Help for a returning newbe... ;-)

[rogerxp]

It's been about 10 years since I actively participated in Maserati related matters but feel compelled to return! I owed a 4200 CambioCorsa but never really gelled with it (hated the gearbox with a passion!) and since owned a variety of Beemers & Fast Datsuns. Looking to get into a £50ish-k GranTurismo S but stuck on gearbox choice!! I've not driven either so that will happen when the opportunity arises next.

Is the MC Shift much different to the old CC box? I hated the jerky awkward low speed behaviour and frankly only rarely hit the sweet spot going fast - will I therefore hate MC Shift or have things moved on?

My last M3 had the dual clutch DCT gearbox which I loved (the right balance of automation/involvement) whereas my current 430d has the latest sublime 8-speed auto - it's amazing but boring!!!

Any general comments for me to muse over until I get test drives arranged??

I have searched for related threads but 10+ pages back I couldn't see anything.

Thanks in advance.

 

[bigbob]

Welcome. I know how you feel about the 4200 CC, that's why my 4200 was a manual. That said there are loads of people on here who love the CC. The MC Shift is indeed a much better gearbox but it is still an automated single clutch gearbox with the nodding issues that that can present themselves unless you drive it well. Personally I drive an auto 4.7 GranTurismo and love it especially as in manual sport mode it is pretty controllable.

My overall advice is not to make a purchase decision based on what we say on here wrt gearboxes as you really do need to drive both cars and buy which is best for you. Best of luck!

 

[Andyk]

Loads love the CC but understand your concerns...I believe the MC box is much better but the full Auto box with MC shift upgrades is suppose to be pretty good and probably the one for you.....Dicky Grace is the man to talk to as he has sold a few of this with both boxes......Well respected on her as well...

http://www.richardgracecars.co.uk/

 

[whereskeith]

Test drive both... I think you will go for the mc shift

 

[hodroyd]

Welcome back Roger..!! As far as I know the early CC boxes could be a bit lumpy, the later ones with improvements and upgraded software are a lot better..!! As others have suggested, drive the options and make your choice, it's a personal choice thing and you need to be happy with that choice..!!

 

[Stewart]

Three years and 8k miles say there is not a lot wrong with the cc box..it's not suited for heavy traffic but used in sport mode on the proper road and also keeping in mind it is now old tec, it suits the Highlands of Scotland beautifully.

Stick to Bm made if not happy.

 

[rogerxp]

Thank you for all your comments - everyone sitting on the fence LOL

Absolutely, I need to drive both, and will do soon. Was just wondering what's the most popular 'box nowadays. The dealer I was speaking to the other day (Meridian) was very open and honest, he explained the 'new' CC 'box being essentially the same mechanically as my 03 plate 4200 but with improved software which seems to be important bit. I can accept foibles but not the major issues I suffered previously. I generally dislike normal slush-box automatics, they desensitise the whole experience for me, making me feel detached. That said, the box in my 4er is superb, and highly responsive - problem is, being a diesel and therefore quiet, driving in manual mode is no fun as you can't hear the revs, plus being an 8-speed diesel you're forever flicking through gears. A 6-speed V8 is obviously quite a different beast!!!

I loved the DCT box in my M3, easy to flick into auto mode when feeling lazy, or manual mode for smiles. I'm drawn to the MC Shift for this reason but reckon the auto is the safe choice.

Drive time

Apologies if this thread was started in the wrong section - posted on my phone last night - now realising the other sections available.

 

[bigbob]

I think that most people here appreciate that they cannot tell someone else which gearbox to choose as they know little about your preferences. The truth - as I see it - is that the MC gearbox has fewer similarities to the BMW DCT than the GTS auto has to the BMW 8 speed auto. In my view the ZF 8 speed auto was built for diesels rather than petrol cars and it works fine in that context - I have it in a Discovery as my main car - but it has too many gears for a n/a (petrol) engine. In that context six is the sweetspot IMHO whichever GranTurismo gearbox you select. I choose the auto as I can drive it in auto when its busy and sport manual when the road allows. Others prefer the more aggressive shift delivery of the MC but have to put up with a less smooth ride in busy traffic and an auto function that is not great. All depends on how many miles and what type of driving you will do.

Obviously you can see what the various posters here drive and, thus, what their preferences are but the gearboxes are so different that you can't tell to be sure until you drive.

 

[rogerxp]

Yup, I agree with your comments. I'm low mileage (my office is 1/2 mile from home!!) so guess I 'should' be able to put up with the MC gearbox but just remember how frustrating the old one was - perhaps the software has improved this - and only a test drive will help. It's my unfamiliarity of driving a large petrol auto that's clouding my brain process - again a decent test drive would solve that. I've traditionally been a manual fanboy, the CC ruined chances of a nice migration to auto-style, but the M3's DCT was a more recent delve into two-pedal-land. Took a while to adjust if I'm honest but loved it in the end - a marriage cruelly ended early as it got nicked. The 430d was my safe-house car but only available in the 8-speed auto and it's a peach (but boring).

I'll get test drives sorted out when my diary clears up a little and make my decision than the hunt will start. The nearest dealer (Bowker, Blackburn) is just over an hour away so needs a full day. A fun day though

Any other personal opinions/comments welcomed. Interested to hear how others made up their mind what gearbox to go for...

Cheers.

 

[hoyin]

I have the MC Shift. You need to learn how to drive it properly to get a smooth drive. But this is actually what I like about it. It is like driving a manual and having good clutch control and changing gears at the right time.

For me it creates a more involving drive that requires a bit more skill. I find this much more rewarding.

So for me I prefer the MC Shift.

 

[StuartW]

Welcome along / back.

As has been said above, you need to drive both and make a decision as they are very different. I did this and preferred the MC-S but they are downsides too of course. Either way, they're both great cars but I found the MC-S more of a driving experience personally.

Enjoy the search

 

[hodroyd]

I drive a later CC box and it is never really out of sport, changes are lightning fast and even in traffic you only get the rare judder and thats quickly sorted, for open road fast driving it's amazing..!!

 

[mcs]

The MC shift makes driving the car an occasion each time I get in to it and makes the whole feeling that much special

Ohh and that sound once you press the sport button -

 

[rogerxp]

So, a lot of love for the MC then. I just admit, even through ownership of my 4200, I wondered if there was something wrong with my box as my experience seemed far worse than others at the time. Perhaps I'm panicking over nothing but time will tell.

The dealer did say that most new orders now are for the auto which I found interesting.

Looking forward to testing them out

 

[conaero]

The MC Shift box in the GTS is a F599 box and is much better. I am a fan of the CC and absolutely loved the MC Shift, it is much, much better with less of this cluncking about and the clutches genuinely last 50k miles and dont collapse like the F430/CC one does.

 

[hoyin]

So, a lot of love for the MC then. I just admit, even through ownership of my 4200, I wondered if there was something wrong with my box as my experience seemed far worse than others at the time. Perhaps I'm panicking over nothing but time will tell.

The dealer did say that most new orders now are for the auto which I found interesting.

Looking forward to testing them out

It is because most Maserati owners are boring (generalisation). I think a lot that buy the new cars haven't even tried the MC Shift.

 

[bigbob]

It is because most Maserati owners are boring (generalisation). I think a lot that buy the new cars haven't even tried the MC Shift.

I have!

 

[StuartW]

I think the main point is that you need to try both and decide for yourself which you prefer based on what you are going to use the car for. They are both excellent boxes but give a different driving experience and bring with them their own positives and negatives but deciding between the two is a great problem to have.
Enjoy the researching and you won't look back, whichever version you settle on

 

[Andyk]

Thank you for all your comments - everyone sitting on the fence LOL

Absolutely, I need to drive both, and will do soon. Was just wondering what's the most popular 'box nowadays. The dealer I was speaking to the other day (Meridian) was very open and honest, he explained the 'new' CC 'box being essentially the same mechanically as my 03 plate 4200 but with improved software which seems to be important bit. I can accept foibles but not the major issues I suffered previously. I generally dislike normal slush-box automatics, they desensitise the whole experience for me, making me feel detached. That said, the box in my 4er is superb, and highly responsive - problem is, being a diesel and therefore quiet, driving in manual mode is no fun as you can't hear the revs, plus being an 8-speed diesel you're forever flicking through gears. A 6-speed V8 is obviously quite a different beast!!!

I loved the DCT box in my M3, easy to flick into auto mode when feeling lazy, or manual mode for smiles. I'm drawn to the MC Shift for this reason but reckon the auto is the safe choice.

Drive time

Apologies if this thread was started in the wrong section - posted on my phone last night - now realising the other sections available.

If you liked the SMG in your M3 you will like the MC shift...It's a better box where as the CC wasn't as good as the SMG...I had an M3 CSL and found that box quicker than a CC....but the MC shift moved one from the CC...

 

[dickygrace]

Roger, if you're an hour from Bowker you could be very close to me, or 2 hours away! If you're close to me, you're welcome to try what we've got. I currently have auto 4.2 & 4.7, as well as an MC Shift coming later this week.