Can only speak from my personal experience.
Had the latest software update when I first bought (private) it around 19k on the clock. It was dangerous without the upgrade - rolling to a junction then putting your foot down when there was a safe gap - the thing would just rev with no torque to the wheels. A few near misses. Not had this since upgrading.

Still get the odd kangarooing when cold but I learnt to live with that. Sometimes I just put it into 1st then back to auto. Can't drive it manual (clue in my username).

Done 70K now and still not had a major issue with the box. I do get the box serviced around every 30k.

 

On the other side.. ...

Whatever you do, take it for a lengthy test drive and make your own mind up.

Within days of Honda introducing the torque converter auto in 2009 I had my name on the list.

It was the worst gearbox I've ever driven, and that includes the old pre select boxes. My software upgrades only went to 2009 though.

I knew within half a mile of picking it up in 2007 I'd made a massive mistake so reread my top line.

 

That's guys. So the torque converter auto is a non i-shift auto only available from 09 onwards?

Kremmen I didn't understand whether you'd had the software upgrade or not? Could you clarify? How can I tell whether the car has had the software upgrade is the info available in the cars display?

 

Only Honda can determine what software version you are running via their MARIS system.

The iShift is a 'marmite' box with some liking it and some hating it. When on a test drive make sure you complete the following:

1) 1st to 2nd, cold engine, from standing start
2) Joining a roundabout where you have slowed down and then need to speed up to filter in with existing traffic
3) Very slow reversing manoeuvre like parallel parking. If possible on a slight uphill incline.

Those 3 should give you a clue as normal driving is sort of OK as it's just changing gears.

 

Avoid I-shift like the plague. Worst transmission ever!

 

I can't help you with the I shift, but I'm so glad to be back in a Spaceship. (08 EX with glass).

There's a good few out there so keep looking for the right one if you can.

 

So all those saying i-shift is terrible.. I take it they mean in auto mode only? If in theory I treated it like a manual and just drove with the paddles and the luxury of no clutch pedal. Would it still have problems?

 

I-shift is terrible. Period. Mine was a 2011 model so had all of the latest firmware.

 

Well, before I drove the 90 mins to look at the 07 plate I had my eye on I saw an 11 plate (only 3 door - an instant no for me as I have a small family) s type only 30 mins away at a dealers so I asked for a test drive with the intention of seeing if I liked the i-shift.

I liked the i-shift.

I also really liked the massively out of budget massively impractical car.

Today I picked up that car and I'm in love. I may be homeless when the wife calms down, but I'll live in the car, that's fine.


Thanks to all for your help. As most have said, drive the i-shift if you're considering it. It may not be as good as other autos but having never owned an auto, it's now all I ever want to own!

 

I also really liked the massively out of budget massively impractical car.

Today I picked up that car and I'm in love. I may be homeless when the wife calms down, but I'll live in the car, that's fine.

I do the school run every morning with the CTR 3-door :grin2::grin2::grin2:

Mrs keeps reminding me how practical and family orientated it is

This was the info on it, see the second last point

 

I do have the ishift, there are things I find annoying but have to live with. Such as:
Parking - Steering wheel dont turn enough to maneuver in tight spaces
1st to 2nd - Takes half sec when switching from 1st to 2nd using the pedals
2nd to 1st - During roundabouts as you slow from 2nd to 1st and then want to speed up to joining traffic is annoying. I shift it to Auto before I approach the roundabout.

 

How is steering wheel range linked to I-shift?!

 

+1
I got myself a 1.4 ishift 2007 (with software update done at honda, bought the car from Honda). Not that im in love with it, I find it strange how the thing works tbh. all my life i had manual only so cant compare with proper auto. I hate 1 thing more then the others, hill climb on low speed like < 10mph (parking exit) it jumps and chocks like its a manual and the driver just got behind the wheel for the first time. The rest is OK, takes ages to shift (compared to manual) but what to do... bought it for mrs so she can finally learn how to drive and i dont have to drive her all the time

 

Glad you liked the i-shift and hope you enjoy it for a long time. I have had mine for two years now and while I have found it to be jumpy [mostly in cold weather] when I first drive it, it has never become an on-going issue when driving. I only ever drive it in auto mode as I don't know how to drive a manual.

 

Drive a latest BMW ZF auto box and you will instantly hate the Ishift

 

That's like saying drive the new bmw M2 and you'll hate the old type r ? chalk and cheese.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

From reading the love v hate posts over the years I get the impression that drivers who have never owned a torque converter auto and have come from manuals are quite happy with the iShift.

Those like myself that have owned a torque converter realise how bad the iShift or any single clutch really is in the auto stakes. I've never driven a twin clutch DSG but it's published reliability and repair costs put me off.

 

I think you're spot on. I'm sure compared to other autos it's not too great, but coming from manual, it's made me realise I want to sell our main family manual car and buy an auto. I'm considering a CRV. Anyone know what the auto gearbox is like on those (around 12-14 reg)?

The thing I like about i-shift is if the auto is playing up a bit (for example if you want to accelerate with even a tiny bit of grunt, I find the 2nd to 3rd gear change doesn't happen until it sounds like you're about to blow the engine!) then you can just paddle up to override it. Having only once driven a non i-shift auto many years ago, I assume there is no way to do this with a regular auto so I'm not sure if that's a good or a bad thing. Could mean the auto is so finely tuned that you should never need to do that, but could also mean if it does do that, I'll be craving the i-shift paddle under my right finger tips

 

I agree with Kremmen. It could be not the best gearbox to drive, but in my opinion the maintenance costs and the reliability vs what you get and how it performs is more than satisfying.
Everybody knows how expensive are the modern, highly efficient auto gearboxes, but yes, every pleasure cost money.
In practice with the i-shift we have the good old one manual transmission, but slightly robotized.

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is there a special way to take care of this gearbox? how often you change the oil and clutch?

 

Mine is perfectly fine during, I hardley get any jumping. The only time it happens if I'm creeping up a uphill with not enough gas then the car jumps a little. As long as you service annually it should be fine.

 

The only thing that gets annual service on my cars is oil change (since not driving a lot 6k a year) im changing oil every year and not by milage.

I dont think you need to service gearbox annually!

 

What kind of annual service do you perform? As far as I know the only maintenance is the oil change every 120 K km (which probably is better to be done more often...). Am I missing something?

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I have a 07 EX I-shift and I really like it, yes it can be a little jumpy from a cold start occasionally, this can be counter acted by warming the engine up properly before pulling away, the manual mode is very useful for overtakes and using the gear sick is like a sequential rally car style shift.

I have found the steering wheel paddles a pain when cornering as they are mounted on the steering wheel that's just a personal dislike.

In heavy traffic the auto is good as you can just release the brake and the car will roll along at very low speeds happily without need to use the accelerator peddle, this is very handy in stop start queues.

If you floor the peddle it will kick down a gear in auto but I have found that using the manual shift works better for my driving style.

I do also own a Volvo XC90 with a conventional auto gear box which is smoother on changes of gear but that is the only plus side I have found gearbox wise.

To be honest like onearmbandit I have injuries the prevent me from driving a manual gearbox car as I can't use a clutch peddle and I really wanted a Civic so I didn't have much of a choice, but I want to buy another one when the time comes to move this car along the owners list.

 

I love my I-shift, it has the issues people state but like any other car I've adjusted my driving style.

I need to get Honda to check for the software update though as I've heard it'll help with some of the issues

 

I personally found on mine a positive improvement with the upgrade (always auto mode).
1) Before the upgrade it was dangerous - rolling to a junction then putting your foot down when there was a safe gap, the thing would just rev with no torque to the wheels. A few near misses. Not had this since the upgrade

2) Gear changes slightly faster. Though this may have been due to it learning my driving style.

Don't let a dealer rip you off quoting crazy money. I did point out my 'disability' and how bloody dangerous it was to drive always in auto, and should never have been road legal. Think they did it for 30-40 quid? It takes about an hour, but most of that is running the upgrade not actual hard labour!


However, you'll still look like a learner until the box warms up

 

to follow the thread

 

No, the CR-V has a 'real' auto gearbox. If it's a brand new 1.6DTEC then it might be the s***** ZF Box.

 

Bougth Civic 2007 i Shift have it for 4 weeks and i can say its not the worst gearbox ever but also cant say its dream one first day after i had this car i tought gearbox is faulty but after a few weeks i learn it , have to say auto mode its bad on low speed . Im going to keep this car i like it in manula mode is good, change gears bit to slow 1 - 2 gear but hope need software update to make it better but do not expect much of this gearbox.
Also have old jazz CVT and yes this is Perfect gearbox but should not comapre cvt to i shift So would i buy civic i shift again answer is simple NOW why beacuse after 10 years of driving car i feel like new driver dont feel this car do not trust gearbox But will do software update and i may love it more HOPE SO

 

Had my 2010 Type S i shift for a couple of months now and although its not the best box in the world i'm enjoying driving it. Yes i've had to adjust my driving style, yes driving it in manual with the paddle shifts is a bit of a gimmick and yes it really pulls some weird gear shifts off every now and again but all in all its a pretty cool piece of kit.
Booked into my local Honda dealer next Thurs to see if i've got the later software/firmware update,, bit dissapointing they dont have a database of all the registrations that had it done already.
Will keep you informed if it does or not ?

 

how much it will cost you do software i will call my local honda but would like to know price before i book it

 

Romford was £20

 

I live in Taunton and my local Honda dealer quoted me £40. I'd be happy to pay if needed for peace of mind,, but shouldn't there be some kind of fixed price for this sort of thing?? What do you all think?

 

they should do it for free i think but i have a queastion so 20-40 for update is include gearbox learning or its extra do i need it after udpate ?