Clear this up once and for all. Auto vs Auto MC

[Heavenly]

Apologies this has possibly been done to death but its quite important to me and a couple of customers of mine who are looking at GTS's currently.

Can someone explain to me the benefits (of sound only) between the standard Auto and the Auto MCshift.

Ive been told the standard doesn't have the same pops and bangs on automatic downshift as the AutoMC and I've read online somewhere with Sport mode on the standard Auto does therefore I'm very confused.

All the dealers I've spoken to have said only to get the Auto MC and avoid the standard auto if the sound is as important as the easy drive of an auto.

If someone would be kind enough to share the differences I would appreciate it.

 

[azapa]

well, you have opened a can of worms here.

I am probably the least expert on here, but my 5 pennies worth, assuming you are talking about the 4.7L versions that all have valves, AFAIK:

- the exhaust parts are the same on all cars
- the software changes the point at which the valves open - this is why they sound different in sport mode
- the software also changes the engine tune - this explains some differences between the sound of an MC and a Stradale

In general, the MC is more involving and fun to drive, assuming the purchaser is after a more boisterous drive.

 

[Heavenly]

Thanks.
I'm just struggling as I know there are 2 variants of the automatics (Not the MC Shift with no gearstick) and I would only be looking at 2013 facelift models only.

I just want to know if in sport mode would the auto only have the sound sound on downshift at the Auto MC version.

I'm sure I saw In the 2014 pricesheet the standard auto is £82K and the AutoMC is £90K.

I went out in a V10 Audi R8 last week and in sport mode on the downshift the engine note was spectacular, I don't want to be in a positive that if a standard automatic came up there would be a loss of sound that the AutoMC has over it...

 

[azapa]

Thanks.
I went out in a V10 Audi R8 last week and in sport mode on the downshift the engine note was spectacular, I don't want to be in a positive that if a standard automatic came up there would be a loss of sound that the AutoMC has over it...

The R8 V10 is an amazingly fast car, much more so than even the stradale. But the exhaust note does not compare to the GTS when it's opened up. I drove one too, before deciding.

 

[JonW]

Thanks.
I'm just struggling as I know there are 2 variants of the automatics (Not the MC Shift with no gearstick) and I would only be looking at 2013 facelift models only.

I just want to know if in sport mode would the auto only have the sound sound on downshift at the Auto MC version.

I'm sure I saw In the 2014 pricesheet the standard auto is £82K and the AutoMC is £90K.

I went out in a V10 Audi R8 last week and in sport mode on the downshift the engine note was spectacular, I don't want to be in a positive that if a standard automatic came up there would be a loss of sound that the AutoMC has over it...

Have you driven them both? I have a 2012 with the Sports pack, and I think mine sounds better in Sport and Manual mode than a normal Auto did when I test drove it. However, this may be just that I'm more used to knowing how to make the engine sing, crackle and pop!

Will be very interested in others views on this...

 

[Heavenly]

Have you driven them both? I have a 2012 with the Sports pack, and I think mine sounds better in Sport and Manual mode than a normal Auto did when I test drove it. However, this may be just that I'm more used to knowing how to make the engine sing, crackle and pop!

Will be very interested in others views on this...

Would your be classed as the AutoMC gearbox or standard Auto?

 

[JonW]

Would your be classed as the AutoMC gearbox or standard Auto?

I'm pretty sure mine is the AutoMC....

 

[Heavenly]

Thanks, the 2 models are below and the dealers are telling me to look at the 2nd variant AutoMC as its a buyers market but I'm just lost as to the benefits so maybe the Auto is quiet on gear change, and yours as you state has a rumble to it when downshifting. Bearing in mind I'm looking at a facelift maybe all facelifts have the software. Ive never known such a confusing range

 

[JonW]

I agree - it is all incredibly confusing!

If it helps would gladly swap you a day's detailing for a day driving my car...

 

[Heavenly]

I agree - it is all incredibly confusing!

If it helps would gladly swap you a day's detailing for a day driving my car...

Hahaha I like your style. Im probably the only detailer who wont actually drive customers car's, even though most would like me to. To me metal is metal and paintwork is paintwork, the engine is irrelevant and the only thing that could possibly happen is someone hit you. Its just not worth the risk. I have a GTS booked next month possibly so once done he may allow me to share photos with permission. I have a Carbon edition Aston next weekend so that will be fun.
I may tag Geoff Capes to see if I can meet up with him one day and have a listen to his as he's fairly local to me in Kent.

 

[bigbob]

Thanks, the 2 models are below and the dealers are telling me to look at the 2nd variant AutoMC as its a buyers market but I'm just lost as to the benefits so maybe the Auto is quiet on gear change, and yours as you state has a rumble to it when downshifting. Bearing in mind I'm looking at a facelift maybe all facelifts have the software. Ive never known such a confusing range

Ah the mysteries of Maserati spec.

The first page is for the 4.2 auto which was not facelifted and apart from a move to a wavy seat pattern from 2012MY it has not changed in the ten years of production. It does not have a valved exhaust but that's academic as very few were sold post 2009 when the 4.7 auto came out.

The second page is the 4.7 auto once it was facelifted for 2013MY. The 4.7 has always had a valved exhaust but different back boxes and different software has led to different sounds at different revs and on the overrun etc. I have a regular 2011MY 4.7 auto but my understanding is my car with a sports pack (only available for 2012MY)or the Sport MC auto you show on page 2 (the 2013MY facelift) is louder. Personally I have only driven an F1 gearbox facelift so can't fully comment. All are great as far as I am concerned and bear in mind you can aftermarket exhaust any of them if you want more aural pleasure.

 

[Heavenly]

Thanks and now maybe I'm getting somewhere. Maybe its the sound on gear change and at 3000rpm I keep reading about. I think my confusion is down change, if the standard just changes without a raise of revs compared to the MC Auto which raises revs between the gear change on downshift if that makes sense like the R8 did.

 

[GeoffCapes]

Hahaha I like your style. Im probably the only detailer who wont actually drive customers car's, even though most would like me to. To me metal is metal and paintwork is paintwork, the engine is irrelevant and the only thing that could possibly happen is someone hit you. Its just not worth the risk. I have a GTS booked next month possibly so once done he may allow me to share photos with permission. I have a Carbon edition Aston next weekend so that will be fun.
I may tag Geoff Capes to see if I can meet up with him one day and have a listen to his as he's fairly local to me in Kent.

Not a problem, just let me know when.
Looking to get the GT detailed after Le Mans anyway.

 

[Heavenly]

Not a problem, just let me know when.
Looking to get the GT detailed after Le Mans anyway.

Thanks Mark.
That would be great...

 

[GeoffCapes]

Thanks Mark.
That would be great...

Where abouts in Kent are you?

 

[murph7355]

MC Auto Shift makes the box as close to the MC automated manual as you will get from a traditional auto.

In sport mode when using a good amount of throttle the shifts feel all but as quick as the MC. A bit less aggressive, but quick. Blips on the downshift. Will let you bounce off the limiter. Exhaust is louder.

In non-sport it's much quieter. Shifts a bit slower.

In auto you get sport and normal too. Normal is where the car is just like a normal automatic car (and "quiet"). Sport is a bit more aggressive in terms of when it shifts for you (and loud).

Best mode is Sport Manual. Next is Normal Auto. The other two I've found to be superfluous.

The biggest difference between the MC Auto Shift auto and the automated manual is gearing. The auto is a little annoying in its gearing across 1-3. The gaps are too big, especially 1-2. You can work with it, but it's not ideal.

 

[granturismo]

As far as I can tell Auto 4.7S with valves open sounds exactly the same as AutoMCShift version - difference is only when ECU closes and opens the valves and in sport mode AutoMCShift has them open all the time - same you can achieve having valve remote control kit on Auto or blanking the vacuum pipes to the valves.

 

[Heavenly]

Where abouts in Kent are you?

Maidstone so not far...

 

[Heavenly]

Ok so today I took a 2 hour drive with my Mrs and was lucky enough to be taken out on a test drive with a Maserati Test Driver who took me through the gearboxes and also how to get the best out of them, little things (from memory) like over taking in the rain , down 2 gears on paddle, minimal acceleration to get past and then hold paddle to pull back in again automatically changing back into auto mode rather than a hard push down exerting all power through the rear creating a rear end snake trail, excellent driving and taught me a lot. I think he explained what I needed to know about the auto box and the software, downshifts with exhaust blips between and how they work. It's put my mind at rest and made me confident an AutoMC gearbox is the right balance for me, he also told me about Nick Masons (Pink Floyd) struggles with the Mc Shift and how he learnt to drive it better with experience.
I also get the impression the new GTs isn't as far away as many think And would think very very soon it will be a buyers market with cars being offloaded in anticipation for it, which for many of us and my customers currently looking is good news.

 

[D Walker]

So how soon is not very far away!?