Which do you prefer ? Paddle shifter ? Manual Gate Shifter ?

Manual. Heel toe downshifting and controlling upshifts are the fun part!

 

As horsepower goes up...and you want to get onto it...F-1 will make more and more sense. I think I would have passed until now that I own one. And the shifts are not that rough.

There are moments where I jell out on PCH and shifting is not what I want to think about. And yesterday I really got on it on a short stretch...and it was a thrill to whap it up to 8k and use the paddles...faster than stink.

People often romance things...and that's OK. Electric starting on a motorcycle was frowned upon by hard-core enthusiasts at first.

FWIW I have two six-speeds and one F-1. I think that really in my M3 I would stay six speed because it is so easy to wring the neck on that car.

 

The 355 F1 box was the first generation box. It was rough to say the least. The 360 F1 box improved a bit and in 2001 they changed the gearbox ECU and improved it even more. Every model change brings with it new improvements to the F1 gearbox. I have driven the 575 F1 and it was much better than the 360 F1. Then I drove the Enzo and that was better still. Now I have the Stradale and the gearbox is almost a 100% improvement on my previous 360 F1.

I love the F1 box on the CS and Ferrari has got it right and I can't imagine what further improvements are in store for the next 420 Monza. I'll never go back to the manual box.

 

Bart, you can use your left leg for the brake pedal - it won't atrophy. I like having a manual car, have a couple of them. For the track, I prefer a flat shift sequential for many reasons, and the paddles come closest to that sensation. So here's a vote for the F1, the Stradale in race mode is very good.

Getting rid of the clutch pedal will not make it any easier to be on the pace.

 

Call me old fashioned if you will, but the gated shifter is part of the Ferrari charm, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

However, even Enzo himself, when asked what his favorite Ferrari was, replied: "the one that I'll build tommorrow." In that light, innovations (and looking ahead) are as much a part of Ferrari as is the gated shifter.

What can I say, different strokes for different folks.

 

I haven't driven a car with a paddle shifter yet. Still, I'd prefer the traditional gearbox with the clutch pedal and manual console shifter. I would think that would provide you with more feel, control, and a sense of involvement; things that make a sports car that much more enjoyable.

 

Wow, quite surprised about the results here. I prefer manual, but there seem to be so many more F1s on the road than manuals. Anybody know the ratio of F1 to 6 Speed 360s produced by the factory?

 

Road - Manual
Track - F1

 

Not sure with the 360's but I read that Maserati is over 75% Cambio. And from reading all these polls and threads which show at best its about a 50-50 split some even showing over 75% preferring a stick makes me think that they are just trying to force these transmitions on us. I believe by going with the GT on my Maserati I should do a little better on resale due to the small amount of GT's Produced.

 

On my 360's I preferred the 6 speed, on my Murcie I just love the E-gear.

 

i drove the 360 f1 and 6speed extensively... the 6speed was more fun fro the type fo road driving i do..the 6speed on the 360 is a big improvement ffrom some of the older f cars... smooth as butter!!! so i bought the 6speed, saved money, and i love it.. and i think it may have less maintaince issues in the long run, and it will be more rare in the future...

 

How does the E-Gear launch from a standstill if you stomp on the gas?

 

It's just another servicing gimmick to have you bend over when the stupid thing (paddle shift) quits working. I wonder how much more (or less) weight these computerized trannys add(or subtract)? I agree with the earlier comment on just pushing one button and the entire car drives itself courtesy of Intel inside. The gated shifter is a trademark of Ferrari. Always will be. Adding power steering was bad enough then the hydraulic assisted clutch. A real sports car doesn't have power friggin steering, I'm sorry. More weight, more junk to leak and rebuild, one more fluid to add. Next, it's cruise control.

 

A real sports car? Which rule-book was that stated in? lol. I don't think that train of thought applies to modern peformance cars or street cars for that matter.

Those are modern amenities, and are very useful and almost necessary in everyday driving. Not everyone wants a very stiff clutch or non-power assisted steering. You're probably against the use of ABS, power brakes, leather seating, A/C, audio system, etc...

A sports car doesn't have to be a bare/stripped race car in my opinion.

 

I prefer the F1 in all conditions except in slow (1-4 mph) traffic - especially uphill going 1-4 mph! I took my 360 into the shop today for service and got stuck in uphill slow traffic. The speed was just below where the tranny would fully engage the clutch in 1st. I'd let the cars in front of me get about a 15yd head start before I started off - just to let the clutch engage. After 5 mins of crawling uphill, a nice waft of hot clutch began to permeate the cabin. :-|

Other than the above, the F1 is fantastic. I've got a 6sp in my 911 and constantly wish for the paddles.

 

Of course, that same situation is hell in a manual as well. In a manual, I do the same thing in such situation... I leave a head start so that I can fully engage the clutch and idle along slow as I can until I catch up and then fully disengage the clutch. Only difference is my left leg doesn't get as tired with the F1.

 

Clax, I haven't floored it from dead stop YET. I have started out rather fast though and it engages very quickly, the more gas I give it at a stop the quicker it lets the clutch out. I'll let you know when I do my first drag start.

 

I have to say manual all the way. to bad they didnt make the Enzo in manual!

 

mine is a manual

i tried the paddle deal and didn't like it

 

I was thinking about this one the way home.

If F1 boxes shave 0.5 seconds off the 0-60 time, and 1.5 seconds off the 0-100 time

And then we add a dolup of power to shave off another 0.5 second 0-60 and another 1.0 second 0-100

Is the government going to start frowning on cars that can operate at these levels.

And now to my point:

As performance levels inch up society (and thereby govern) has time to become accostumed to the performance at each step along the way. Your average person from 1950 would be amazed at the performance, handling,... of you low-cost econobox these days.

But when massive increases start occuring in performance, society gets out of phase with the performance envelope, and starts to complain. If the performance envelope gets out of hand with respect to itself, drivers of average ability should not be driving those cars. This happened in the late 1960 and people got killed. Insurance, regulation, emissions, new laws,..., were all developed to control the situation.

My point is: if performance inches up then we will be able to drive 3.0 seco 0-60 cars sometime in my lifetime. If performance grows too fast right now, A) we may never get to drive 3.0 sec 0-60 machines, B) nor will our children ever enjoy these pursuits.

An all out performance war will result in BAD THINGS for high performance sports cars.

 

I'm in with the F1 for track, stick for street crowd.

 

The Patents & Designs Journal 15th October 2003

Zeroshift Ltd
Electromagnetic engagement mechanism
Date Lodged: 18 Sep 2003
GB0321824.5


Hmmm!! - Electromagnetic syncros!! - Maybe!