cars had the F1 clutch arrangement twin friction disc together with upgraded software .

The result is see less changes . My QP GT sport has this & can be driven quite happily in either sport / Manual / auto.
The sport is much quicker together with the down change revving of the engine .
Love it !!

Cheers

 

[Contigo]

Yep it is seamless and I love the blip and rev matching it does in Sport mode on the down changes!

 

[ManInBlack]

Ive had an '06 Quattroporte for nearly 2 years now very rarely use manual, always use sport. Still f****** love it as much as the first week I owned it. Doesn't take long to master the paddle change & you won't look back!

 

[WLJayne]

Ah I did wonder what year the new gearbox came in. Ideally I'd love to go for a 2006 onward model, but the price jumps by a good £5k - but it sounds like it could be well worth it.