Comments on: The CVT Paddle Shifter Review

By: Wheelchairs

Wheelchairs — Fri, 20 May 2011 08:12:00 +0000

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By: Proxy

Proxy — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 22:04:28 +0000

By: Ciara

Ciara — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 00:07:16 +0000

I've yet to drive a car with a paddle shifter, but they look like a great idea. I bought my first automatic transmission vehicle in about 2003, and not by choice. I've got a degenerative joint disease and repeatedly pressing the clutch pedal to the floor in city traffic was increasingly painful. I had a V6 4WD p/u that was a joy to drive but it took a fair amount of strength to operate the clutch.

I need both an automatic and a vehicle with room for my electric wheelchair (they don't fold), and I bought the old shuttle van my mechanics used. It's OK and in good shape. It is, no matter what else I say, an automatic.

Paddle shifters look like a wonderful option for those of us who have physical problems with our legs but still want to have control over the vehicle we drive. I know what gear I want my car in, and being able to control that part of my car (as well as the other things we all control) is something to look forward to when I replace my current vehicle.

I've always liked the Mini, but I cannot get out of a car that's that close to the ground. I need a vehicle that has a seat much higher off the ground. For people who are still agile, it's worth looking into driving a MiniCooper -- they are great fun.

By: Dilpreet

Dilpreet — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 13:47:26 +0000

To, Braydon, Please contact me on my mail,

By: Braydon

Braydon — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 07:48:19 +0000

Hello, Dilpreet i am wandering about your cvt system you have designed. Would you be able to send me the design so I can see how it works.

Thanks

Braydon

By: Dilpreet

Dilpreet — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 15:12:12 +0000

I am engineering student and i have designed a CVT system, it does’nt need even paddle shift. I have also some new ideas but i need a platform. Please reply so that i can contact you.

By: Jace

Jace — Wed, 02 Nov 2005 04:53:31 +0000

I know this is a bit slow now... but as for the unnatural feeling of pulling towards you to shift up and pushing away to shift down; the "video game generation" (ie. me) feel it's natural because that's how many arcade games such as Initial D work.

I think the worst tiptronic layout was in the Mercedes Benz (2002 C Class?) whereby you shifted left-right to go -/+ gears. Mind you I never drove it but I rode in the car whilst my Mum test drove it- in case anyone wondered, we didn't buy it because there was a 3mth waiting list and she ended up with an X-type.

By: Gordini

Gordini — Sun, 24 Apr 2005 21:29:56 +0000

Nope, I read that one also and found it to be a excellent review. My decision to purchase a MCSa would have been much easier if I had read that review prior to purchasing. Just trying to comment for those that had posted questions.

By: Gabe

Gabe — Sun, 24 Apr 2005 21:08:09 +0000

I just wanted to make sure you hadn’t meant to comment on the MCSa review we had done a few months back. It was quite positive btw.

http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/02/21/motoringfilemcsautomatic_review

By: Gordini

Gordini — Sun, 24 Apr 2005 21:02:04 +0000

Gabe, interesting that you mentioned the MCS automatic in an earlier post on this “review of the CVT”. Not to mention the other references to MCS automatic in this thread. Hopefully others that mentioned the MCSa with questions won’t be so negative about getting first hand info about it.

By: Gabe

Gabe — Sun, 24 Apr 2005 16:18:44 +0000

Actually Gordini - this is a review of the CVT, not the new automatic MCS. That said official data does not back up your claims of the automatic MCS being faster than the manual MCS. Further the official data also shows that the CVT MC is significantly slower than the manual MC.

Until MINI offers a true auto-manual (like BMWs SMG) the automatic will always be slower due to the nature of the transmission.

By: Gordini

Gordini — Sun, 24 Apr 2005 16:14:49 +0000

I’ve had my MCS with the 6-speed Steptronic for several weeks now. I agonized over the decision of manual vs automatic. I’m now convinced that I made the right choice. The Steptronic actually has 3 modes of operation. The normal automatic which is pretty mushy and not very fun. You can still manually shift with the paddles or the stick. It will switch back to auto mode if you don’t perform another shift within about 10 seconds. This is very handy for normal commuting when you want to quickly downshift to accelerate momentarily. Move the shifter to the right and it goes into Sport mode. This is still fully automatic but the gearing gets much taller and crisp which provides considerable performance automatically. If you manually shift with the paddles or the stick in Sport mode it goes into the third mode which is completely manual. Once in this mode the car will not shift until YOU shift it. The shifts are very crisp. The Steptronic is clearly the best of all worlds without the hassle of a third pedal. With all due respect, people that think they are purists because they think performance cars must have a clutch are not purists at all but instead are stuck in the past with outdated technology and, in fact, inferior car performance. The MCS with the Steptronic is faster than one with a manual transmission.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Tue, 12 Apr 2005 03:08:46 +0000

C’mon an MCS with AWD and a true SMG with paddles on the wheel, I’ll take it! That purist stick guy is nuts! It’s called progress…

By: 808state

808state — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 22:56:32 +0000

The use of CVT’s have been around in japan for years, the vehicles that use them are getting great gas mileage. What I hoped to see was a CVT with full manual control of the ratio. Until then Ill enjoy the Mini and Ford 500 here in the states, and i will build a full manual CVT in Japan.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Sat, 04 Dec 2004 14:21:36 +0000

If the Mini CVT is as good as the FIAT Punto Speedgear CVT, I would say go for it. It kicks-down instantly, in theory is more efficient than manual and you can cruise at 80mph (130Km/h) with just 2000 rpm which makes for comfortable long distance drives… and when you want power, the revs go the the maximum HP rpm about 5500-6000 rpm , stay there while the transimission changes and the car accelerates … nothing like old auto boxes when you would never know if and when it will kick down, or kicking down when you just want to gently accelerate…

CVT are the way forward… the only reason auto-makers are pushing robotised manual gearboxes (i.e. Alfa Selespeed, Opel Easytronic etc) are because they are cheaper to make..

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 01 Dec 2004 14:55:30 +0000

My MC with CVT in manual mode is quicker shifting and quicker to 60 then the manual. I know as I have driven both. Also cruises at lower revs at 60-100mph.

By: Gabe

Gabe — Thu, 23 Sep 2004 01:36:23 +0000

As stated in the article above:

"In the Canadian market it appears all CVTs ordered will now come with the paddles, while they are currently unavailable in the USA."

By: Jan

Jan — Wed, 22 Sep 2004 21:47:49 +0000

We just ordered a MC Cabrio w/CVT. Will it – or will it not – come with paddles? Is that something that should have been selected separate?

By: Joseph

Joseph — Fri, 17 Sep 2004 00:00:25 +0000

Will the MCS automatic transmission be similar to the BMW's steptronic transmission?

By: Gabe

Gabe — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 00:49:01 +0000

Jon – the Audi tiptronic system is really just an auto with override controls. The SMG is a totally different beast. Essentially it's a 6 speed manual transmission with an extra component that make it's a semi-automatic. It's much much more enjoyable than a steptronic or tiptronic automatic transmission.