Transmission I-Shift

[billbruen]

I had a look around the various threads, but can't find a direct answer to this question.

Is I-shift in 'manual' mode as fast/direct as the true manual shifter?

I'm about to order a 1.8 Sport but just can't make up my mind about I-shift.....there seems to be a number of 'anti' views.

However, a lot of the posts I've read go back a bit.....maybe current cars in showrooms are better (latest software)?

[jazzman]

Originally Posted by billbruen

I had a look around the various threads, but can't find a direct answer to this question.

Is I-shift in 'manual' mode as fast/direct as the true manual shifter?

I'm about to order a 1.8 Sport but just can't make up my mind about I-shift.....there seems to be a number of 'anti' views.

However, a lot of the posts I've read go back a bit.....maybe current cars in showrooms are better (latest software)?

The answer is yes and you also have the auto mode if you`r feeling really lazy.
The remapped boxes are much improved, much smoother and I can tell you that mine is nicely run in (2000miles) and is an absolute joy, even my Wife enjoys driving it.
go test drive and see for yourself and buy one cos they are wonderful.
Good Luck

[billbruen]

Thanks for that jazzman.....I'm due to test drive an I-shift and a 'Manual' on Friday, so I'll report back my impressions for the benefit of others.

[Foggy69]

Although the i-shift is a great box, it isn't as fast changing gears as a manual. It takes it's time between first and second, although other changes seem quicker.
It can take a little getting used too when you first drive it, but ensure you have a reasonably long drive to get the feel of it.
Then buy one, and have the same silly grin as the rest of us have

[Charles_Harding]

Originally Posted by Foggy69

Although the i-shift is a great box, it isn't as fast changing gears as a manual. It takes it's time between first and second, although other changes seem quicker.
It can take a little getting used too when you first drive it, but ensure you have a reasonably long drive to get the feel of it.
Then buy one, and have the same silly grin as the rest of us have

Copy that Foggy, spot on!

Silly grin and all!

......and I'm running the first version!

"I just joined 'Gamblers Anonymous'. The've offered me three to one that I don't make it to the end of the year!"

Charles H.

[allan40alt]

Originally Posted by Charles_Harding

Copy that Foggy, spot on!
Silly grin and all!......and I'm running the first version!
Charles H.

I agree. Excellent system...you get the best of both worlds...manual when you want to 'put it down' or auto when you want it more 'leisurely'. These days I mostly use the 'leisurely' selection! But the grin's still there!!

[Nick7]

Slowest is 1st to 2nd gear, 2nd to 3rd could also be a bit quicker.
Other gear changes are fast enough.
All in all, it is fast enough, but it's not for a boy racer who wants to race on traffic lights.
Yes, you can definitely change gears faster with standard manual, but i-SHIFT is really great for what it is designed to do.
All in all, I like it a lot!

[Maldax]

Originally Posted by Nick7

but it's not for a boy racer who wants to race on traffic lights.

Not sure thats true! have you ever pop it into manual mode, floored it in first and not changed gear? has to be done the box still changes up


I love my Issue 1 i-Shift

[Gerald]

Originally Posted by billbruen

I had a look around the various threads, but can't find a direct answer to this question.

Is I-shift in 'manual' mode as fast/direct as the true manual shifter?

I'm about to order a 1.8 Sport but just can't make up my mind about I-shift.....there seems to be a number of 'anti' views.

However, a lot of the posts I've read go back a bit.....maybe current cars in showrooms are better (latest software)?

I had a new Civic i-shift in February, it was virtually impossible to drive to to the irratic nature of the gear change when in auto. The supplier re-mapped the gearbox / engine - whatever and things vastly improved. In manual mode the gear changes are not as fast as with a manual clutch. The computer will not allow 'stupid' or 'sports' changes and tends to look after you like a baby. i.e. if you forget to change down then try to accelerate you will find yourself in say 1st or 2nd rather than 6th. Equally it will not allow you to over rev changing gear to protect the engine.
It's an interesting system but one which I find restrictive, being older and possibly getting more stupid it's probably best for me but certainly not for a boy racer.
Hope this helps Gerald

[Kremmen]

There are many people here who think the I-shift is superb.

There are others (including myself) who feel that it needs a lot more work by Honda to get it right.

You need to take one for a long test drive to make up your mind on this one.

My opinion is:

It doesn't change soon enough from 1st to 2nd, 2nd to 3rd under slow accelleration.
The change in lower gears takes too long causing everyone in the car to 'lean' forwards then backwards.
The kickdown is similarly slow causing aborted manoeveres (entering roundabouts and overtaking).

But don't take my opinion - do take a test drive.

[BobM]

It works as long as you are aware of, and allow for the limitations, it would be nice to have a sport button to make the changes a little more lively (like the DSG) but why not use manual mode ? We all drive differently and not one of us would agree on when to change
The only solution would be to allow each driver to re-map when changes occur. Which is one of those things that you would play with and then find out at the end you are not far from the settings when you started.
I like the idea of this type of box because it uses a standard manual gearbox and doesn't have a clutch pedal when I'm stuck on the B%$£dy M1 roadworks.

Remember they have to assume all drivers are idiots and work back from there to come up with a stable and safe system.
But it would be nice to have more controls to play with.................


Bob

[baillieswells]

Having decided to replace my wife's nine year old Nissan Almera for something new and also with automatic transmission I have test driven the Nissan Qashqai, (far too eccentric and no automatic available yet), Mazda 3 (not much improvement on the Almera!) and of course the Honda Civic. I rang our local dealer to test drive a SE 1.8 iShift. Fairly easy around town, though acceleration into and out of roundabouts was sluggish and very jerky. On entering a slip road to the A14 (the worst trunk road in the UK) I floored the accelerator as the traffic was going at 70mph in both lanes. Acceleration again was not good and the engine several times changed up and down gears.Not impressed. In fact my wife and I had decided this was not the car for use. I told all this to the salesman when I returned to the showroom. He wasn't concerned, and then told me that the car was a 1.4 not a 1.8!!!! He told me that the 1.8 would be much better. I decided then and there that if he couldn't even get the car right, he wasn't getting a purchase from me. I then arranged to test drive a 1.8 at another local Honda dealer, and made up sure that it was a 1.8. Good around town, and excellent on the A1M. So my wife will now pick up her new 1.8 iShift next week to potter around in and do the shopping. My conclusion, based only on test drives is that the iShift is excellent on the 1.8, very poor on the 1.4.

Originally Posted by Gerald

I had a new Civic i-shift in February, it was virtually impossible to drive to to the irratic nature of the gear change when in auto. The supplier re-mapped the gearbox / engine - whatever and things vastly improved. In manual mode the gear changes are not as fast as with a manual clutch. The computer will not allow 'stupid' or 'sports' changes and tends to look after you like a baby. i.e. if you forget to change down then try to accelerate you will find yourself in say 1st or 2nd rather than 6th. Equally it will not allow you to over rev changing gear to protect the engine.
It's an interesting system but one which I find restrictive, being older and possibly getting more stupid it's probably best for me but certainly not for a boy racer.
Hope this helps Gerald

[Nick7]

Originally Posted by Maldax

Not sure thats true! have you ever pop it into manual mode, floored it in first and not changed gear? has to be done the box still changes up

Yes, I know about that (put in manual, and just floor it.. and let computer change gears right at rev limiter).
But change from 1st to 2nd gear is quite slow. On manual gearbox you can change 1st>2nd *much* faster.

2 baillieswells:
Problem people say that i-SHIFT is sluggish, jerky, and constantly switching between gears is all down to driving style.
I have now i-SHIFT for over than half year, so got really used to it, and basically use it in auto mode all the time around city.

Sluggish? Well, when you floor it, gearbox than needs to downshift. That takes some time. Imagine how much time it takes when you think about changing gear, move hand to gearstick, press clutch, change gear, release clutch. Now compare this time to flick on paddles on steering wheel (when in manual mode). Not much difference. Again 'sluggish' part is due to ECU wanting to be 'eco friendly' and basically trying to be in highest possible gear.
This *does* require different driving technique! What I mean by that to achieve same acceleration as if when you use manual, you basically need to press gas pedal a bit more.

As for being jerky: i-SHIFT is automated manual. Do you feel same jerky feel when driving as passenger in car with manual gearbox? This is very the same.

Gearbox 'shuffling' and changing gears constantly?
Adjust your drive style!
If you accelerate, press gas pedal firmly for as much acceleration as you need. Don't push it than release, push again, etc.. it's *that* what confuses computer and gearbox struggles to find out which gear you actually want! Main point is to know what kind of acceleration you need and try to have as less adding/releasing of throttle while accelerating - as than you'll have smoothest ride.

All in all, it does get some using to (especially auto mode), but when you get hang of it, you love it

[billbruen]

Well, this has been all very interesting, but in the end I guess it's comes down to an individulals personal likes/dislikes and driving stlye.

I have had my test drives now (manual and I-shift), and have ordered the car......I went for the manual.

One of my sons has a Golf GTi with the DSG gearbox and when I first drove it a year ago, I was completely knocked out. If anyone in here hasn't tried a DSG box yet....go do so now....you owe it to yourself.

When I heard of the Civic with I-shift, I had been hoping it would perform in a similar manner to the DSG.... I must admit I knew nothing about the technical differences between the DSG and the I-shift at the time, although I do now, with the aid of some Googling.

Frankly, the I-shift is not even close to the DSG. I don't believe I qualify as a boy race, but I will admit to sporadic outbreaks of (completely unnecessary!!) spirited driving. In that mode, the I-shift would leave me boiling with frustration.

Driving with your sensible head on, I think the I-shift would prove to be perfectly adequate, once you had got used to it. I did note that the sometime 'lurching' feeling between gears, could be helped by lifting at the right time.

If you want immediacy in your shift, you need the DSG.

To sum up, I'm sure Honda have got it right for a lot of people, and, it will probably improve even more over time.

But, I'm not one of those people.

Vive la difference.......!

[Kremmen]

I think you have expressed my feelings about the i-shift very well.

I was beginning to think it was just me.

[funkmaster]

Hi everyone, got a question about transmission.
Is it possible to upgrade "I-shift" for faster changes? Change from 1st to 2nd gear is so slow, but after 2nd is faster.
Can we balance this change times?

[Foggy69]

Originally Posted by funkmaster

Hi everyone, got a question about transmission.
Is it possible to upgrade "I-shift" for faster changes? Change from 1st to 2nd gear is so slow, but after 2nd is faster.
Can we balance this change times?

I would say a probable no.
Some new cars had the software that controls the box updated earlier this year, but they had to go back to Swindon to be done, the dealers were unable to do it.
And this fix is not been retrospectively fitted to older cars

[funkmaster]

Originally Posted by Foggy69

I would say a probable no.
Some new cars had the software that controls the box updated earlier this year, but they had to go back to Swindon to be done, the dealers were unable to do it.
And this fix is not been retrospectively fitted to older cars

Bad news
Thanks, so we should wait for a possible adjustment, but not so hopeful.

[Nick7]

AFAIK, update is only noticable when driving in automatic mode?

As for what billbruen says - it's true. If you want to drive real hard, i-SHIFT is not best option.
For normal driving it's real good.
.. and when I want to drive like a maniac, I still got my old Civic 6th gen - manual, VTI

[funkmaster]

But in traffic, it's a real advantage not to hold gear. This is the greatest benefit of I-Shift.