MR2 Spyder (MR-S) Sequential Manual Transmission?

[vvtlikick]

Has anybody driven/seen/etc. one yet? I'm especially interested in the performance of one at autocross/track not the drag strip.

How good is it a controlling rollback on a hill?

Does it ever stall by mistake?

How is clutch wear affected compared to regular manual? Does it adjust for clutch wear?

Also, it's alot slower then the regular manual transmission MR2 Spyder from a standing start, since the computer doesn't allow the aggression towards the clutch disk that a fast start requires. But are any aftermarket companies going to reprogram the computer to allow for hard starts?

Additionally, does Toyota have any plans to make the SMT available in any other cars (The Celica would a good candidate :) )?

[boxologist]

Originally posted by vvtlikick


Also, it's alot slower then the regular manual transmission MR2 Spyder from a standing start, since the computer doesn't allow the aggression towards the clutch disk that a fast start requires.


Not from what i've heard.

[t2000gts]

wasn't there a video of the prototype by best motoring or something like that? the SMT lost to the regular 5-speed by a carlength or two on a road course (and that is probably attributed to the driver in the 5-speed being more comfortable).

it rolled back in idle. i guess you just gotta press the brakes to prevent it from rolling back.

this was originally intended to be the in the celica i think. and the IS300. but it turned out to be a few years too late (thus the 4 and 5spd automatic sportshifts).

i don't know how the computer figures and what it controls or not. as far as launching, it might be a bit harder cuz you can't slip the clutch, but you could just put it into neutral (click both buttons?) then into gear for a nice jump off the line. i don't think they're exactly tuning it for the drag strip at all.

[Blue Bomber]

Originally posted by t2000gts
you could just put it into neutral (click both buttons?) then into gear for a nice jump off the line.Not true. Some guy on Spyderchat.com (www.spyderchat.com) test drove one of them and tried every way he could to launch the car, but nothing worked. He even tried the neutral drop, but the transmission dropped the RPMs when he shifted into 1st. He also said the shifts were VERY slow.

[00 scrub]

I thought Toyota would eventually put this in the 6spd GT-S to prevent all those mis-shifts. But this thing seems like a good idea, a poor mans F1 system. Could be good at the autcross. Doesn't it rev-match 1st gear for you too?