North Zummerset Newbie

[safrane]

From personal experience and over 12 years of 4200/GS ownership I believe all the clutch talk is tosh.

I average 1-2% wear per 1,000 miles, and have done for the 3 I have owned.

When newish Maserati would not sell a used one without a new clutch if over 30% worn, add to this the number of people who expected the car to drive like a auto Jag and complained to anyone who would listen how it was jarring... My GS can set off as smooth as any manual or auto and further changes are noticed just as a manual is.

Yes they need to be fitted properly and balanced, and there are some truly awfully set up cars out there worked on by Noddy and Bigears...but even those ca be fixed by the likes of Sports Italia, Emblem, Migallore etc.

Pop up here if you want to experience a sorted car... oh and I know of a stunning 4200 coming back on the market ar c13k with low miles.

 

[zagatoes30]

With mine be a Spider which as everyone will tell you suffers from scuttle shake it would make sense to drive it not in sport mode to take advantage of the softer suspension settings but to be honest I never noticed the difference. Early cars will stay in Sport mode once set whereas later cars drop back to normal on each restart. If you are not going to be doing lots of stop start traffic I suspect the difference in clutch wear in either Normal or Sport mode is negligible and as above 1-2% wear per 1000 miles isn't bad unless you buy one at the end of its life in which case factor in the price of a new clutch in the purchase price.

 

[Andy4200]

Thanks again for your help and feedback guys.
Safrane: I may be keen to take you up on that sometime, thanks. Also that car coming back on the market sounds interesting. Would you be able to send any more details? By PM I would guess. I wasn't really thinking of starting to look until next year to be honest ( I need to sell my Lotus first to raise funds) but I guess starting a little early wont hurt!

 

[RoaryRati]

We haven't noticed a difference in suspension between normal and sport for my 02 spyder but always drive in sport (but you certainly want to avoid pot holes and poor road surfaces). I only use auto in traffic if I'm feeling lazy, and even then it can be over-ridden.

 

[Andy4200]

So the paddles can override when in auto mode. That's useful to know, thanks.

 

[Wanderer]

So the paddles can override when in auto mode. That's useful to know, thanks.

I think the paddles only work in manual mode, those to be honest I've never tried!

 

[CatmanV2]

I think the paddles only work in manual mode, those to be honest I've never tried!

That would be unusual for any paddled car that I've driven. Normally they always force a gear change (ECU intervention excepted) but after a period they TCU will go back to automatic.

Certainly on the 4200, GT, Jaaaaaaag, Bentley GT and DB9....

C

 

[Wanderer]

That would be unusual for any paddled car that I've driven. Normally they always force a gear change (ECU intervention excepted) but after a period they TCU will go back to automatic.

Certainly on the 4200, GT, Jaaaaaaag, Bentley GT and DB9....

C

I'll try it when I go to post office at lunch!

 

[Andy4200]

Yes the TCT gearbox in my Alfa allows manual override then drops back to auto after 5 secs of no further input. (It is a dual clutch transmission though). I'll await the post lunchtime conclusion.

 

[Wanderer]

Yes the TCT gearbox in my Alfa allows manual override then drops back to auto after 5 secs of no further input. (It is a dual clutch transmission though). I'll await the post lunchtime conclusion.

I'm on Central European Summer Time too so you might not have to wait as long as you thought!

 

[safrane]

Yes use of paddle does overide the gear when in auto as long as it is safe for the gearbox says it is safe to do so.

 

[Ebenezer]

Interesting. I have no paddles so I only have auto and nanny manual. It would seem that if you attach paddles you get this "third" mode when in auto to switch to manual (while he gear lever is still in D) and then after a period it automatically goes back to auto. Might be an argument to consider retrofitting paddles as on the rare occasions I use the manual mode I always seem forget I'm in manual mode as the nanny takes over at each end of the rev range.
Eb

 

[Wanderer]

Interesting. I have no paddles so I only have auto and nanny manual. It would seem that if you attach paddles you get this "third" mode when in auto to switch to manual (while he gear lever is still in D) and then after a period it automatically goes back to auto. Might be an argument to consider retrofitting paddles as on the rare occasions I use the manual mode I always seem forget I'm in manual mode as the nanny takes over at each end of the rev range.
Eb

I think you must have the ZF auto then, we're talking DS/CC I think...

I didn't take the car as due to lack if use and many short trips I sensed the battery is need of a boost, telltale signs, clicking needles, clock goes to 12:00 etc..

Will yank it out for a bit, recharge it.

I actually walked to the post office, and came back with some beer, how did that happen?

 

[Ebenezer]

Yes ZF
Eb

 

[2b1ask1]

Paddles/auto; if say you are in auto and are going to overtake, you can drop a couple of gears on the paddle and blast past. In auto it will revert back to a higher gear after a couple of seconds though. You get a lockdown like a traditional auto but it is a bit slow to react. No kickdown in manual mode just an auto down shift on slowing to keep the engine above stall.

 

[Ebenezer]

Yes that would be the use case for having paddles on a ZF as there is a lag between planting it and the kick down. It's a faff to have to put it in manual mode to prepare and then switch back to auto after the manoeuvre. (Which is a really hard word to spell correctly!)
Eb

 

[Andy4200]

Thanks once again for the further info guys.
I have to say based on the peoples thoughts and experiences on here, I'm possibly edging towards thinking the Cambiocorsa could be the transmission to have. I wasn't expecting that!

Cheers.

 

[philw696]

Thanks once again for the further info guys.
I have to say based on the peoples thoughts and experiences on here, I'm possibly edging towards thinking the Cambiocorsa could be the transmission to have. I wasn't expecting that!

Cheers.

They really are Fun have you watched the YouTube video of Michael Schumacher driving a Spider on track well worth watching

 

[philw696]

Here you go.

 

[Wattie]

Here you go.

What a driver, so casual.