4200 - two weeks into ownership

R

Richie C

New Member
Messages
14
Well I’m two weeks into ownership of a 4200 cambio corsa.....and what a beast! Two tanks of vpower and just a few miles in (!) it is a driving experience! I’m used to the family car (a Ford s-max) and my work van so this is clearly a different level of driving experience....

I know there’s quicker cars out there but the grunt from 50 upwards gives me the biggest grin. The fun of the paddle shifts is entertaining at speed but I do find I need to rev a bit to make it work better - I guess I can cope with that! Sport mode does seem to engage gears a lot cleaner too, so I tend to drive in that mode all the time, is this okay? The gearbox is a bit of a pain in traffic but so far I’ve never used auto mode, I guess that’s the next thing to try out.

Should I start it then leave to warm up a bit before driving? Interested to know your opinions.

Also, it’s low, I can’t get it over the pavement camber onto our drive, anyone got any clever ideas on how they overcame this?!

Looking forward to getting along to some meets this summer, I’m based in Addlestone, Surrey, anyone else local?
 
FIFTY

FIFTY

Member
Messages
3,100
Welcome to the forum. Sounds like you are off to a great start. I am in Farnborough and there are a few local owners to you.
 
Zep

Zep

Moderator
Messages
9,283
That’s awesome that you are enjoying it, I bet it is a bit different to a S-max!

It is fine to drive it in sport all the time, in fact it’s better.

Whether to start and let it warm up or drive off right away, as long as you don’t use high load / revs until the temperature is up then you will be fine.

As for the pavement, ramps / bits of wood will be the way forward.
 
T

TimR

Member
Messages
2,731
The manual does cover warm up- pg117. I think it's tailored to the CC cars judging by the "pull away in idle" text ( if I understood it correctly, which is admittedly, doubtful !)
Also says dont "cane it" 'til the water temp shows at least 50-60*c ( thus proving that I barely understood it after all..>!!)
Gearbox wont get warm 'til you use it...(its at the back of the car !)
 
Zep

Zep

Moderator
Messages
9,283
It’s true, all the gears are meshed and turning, this is true of any synchromesh transmission, unless it’s one with a low or high range selector. The gears are locked to the lay shaft (output shaft in normal terms) by the selector rods and the synchro rings.
 
C

Cdn17Sport6MT

Junior Member
Messages
72
TimR said:
The manual does cover warm up- pg117. I think it's tailored to the CC cars judging by the "pull away in idle" text ( if I understood it correctly, which is admittedly, doubtful !)
Also says dont "cane it" 'til the water temp shows at least 50-60*c ( thus proving that I barely understood it after all..>!!)
Gearbox wont get warm 'til you use it...(its at the back of the car !)
Click to expand...
I agree with the notion that the transaxle won't appreciably warm up until the car is actually driven. It is the force of gear faces bearing on gear faces, squishing down on the oil film, with a load based on the power/torque needed to move the car, that makes for the heat generation. Very limited heat just sitting in neutral. In fact, doesn't the CC/Duoselect/MC Shift/F1 system always have the clutch disengaged (therefore layshaft is not spinning) when you are not actually driving the car (in gear) - i.e. regardless of whether it is idling in neutral or idling in gear?
 
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RoaryRati

RoaryRati

Member
Messages
1,628
I always drive in sport and rarely use auto unless in busy town traffic and feeling lazy. By the time its crept out of the snug garage, roof down etc it's probably a good 5 mins and none of our cars are ever pushed until engines etc are properly warm.
 
MarkMas

MarkMas

Chief pedant
Messages
8,929
Richie C said:
.....Also, it’s low, I can’t get it over the pavement camber onto our drive, anyone got any clever ideas on how they overcame this?!
Click to expand...

There's an excellent video from one of the Le Mans trips showing how to ease a Maserati over a a tricky camber. (I think it was the entrance to a hotel garage.) Can anyone find that?
 
midlifecrisis

midlifecrisis

Member
Messages
16,229
Enjoy your 4200, I for one never specifically warmed it up but just took it easy tilll I could see the thermometer needle lift off the 'cold' mark. Always used Sport mode, still do on the GT Sport except when I need to be quieter...(annoying the neighbours or police)...
 
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