Can anyone tell me in some detail how the MRS's SMT system works? If anyone has any, could they please include some photos of maybe how the automatic clutch works as well? I am much more interested how the clutch system works.
I haven't driven one yet, but my friend has.
From what he described, and to put it simple, you just shift as you normally would but without the clutch. The hip thing about it is when you down shift, it revs up for you, so you don't have to heel toe to keep the rpm up. I don't have all the details on how it works, but i also believe it is a 6 speed transmission. It seems that it would take out the fun out of racing, but i haven't read or heard anyone describe it too well. If no one can come up with a better description, i would say try to drive one. Im assuming you would want to race with it, but if you don't i guess it would make your commute easier.
^Why would you have to "heel toe" to keep rpm's up? just work the accelerator...
as for the SMT. they are slugs and nothing but trouble. they are for those who want a sports car but can't operate a clutch....Heard of nothing but problems for them..
-makes you faster out of corners (albeit marginally, but it is faster nonetheless) by letting you controllably shift into the gear you plan on leaving the corner with before you even reach the corner, so no need to brake and then downshift as fast as possible to exit the corner (takes time to downshift where you arent either accelerating or decelerating, yielding a slower overall ET for said corner)
- stability in corner... if you were to brake and then downshift mid turn as mentioned above, it presents the possibility of breaking traction by overloading the drive wheels
-to maintain your powerband throughout the corner, if you need lots of power mid corner for some reason, its there (by keeping your prms high)
hope i covered most of the main points, keep me in check if i left something out
The reason you heel toe is for time. It allows you to downshift in your braking zone allowing you to collapse all of it into the same segment of time. There are two reasons you blip the throttle when downshifting. First is because on a race track the engine is running at high enough RPMs that allowing the synchros to do it for you could result in damage. Secondly, letting the synchros match the RPMs for you will unsettle the chassis much more than matching the revs.
For the record, you should have all of your shifting, and most of your braking if not all, done
before you even enter the corner.
This does make you faster out of corners but only because you're able to get on the throttle at the most optimum point without having to mess with shifts. It is possible to accomplish this goal without heel-toe. I heel toe compulsively even when street driving. I've got a friend that also has an NA MR2 that tends to be just a little faster than I am around a road course that does not heel toe.
It *can* make you more stable in corners depending on the geometry. The rear end generally is much more planted while you are under throttle.
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"Our Lady of Blessed Acceleration, don't fail us now!" -Elwood Blues
hows stuff works is a great site for that kinda shit.
its kinda unique... for an automatic to work it relys on manipulating hydraulic pressures to move shift valves.
for a manual when you shift you are moving the shift rod w/ a collar attached to a sleeves... sleeve slides over the respected gear hub w/ the help of sycronization.
this one is a manual.... w/ grooves cut into a racheting drum that will automatically move the shift levers.
they say its better than a manual because if allows for absolutely no shift mistakes.
me personally... i see it as a well built automatic... but still prefer the alternative... there is nothing like a manual throw
Last edited by tHa kNiGHt FaLL; 08-23-2006 at 01:55 PM.
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