Transmission i shift information

[Trevor]

Dear all civinfo's, I will soon be a one car home owner relegating the Audi A4 mauual as part excahange for the Civic i shift 1.8 ES and the wife's Clio automatic to the autotrader. I orderderd the i shift on the strenght of the car to perform 2 tasks, mainly a manual car for me, and an automatic car for the wife. The question I have does any i shift user have points of views and information that may be of use to me.
I understand that the flipper controls regulate the manual shifts, any views?
Please be as honest and as blunt as you wish!

[allan40alt]

I think this is the best system for the compromise between manual and auto. I can't honestly see me ever changing to another system. I love it

[Trevor]

Allan how long have you been using i shift? and is it easy to use to the flippers?

[allan40alt]

I've had my Civic for almost 6 months now. The paddle shift is so easy, it's magic. Just flip the lever and, well just go....

In town just let the computer do the work, on the motorway use the paddles to downshift to be ready.... I always put the car in neutral (as you would in a manual) if I'm held up in a traffic jam.

I personally couldn't recommend it highly enough. Brilliant.

[Charles_Harding]

Had mine for eight months now.

Highly recommended.

I use both paddles and auto.

Still makes me smile.

And I usually get 40+mpg on a tank full.

Unfortunately it makes driving so easy the difficulty is keeping awake - 'specially when you can't see much outta the back when its raining.

"If you have a gun and you ask, 'Can I ask you a question?' and they say 'Fire away', should you shoot them?"

Charles H.

[alldo]

I find the ishift irritating. I don't like the jerking sensation everytime it selects each of its six gears. When manual is selected it makes it a more pleasant drive.

[allan40alt]

Originally Posted by alldo

I find the ishift irritating. I don't like the jerking sensation everytime it selects each of its six gears. When manual is selected it makes it a more pleasant drive.

Something wrong there; mine is as smooth as silk.

[Charles_Harding]

It's just down to technique to get a smooth drive..........& if I can do it.......!

The rewards are worth it everytime.

Auto in town & Paddles when no one is looking!

"What happens if you get a paper-cut from a 'Get Well' card?"

Charles H.

[beepee]

I've just got my EX ishift and only 200 miles but at the moment I'm not too impressed. It seems to take an age to change and overtaking is impossible without planning well in advance.

[Brodick]

From the test drive we had I was impressed
yes when it is in auto mode there is a small delay as the system changes gear BUT IT IS NOT JERKY.

I would think that if you are going along in auto mode and need to overtake quickly all you need to do is flick the paddle to change gear
and make your overtake then if you wish go back to automatic mode

Or can you kickdown (like you can in a normal auto)

I can hardly wait until 1st march

[Maldax]

Originally Posted by alldo

I find the ishift irritating. I don't like the jerking sensation everytime it selects each of its six gears. When manual is selected it makes it a more pleasant drive.

I think thats a fair point but....... Have you ever been a pasenger in it? as if you are not driving it just feels like a normal gear change, I think it's the lack of control mind set I.E. Knowing when it is going to happen.

I love my i-Shift in both Manual and Auto mode. sometimes I use the Paddles sometimes I use the stick

[Maldax]

Originally Posted by beepee

I've just got my EX ishift and only 200 miles but at the moment I'm not too impressed. It seems to take an age to change and overtaking is impossible without planning well in advance.

You need to kick down and brace yourself!

[jrl]

I've had my Civic iShift since July, and prior to that I had Alfa Selespeed for a couple of years. Basically they are similar gearboxes and that probably shows what I think of these "robotic" gears

If you like to be in control and use the manual gear but are not too fond of pressing the clutch pedal - go for it. I think this is a lot more fun than a manual, e.g. when approaching a stop I usually step down the gears one by one, where with manual you'd just roll with the clutch down.

But don't excpect it to be comfortable in automatic mode. I've driven similar solutions with Alfa, Opel and Honda and they are never as smooth as a traditonal automatic gearbox. You can always feel the change of gears (when manually controlling you can minimize it by using the gas a bit when changing gear up). I guess the VW dual gearbox system might be fast enough for automatic mode but haven't tested that.

So to sum up: I'd never again get a normal manual, I see no advantage in that over the iShift. But if you want to have comfortable automatic mode, you should choose a traditional automatic box - though then you loose on control, power, gas consumption and price.

[Nick7]

Originally Posted by jrl

So to sum up: I'd never again get a normal manual, I see no advantage in that over the iShift. But if you want to have comfortable automatic mode, you should choose a traditional automatic box - though then you loose on control, power, gas consumption and price.

Not completely true.
There's a Sedan version of Civic with automatic gearbox and paddle shifters.
So, in automatic mode, it'd classic automatic box, whilst in 'manual' mode you switch gears like on i-SHIFT with difference it's actually automatic gearbox (no clutch).
Ofc, that model is not available in Europe

[Bungle]

I persoanlly hated the i-shift on my test drive.

I wanted a proper auto, and didn't really know what to expect. It is no where near as smooth as a proper auto. It is more like driving a manual.

What I hated doing was having to lift off the accelerator to prompt a gear change. If you don't, it is a very uncomfortable change, especially between 1st and 2nd. I thought the whole point of an auto of any kind was to plant your foot and let the car do the rest - smoothly.

It also used some very questionable gears on my test drive. It really wanted to keep pulling me away from a near stop in 2nd. I could feel the clutch slipping like mad to deal with it, and wan't happy about that.

In manual mode, it worked a lot better, but still not as good a real manual. I did like the paddles, but the novelty soon wore off!

Make sure you both give it a good test drive, I think that gearbox is a bit like marmite....

[Kremmen]

Strange one this, some love it and some hate it !

Some reports indicate a nice smooth shift whilst others report a horrendous shift ?

I have owned auto's since 1983 and I would never go back to a manual. I often get a manual company pool car when they want me to go somewhere and each time I hate the experience, especially in London traffic.

[Brodick]

Yeah Strange In the debate for or against I-shift
I disagree with Bungle
I loved the i-shift on my test drive in auto mode foot planted and yes o.k there is a delay between 1st & 2nd which is more noticeable than changing through the other gears but no need to lift!!! and the gear changes are not jerky

Yes the i-shift will be improved in the future but a good effort by Honda

[Charles_Harding]

Originally Posted by Bungle

Make sure you both give it a good test drive, I think that gearbox is a bit like marmite....

That's a great quote.

.........and I like Marmite as well.

"When an African elephant goes to America, would it be a African-American elephant?"

Charles H.

[Bungle]

Originally Posted by Charles_Harding

That's a great quote.

.........and I like Marmite as well.

"When an African elephant goes to America, would it be a African-American elephant?"

Charles H.

So do I! Maybe I should find a more fitting analagy...

[Charles_Harding]

Originally Posted by Bungle

So do I! Maybe I should find a more fitting analagy...

Sounds like the right one!

You either like it or hate it......it's your choice in both cases!

I actually like Marmite sandwiches when I am in auto mode!

"Support bacteria! It's the only culture some people have!"

Charles H.