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Did you slap it?...... Posted by Mike Lynch [Email]  (#81) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Mike Lynch) on Tue, 15 Nov 2005 17:48:53
In Reply to: Manual transmission in LA: Am I stupid?, Paul H, Sat, 12 Nov 2005 22:48:25 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
I've grown pretty fond of the slap shifter in a 9-3SS. It's almost a stick without a clutch. Unlike the 9-5's where you must carefully select the "M" position with the awkward shifter and then paddle with your fingers, the 9-3SS has a positive easy to use manual gate, just slap it into manual and start grabbing gears.
For example, approaching my exit on the freeway, slap it into M and notch it back twice, all without looking and walla', a fairly crisp downshift to third to retard speed. Leave it in manual M1 for parking lot cruising allowing the engine braking and speed control. Short shift up to second when just barely rolling, just like you do in a manual.
One thing that I really like about a Saab Sentronic is that once you select a gear the tranny holds that gear no matter what. You can lug it, but more importantly it won't shift up automatically if you redline it. It's really easy to be focused on you line and the corner exit and hit the rev limitier and have the tranny upshift spoiling your corner exit or your second apex in a 9-5, but a 9-3SS won't upshift in that situation.
For me my shift brain is wired to my arm, not my fingers. The paddles are nice, but the slap shifter is very natural and intuitive. Yeah it can be a little mushy and slow shifting at lower speeds, but when you get the revs up it's pretty quick and solid.
So you have the ability to play the gearbox when you want to AND you can put it in drive for traffic. I just don't think a clutch pedal is all that necessary to the enjoyment equation and folks who are die hard stick fans just haven't given a Sentronic slap shifter a good workout.
, Tue, 15 Nov 2005 17:48:53 <-- Viewing This Message, Mon, 14 Nov 2005 07:08:02
, Sun, 13 Nov 2005 08:38:02, Sun, 13 Nov 2005 07:09:22
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