Shiftronic vs 5 Speed vs 6 Speed - Hyundai Performance Forums

WIL! · 02-03-2003, 11:27 AM

I test drove an '03 with Shiftronic and thought, "this would be cool at an autocross". Automatic downshifting - I could keep both hands on the wheel in the turns! I wonder if you could make a shift paddle behind the steering wheel..... But I have heard that in demanding situations, Shiftronic isn't the best choice for a tranny.

My old 5 speed '98 Tiburon - Love it to death, but I am wanting a short shifter. I believe that the long throws are stealing time. So I'm thinking that the new 6 speed tranny would be alot tighter = shorter throws.

My '98 is almost paid for (5 months left...) and I'm on the fence on tranny choice for my next Tiburon. I guess what I could do is keep my '98 for now. Make this a racer. Save up and purchace an '04 or '05 that has a "Rally Package" if Hyundai is smart enough to hop on the WRX/Lancer bandwagon.

I guess my question is...in Autocrossing what would be a good choice tranny?

Pumbaa · 02-03-2003, 01:01 PM

I really haven't had much driving in the 6 speed tranny but I have driven the 5 speed and my moms Santa Fe is Shiftronic. I would really think the 5 speed is good enough depending on the course. Most corses I've driven are second gear runs. I haven't taken my 03 GT out yet, but when I do it should be as alittle better then my Excel. I know some of the RSX Type S's have had to do alot of shifting.

My belief is that Shifting depending on the situation will slow you down. But like I said, it depends on the course. Most corses are good 2nd gear courses. I have done 1 course where I was tempted to shift my Excel from 2nd to 3rd but I feel that I would have lost momentum trying to shift and having to shift again to slow down through the corner.

As for shiftronic, it is lagged. By approximately 2-4 seconds between hitting the shifter and the tranny changing the gear. This could be problematic in and autocross when you need the gear as soon as possible. On the other hand though, with a shiftronic you can lock it into a single gear and stay that way as you need.

qtiger · 02-03-2003, 01:49 PM

The problem with "shiftronic" "tiptronic" and all the other "tronics" is that they're actually still automatic transmissions, with the added power drain, high weight, slow shift times, planetary gear selection, and all the other automatic tidbits.

What you really want is a clutchless sequential manual. This is what the "'tronic" transmissions are pretending to be. In a clutchless manual, a computer controls the entire shifting process, but the transmission still uses a manual-style fork gear selection, and typically a standard flywheel, clutch, pressure plate system. ("Clutchless" really refers to lack of a clutch pedal, and not total lack of a clutch.) You activate the shift by slapping the shifter up or down (just like a shiftronic), and the computer releases the clutch, drops it into neutral, engages the clutch, revmatches, disengages the clutch, and drops it into gear. All faster than $50 of Taco Bell can make you run for the bathroom.

This kind of system is used extensively in the WRC (stick shift), Formula 1 (paddle shift), high end Ferraris (paddle), and other really expensive cars. However, if you want to try one out, you can head to your local Toyota dealer and try out of their new clutchless sequential MR2s. Nothing against Hyundai, but I doubt a Ferrari dealer is going to let you test drive a 360 Modena F1 if you show up in a Tiburon. They sure didn't let me when I showed up in my Civic.

But until the days when that's available as a tranny instead of the "sportronics," stick with a manual transmission. Your curb weight will be lower, you'll have a higher WHP, and your wallet will thank you. Typically "Tronic" transmissions start around $1000-$3000 over manual price.

6 speed would be ideal, but for now I'd just get a short shifter and be done with it. Beware, though... short shifters can put additional stresses on the transmission if the tranny doesn't like shifting that fast.

CarbonV6 · 02-04-2003, 03:44 AM

The six speed in my 03 tibby is great, they recommend that you shift from 1st-2nd at 10 MPH, even in day to day driving that comes so fast that I usually don't shift untill 20 MPH even then it's still at 4000 RPM.:devious:

WIL! · 02-04-2003, 12:16 PM

Quote:

[body]Most corses are good 2nd gear courses. I have done 1 course where I was tempted to shift my Excel from 2nd to 3rd but I feel that I would have lost momentum trying to shift and having to shift again to slow down through the corner. [/body]

Most of the courses I have been on too were 2nd gear runners.... I thought it was just me...:??:....my engine screeemms in the turnsX)! That isn't a bad thing - I was just thinking about how the other transmissions would react Autocrossing.

Pumbaa · 02-04-2003, 12:45 PM

I believe that the reason some courses are set up as highspeed second gear is to help the horse power cars. *Shrug* Personally highspeed second gear courses make me loose to all sorts of cars in my 81hp '91 Excel...

**MechaniX_034** · 02-04-2003, 01:27 PM

The course dictates the gear you use; therefore it is a method of reducing the effect of higher horsepower coupled with better setup production gearing. Our cars dont have much up high, this is our disadvantage whereas running against an RSX Type-R which has a powerband high up in the rev range will prove to be fatal to us. We may need to go a gear higher and shift more often in order to compensate of this[and to take advantage of our torque way down low] To this end we use other skills such as left-brake and heel-and-toe and sometimes a good dose of trail-brake or handbrake if necessary.

Have a look at the dyno charts of the cars you're up against bro and the course map if you can get hold of one before the event; there's data in there that can give you one hell of an advantage.

All the best and highest speed in the corner! :rambo: