Automatic transmission mode?

Your post is most helpful and relevant.

I road race cars and use a manual transmission. I own cars I believe are better left in automatic, but always kept the 430 in manual.

It may be heretical to say, but imo, the PDK transmission is state of the art.

Could you elaborate? I will soon (May-June) own both cars as well. Is it that the 458 needs to be driven in manual because the auto is not smooth enough, down or upshifting, to be seamless, or just different and takes getting used to?

You , nor I, need to rationalize which car is better since can own both, so what you have to say is very helpful. Please share with me "real life" experience with both. I am just tryiing to better understand the truth about the "feel" and "functionality" of not having to use paddles except when are in the mood. Does it work well with the 458 in sport or race mode? Best

 

OK, I've done 25,000km in both the 458 and Turbo S so I've got a pretty good feel for both cars by now.

The 458 is smooth in Auto mode, although a little jerky for the first minute when cold. It is absolutely fine in Auto for town use and no problem for freeway running too. When driving the 458 in a sporty fashion, using the paddles is more fun because the car becomes more responsive. I rarely use Race mode because the main benefit of Race is the exhaust noise and this is redundant on my car as I have installed the switchable exhaust mod. Sport gives better suspension compliance than Race which is bouncy off the track.

I like both cars - they are quite different and I'm always happy to get from one to the other. The Porsche offers incredible step-off and midrange acceleration, more body hugging seats, a more planted feeling on the road and an unbreakable feel. The 458 is more athletic (it feels half the weight), sounds better, feels more special and looks more stylish. They are both quite practical, but the Porsche is more stealthy and attracts less unwanted attention. If forced to pick one, I'd be in a quandary.

 

I agree that the shocks are more aggressive in Race, as is the shifting, so I often run Race in the bumpy road setting (am ashamed to admit).

 

So did I until I got the exhaust mod. I think most owners quickly switch to Race to get the sound, and just as quickly hit the Bumpy Road button. The mod fixes the problem.

 

For me driving in automatic mode steals some of the experience.

 

I appreciate the information - thank you.

We all drive a bit differently but seek the same at the end of the day, a great driving experience.

I used to love three pedals, then favored paddles, but the Porsche "retrained" me. I seldom get out of automatic (for one reason, PDK shifts faster than anyone can manually) but always know a lower gear is a paddle shift away. When stuck in traffic, I never touch a pedal or paddle, and quite often on a open road, drop to a lower gear and hit the gas. I never have to worry about watching the rev limiter unless I get a little crazy with a down shift.

I view my Porsche and the Ferrari as I might two beautiful women. Both excite but for different reasons. The Porsche is "German" , functional, purposeful, while the Ferrari, is "Italian" , sensual with a roar, in combination making me feel like I am riding a "prancing horse". Great fun. -- Best

 

My 458 has the button but when pushed only lasts for a brief time. My 458 is a 2010 are the new cars different?

Also are you sure the race mode tigthens the suspension.

Lee

 

Yes race mode tightens the suspension but you could also put in race mode for the more aggressive shifting and sound and push the shocks button on the steering wheel and it will soften the suspension.

 

There's something wrong with your car if the Bumpy Road button doesn't stay on. The button is supposed to soften the suspension until it is turned off, or the car is turned off.

You can't notice the Race mode's affect on the suspension? You might want someone to look at that too. It's instantly noticeable and makes the car MUCH tighter in the shocks.

 

If you switch the Manetino while in "bumpy road" mode, the "bumpy road" goes back to normal. So, if you are in sport with "bumpy road" and you switch to race, the setting will be in race mode but in the normal shock setting.

You have to repress the "bumpy" button again.

However it will not leave bumpy mode without doing some setting changes. But, if you're not aware of the Manetino switching suspension setting modes, you might think it was "random".

I can notice the difference but it is more subtle that you would think. It's not like going from "go kart" to "coupe de ville". But it has a definite effect.

 

You are quite right.

FWIW, I find that Sport gives the best compromise for the ride/handling balance. Race suspension is too hard for other than very smooth roads, and Bumpy setting is too soft when really pressing on. It's a pity owners have to find their own solution to get a decent exhaust noise when in Sport, although legislation is probably to blame.

 

after jumping recently from an s tronic r8 v10 plus to a 458 it pains me to say the v10 plus gearbox is MUCH better than the 1 in the 458


for example driving on the motorway at 70mph in 7th gear and a car pulls past you all you need to do is push the accelerator pedal fully down and the car will instantly drop to 4th/5th gear and you will get the full 560bhp...

try that in my 458 and unless i have activated auto it won't do anything at all, if I have activated auto it will drop 1 gear. I didn't buy this car for drag racing or racing on the motorway I'm just saying my findings. I love this car but simply in my experience the s tronic gearbox is much better. I imagine PDK is similar, after getting used to s tronic it's a bit of a shock coming to the 458s gearbox, I literally could never feel the gear change in that car, it was ALWAYS in the right gear at the right time and never let me down. sometimes you can enjoy the car, the scenery and the drive when you don't have to change gears and you can just sit and enjoy the ride, less to think about. I'm capable of changing gears when I want to, but at other times I don't want to.

rant over love the 458 sound.

 

I will have to check this out on my 2015 RS5 with s tronic (standard).

PDK: Motorweek (yes i know) did a review of the new Boxster S with PDK. Their only complaint was that the car downshifted prematurely in corners on the track in auto mode. In manual mode it was just fine.

Best

 

Um.. yay.. What the heck are you doing in auto mode???

 

Interesting Michael, can you please take one minute and tell us more what that new update does for the car ?

 

Hi Phil I'm sure you will be pleasantly surprised, S Tronic is awesome.

I'm guessing the Huracan would be awesome to drive having the same gearbox.

 

Good post this as I've just took delivery of my 458 and I think auto is shocking 0-20mph. It judders a bit and jerks which surprised me.

Granted it's probably only there as a feature to please some but I'd of thought they could of refined it a bit more.

The gearbox issue not changing down multiple at a time is annoying I thought that as well.

In sport I find it slow to change, in race it's far quicker and snatchier.

Absolutely love the car but wish auto was more refined but more so wish it kicked down quicker

 

I put the RS5 tranny in Sport and then manual. For faster shifts. Will see if it downshifts under acceleration. I have just been manually downshifting like the 458.

Thanks

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVv6AWRVe94 this is what s tronic shifts like

 

Hmmm.......we were just messing with this today.

We had the car in automatic on a side road and it would get into 7th gear by the time we were at about 50 mph.

We then let the car coast so that it went down to about 25 mph but was still in 7th gear.

Then we hit the gas hard and it immediately brought us down to like 4th gear.

I did this on a few different occasions and I had a Porsche person in the car with me.

It skips multiple gears every time if you do that. Try it.


Cars - 2013 Ferrari 458 Spider
2011 Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet


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You can add the F12 to the list of those that will drop multiple gears on downshift.

 

https://vimeo.com/142137072

Car is in automatic mode


Cars - 2013 Ferrari 458 Spider
2011 Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet


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Thanks!! Thought I was imagining things.


Cars - 2013 Ferrari 458 Spider
2011 Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet


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cannot imagine why anyone would run a 458 in automatic....

 

I dont use except when the latte exception is in play.

If l lived in the city maybe Auto would be an option but using the 458 in manual is so great l never think of trying it.

We live on a pretty steep street. So l put in manual to hold the car back in lst gear, otherwise the car upshifts and l have to use the brakes.

And yes you can shift down in auto mode. Found that out when l forgot to put in manual and the car upshifted going down the hill.

Seems like auto is never in the gear l really want. Am l about to pass or go up or down hill?

Rolls Royce deals with the hill problem by using GPS to anticipate hills and automatically change gears accordingly. We dont want to overwork the chaffeur do we?