F1 transmissions for dummies.....

NO you do not have to ease up on accellerator for shifting

 

The car 'lifts' for you during upshifts, and blips/matches during downshifts.

Using Sport and Manual modes is easier on the clutches. Use deliberate throttle and the system seems to understand not to slip the clutch as much. Leave space, judicious throttle, hard shifts, all equal long clutch life. Like most Ferraris, they like to be driven hard.

 

Ben- Except for the 355 F1, which does not have a digital throttle, so only partially rev matches, all the F1 transmissions will cut the throttle on upshifts for you, just like they increase the throttle and revs for downshifts. The OM says to just keep your foot in it.

If you go to this web site, you can download OMs for all the F1 cars except the 599 GTO and the OMs will tell you how to drive. You can also download workshop manuals for the 360, which will give you more info on the F1 system and how it works.

Note some of us do lift the throttle on upshifts, but now is probably not the time to discuss, because how and when we do it varies with coldness of the car, throttle usage, and which gear is to be selected. Read up, and when you get a car, you can experiment and see what suits you.

http://www.ferraridatabase.com/The_Downloads/Downloads.htm

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

I have very limited time with the F1 gearboxes but from what I understand the transmission shifts more quickly (or at least more smoothly) when you lift between shifts. Not a complete lift, but a slight lift as you grab the paddle.

 

I was told to do nothing except keep my foot on accelerator and upshift. This was from the salesman at a dealership.

I felt uninvolved right away. I bought a 3 pedal car.

 

It only feels smoother because you are controlling when the power is lifted instead of the computer doing it, it's certainly not faster, the fastest shifts are foot to the floor and let the computer do it's thing.

John.

 

I guessing the reason some folks are blowing through F1 clutches is due to pulling downshifts at high revs. It can be done, and it is a lot of fun. But I don't drive like that with a stick. I don't burn through clutches either.

That and you need to understand a F1 slips constantly while in reverse. Best way is to first check for small children and pets. When clear, shift into reverse, goose it, and release asap.

No scratch that. Best way is to have a circle driveway into and out of a garage. Life is too short to go in reverse.

Dale

 

The salesman, not surprisingly, is an idiot.

You are NOT supposed to lift your foot off the accelerator to shift with an automated manual transmission.

Reference the manual that came with the car.

 

does anyone know if there is more "wear" to drive in the sport mode or in the "normal" mode?
I am referring to driving normally around town and not aggressively.

 

That's exactly what the salesman told him to do...

 

I've posted this a few times now but It's my list of F1 tips to help clutch wear that seems to work for me. Had my car just over a year, done 13.5k, had 6k when I bought it so now on 19.5k with 33% clutch wear on original clutch.

- Don't use auto mode
- Always Drive in sport or race mode, snow and wet modes slip the clutch more.
- When reversing, blip to get momentum, don't ride the pedal. Avoid reversing uphill
- Nice smooth getaway when moving off, allow the clutch to fully engage without too many revs
- Flip to N when coming to a stop at a light, I don't go down the gears, I just go straight to N from the gear I'm in.
- When in slow moving traffic, allow some space in front so clutch can fully engage.
- Avoid aggressive launches
- Don't use Launch control

John.

 

Just got back from a drive in my 2001 360 F1 Coupe. I was doing some hard starts and not getting much tire spin in sport mode. I tried launching with TC off and it would not allow me to start in first gear with TC off. My clutch is very close to needing replacement, is that why?

 

I always wondered something. Say you were in 4th doing 50 (just throwing out numbers) and you threw it into neutral. If you hit the up shift does it take you back to 4th or do you have to hit it 4 times? Makes sense?

 

If you are shifting at light throttle settings and low RPM, lifting off makes for a smoother shift. At high power, leave your foot in it. In automatic mode, you can actually cause it to shift by lifting, which is kind of cool.

If you go to neutral, when you pull back on either paddle it puts you into an appropriate gear right away.

 

Believe me, this particular salesman is no idiot. Our friend misunderstood my post.

 

After selecting neutral while moving, pulling the upshift paddle causes the computer to select the gear it deems "most appropriate" for the vehicle speed--which, at the 50 mph suggested, would be 6th (!). Using the downshift paddle to return from neutral causes the gear selection to be one lower, i.e. 5th in this example. It has nothing to do with the gear being used before neutral was selected, and is based solely on vehicle speed. At least that's the way it works in my 430.

The gear the computer deemed appropriate always seemed about three or four steps higher than what I'd like, on the rare occasions I've done this--once or twice to rev the engine for admirers, and a couple other times just to see what gear the computer would choose.

 

Lift or don't lift works either way. Whats more important never drive in auto!

 

Some of the old wive's tales about F1 keep popping up, like the clutch slipping constantly in reverse. It does not, but on several cars , reverse is nearly as high as 2nd gear. That makes it is hard on the clutch in reverse, almost like it would be to start in 2nd gear, especially going up a hill. Example: 360 1st 3.286:1, Rev 2.562:1, 2nd 2.158. I guess someone wanted to be able to go fast in reverse. Rough on clutches. Ferrari learned and the 599 has more appropriate gearing in reverse. The 575M and 612 are about as bad as the 360.

The question on being in neutral at speed, if you hit the upshift paddle, it will give you the highest gear in which the engine will still run smoothly. That is normally way too high a gear, even in a 575M with 434 ft lbs of torque, never mind a 360. What gear you were in before selecting neutral has nothing to do with the gear you will get when you hit the upshift paddle. If, however, you hit the downshift paddle instead, you will get one gear lower, and that will be much better, but probably still be a bit high for most tastes and may require one more downshift.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

Test drove a Nissan GTR recently with their dual clutch system (which may not be the same style as the Ferrari). In auto mode, it seems to switch to a high gear very quickly. Does the Ferrari system do the same in auto mode? IF so, why? Fuel economy numbers maybe?

Ace

 

I had originally meant to respond to this post, not the one below it.

You are NOT to lift your foot off the accelerator pedal when when either up-shifting or down-shifting. The driver's manual specifically says NOT to do so.

You are to keep your foot on the accelerator and do nothing more than engage the gear shift paddle and let the automated manual transmission do the rest of the work.

 

Good post, Terry.

Here is an important F1 transmission fact about which most owners are totally unaware:

The F1 transmission has a special gearbox mode for engaging either first gear or the reverse gear on an incline to avoid excessive clutch wear. Verbatim from my driver's manual, page 122:

"Parking Maneuver:

With the first or reverse gear engaged and pulling the DOWN lever, it is possible to select a SPECIAL GEARBOX OPERATING MODE, which is particularly suited to parking maneuvers, especially on downhill stretches.

The activation of this mode is indicated by an (audible) 'beep' and the engaged gear symbol on the display flashes alternately with a dash. The system automatically resets to the standard operating mode when the conditions required for activating the parking maneuver mode are no longer present or if the DOWN lever is operated again."

Also, verbatim from the manual regarding NOT lifting off the accelerator when shifting, page 120:

"Up-shifting UP:

In any case, it is best to:

- Change gears WITHOUT releasing the accelerator pedal if pressed.

Down-shifting DOWN:

In any case, it is best to:

-Shift gears WITHOUT releasing the accelerator pedal if it is pressed."

I am always amazed at how many owners never bother reading their driver's manuals

 

What car is this for? nothing in my 430 manual about a special parking gearbox mode.

John.

 

2002 Maserati Spyder Cambiocorsa.

My understanding is that the automated manual transmissions found in Maseratis and Ferraris of this time frame are ostensibly identical.