Newbie question - MC shift

Bebs

Member
Messages
3,266
Greetings all,
I picked up a 2009 GTS MC shift last week and spent 2 days detailing it bringing it back to its former glory.
Haven’t had much chance to drive it yet and before I do I wanted to ask you guys about MC driving.

I’m a little confused with the auto options... there’s the ‘1’ on the center console (in front of the R) and there’s the ‘auto’ button on the dash below the ‘Sport’ button.
Forgive my ignorance but what is the difference between pressing the ‘1’ or pressing the ‘auto’? Also, when I press ‘sport’ when in auto mode the gearbox still appear to be shifting up by itself... the paddles do work in sport but they also work when in auto mode... it’s a little confusing to me.
My second question relates to prolonging clutch life... what is the best way, and in what mode, to drive the car in order to not put unnecessary stress on the clutch?

I’m sure I’ll have plenty more questions for you guys and your input and assistance is very much appreciated.
I will try to get some pics next to my other steed, a manual 360 Modena but here is the GTS for now.
583135831458315
 

safrane

Member
Messages
16,747
The car will shift gears in Manual if it is beyond tolerance (down shifts only in Sport).

Auto is full auto (up and down) and sports mode will shift the gears more swiftly and take it more to the red line.

1/R just switches between the two for parking.
 

Wanderer

Member
Messages
5,791
Re the 1 or paddle, same, press the auto button to get manual mode, then you upshift on the paddles, and let it down shift itself or use the paddles to down shift. The software will never make you make a back choice.

So, press Sports, Auto so indicator says Manual and Sports, and get shifting...

Up shift to about 55 in fifth, double shift down to third and accelerate, you’ll love it.

This is for QP5 I thing it’s same...
 
Messages
1,117
Crawling in stop/start traffic will wear the clutch. Let a gap develop and take a run up to allow the clutch to fully bite. Standing still in 1st gear with foot on brake wil not wear clutch.
 

tasnam

Member
Messages
196
The car will shift gears in Manual if it is beyond tolerance (down shifts only in Sport).

Auto is full auto (up and down) and sports mode will shift the gears more swiftly and take it more to the red line.

1/R just switches between the two for parking.

Please clarify....So with my 2016 GTS if I am in Manual (Gear or paddle shifters being used) then I understand it will "eventually" shift if it is over burdened...but you mention it would ONLY downshift (automatically) if the sport button is on?
 

Wanderer

Member
Messages
5,791
Please clarify....So with my 2016 GTS if I am in Manual (Gear or paddle shifters being used) then I understand it will "eventually" shift if it is over burdened...but you mention it would ONLY downshift (automatically) if the sport button is on?
When the sport button is on in Manual mode, you can only upshift manually. Lazy downshifting is done by the box software but you can manually downshift. I won't let you make a blowing stuff up downshift so it's fail safe...

It won't every upshift automatically in manual mode, it'll just stop at the limiter.....
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,541
Please clarify....So with my 2016 GTS if I am in Manual (Gear or paddle shifters being used) then I understand it will "eventually" shift if it is over burdened...but you mention it would ONLY downshift (automatically) if the sport button is on?

What gearbox does that variant have?

C
 

Bebs

Member
Messages
3,266
Thank you guys, I will have a play with it tomorrow and get my head around it.
It’s going to AV engineering next weekend as there’s a fair amount of work needed on it.
 

White tiger

Junior Member
Messages
68
So just to clear things a little bit about MC Shift. You have in fact 4 options:
  • normal auto mode (no SPORT, but AUTO on dash display) - will work as fully auto, but you can override it with paddles,
  • normal manual mode (no SPORT, no AUTO on dash display) - will work maual with paddle shifters, will downshift when revs are too low,
  • sport auto mode ( SPORT and AUTO on dash display) - same as normal auto, but sportier shifting and ofcourse open exhaust and firmer suspension setup if you have skyhook,
  • sport manual mode ( SPORT and red MC SHIFT on dash display - MC SHIFT only when car is warm enough) - will work maual with paddle shifters, will downshift when revs are too low, but not upshift - this is pretty much the only mode I'm using :)
You'll get all this options with buttons SPORT and AUTO.
 

White tiger

Junior Member
Messages
68
And as someone already mentioned for better clutch life:
  • use SPORT mode - quicker shifts mean less clutch wear,
  • avoid start/stop traffic,
  • do not make brisk starts, GT is not meant for that - just start normaly in 1st, when the clutch fully engages (around 1.600 rpm) than go with sport driving and shifting - GT is very heavy car and would make a lot of stress to clutch when trying some brisk launches.
 

Bebs

Member
Messages
3,266
That’s extremely helpful White Tiger, many thanks. That absolutely explains it to a novice like me.
Had a spirited drive this morning to familiarise myself with the gearbox options. Got it now I think.
Next job is to get my head around the Multi Media System.
Noticed this morning that the cigarette lighter socket does not appear to produce any power.. I’ve tried a couple of different Anker chargers that I use in other cars so I know they are not faulty. Bit annoying when using waze sat nav on phone that I can’t charge it... anyone experience this before?
 

Felonious Crud

Administrator
Staff member
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21,012
Well done and welcome!

Never use auto on an MC Shifty. It's rubbish. Flicking a paddle is nice and easy. I always drove mine in manual sport. Sport sharpened up the gear changes, so it was smoother (less lag between gears).

Regarding the multimedia doo-da, hunt down the Apple CarPlay upgrade thread.
 

White tiger

Junior Member
Messages
68
That’s extremely helpful White Tiger, many thanks. That absolutely explains it to a novice like me.
Had a spirited drive this morning to familiarise myself with the gearbox options. Got it now I think.
Next job is to get my head around the Multi Media System.
Noticed this morning that the cigarette lighter socket does not appear to produce any power.. I’ve tried a couple of different Anker chargers that I use in other cars so I know they are not faulty. Bit annoying when using waze sat nav on phone that I can’t charge it... anyone experience this before?

No problem, glad to help. And as Felonious Crud mentioned, don't use normal and auto - I drive mine 99% of time on sport manual :)
 

Bebs

Member
Messages
3,266
Sport Manual - noted :dance:
I suspect the missus will use just auto but I'll do my best to teach her...
 

White tiger

Junior Member
Messages
68
My wife drives it on Sport Auto, when she does - not a lot of oportunities though :)
And she described modes like this:
Normal Auto - Granny mode :angry_girl:
Normal Sport - no name till now
Sport Auto - wife mode :love3:
Sport Manual - man mode :auto178:
 

mattjevans

Junior Member
Messages
386
My wife drives it on Sport Auto, when she does - not a lot of oportunities though :)
And she described modes like this:
Normal Auto - Granny mode :angry_girl:
Normal Sport - no name till now
Sport Auto - wife mode :love3:
Sport Manual - man mode :auto178:

I have an additional mode or two on mine having installed a valve over-ride remote. In normal sport I get the audio benefits of sport mode (which are, let’s face it, far more important than quicker shift times) without the harder suspension.

Oh, and install Larini sports cats. This week. I waited 2 years. Don’t be me.