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Car Forum / Alfa Romeo Cars / April 2005Selespeed
Here's my dilemma. I'm thinking of buying a GT and my preference would be a manual. Problem is, my wife can only drive an auto. My question is, is Selespeed a good system? I like to drive my cars quite hard but have found semi-automatic systems in other makes to be a hindrance rather than a help as they are unresponsive and clunky. What is Selespeed like? Do I tell my wife to learn to drive properly (!) or keep the peace and go for Selespeed?!! Thanks for any replies. SN Selespeed is quite effective, and can be used in "automatic" mode which is great for traffic, or in manual mode where you use buttons on the dash to change up and down the 'box. However, personally I wouldn't touch it as I know of some reliability issues particularly on earlier versions. Perhaps someone can comment on whether these are resolved with later production or are there ongoing reliability issues? > Here's my dilemma. I'm thinking of buying a GT and my preference would be a > manual. Problem is, my wife can only drive an auto. My question is, is [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > SN My salesman told me to stay well clear when I was looking at the 156 a few years back... -- Thanks, Andrew Makinson www.evcomputing.com www.iowcomputers.net/websiteforum/index.php > Selespeed is quite effective, and can be used in "automatic" mode which is > great for traffic, or in manual mode where you use buttons on the dash to [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > > > SN > My salesman told me to stay well clear when I was looking at the 156 a few > years back... I have just bought a 147 Selespeed to replace my 166 Sportstronic. The first thing that you have to accept is that, even when in gear, it will roll back on inclines. Also, you need to apply the throttle to move the car, there is no creep. The gap between 1st and 2nd is quite pronounced, although the other changes are fairly good. Kickdown works well in City mode. I am not ecstatic about it, but no doubt will learn to live with it. I've had a 156 Selespeed for almost 2 years now. I would say that it takes a couple of months to get used to the gearshift. It is neither an automatic nor a manual gearbox and should not be mistaken for either. The thing to do is to read the manual and not try to to drive it like an auto. Its not as smooth as a full auto and never is going to be. You can get close but that's all. If you look at the manual, at least on mine for the 156, the gear ratios are the same as the manual. So any gap between gears is purely because of that. The splits between the gears are constant. It hits the redline and upshifts at 30 mph intervals all the way up (1/30, 2/60, 3/90, 4/120). I hardly ever use it in City mode. The only exceptions are stuck in stop/start traffic (mostly on motorways). I do let it change down when braking, except heading onto roundabouts when it is potentially dangerous to do so (search in the group for descriptions of this fun). All in all I'm happy with it. I just hope AR match it to the V6 6-speed gearbox for when I come around to changing my car. <rant> I reckon that all motoring journalists should be forced to drive around in a Selespeed, or similarly operated car, for at least 6 months. Whenever they review these cars they always bitch about the gearchange. In reality the majority of the problem is between seat and steering wheel. The this applies to the dealer who recommended against it too. </rant> -- Mick 156 Selespeed Veloce, ex 146 1.8TS, ex Alfasud 1.5 Ti > I've had a 156 Selespeed for almost 2 years now. I would say that it > takes a couple of months to get used to the gearshift. It is neither [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > Mick > 156 Selespeed Veloce, ex 146 1.8TS, ex Alfasud 1.5 Ti Mick, I'd have to say I agree with most or all of the above. I had a Selespeed from new for three years and I AB-SO-LUTELY _LOVED_ it. I thought it was the best thing since sliced bread. But, and it's a big butt (as my wife would say), it's a truely crap automatic. As you say, it's not really an auto-box at all, and I don't think it's intended to be. I personally never used the 'city' mode unless I was _very_ bored, and looking to amuse myself. It is, though, a brilliant drivers' tool, giving the control of a manual with the safety of two hands on the wheel at all times. As for the point about the motoring journos, I could hardly agree more! Ed. >> I've had a 156 Selespeed for almost 2 years now. I would say that it >> takes a couple of months to get used to the gearshift. It is neither [quoted text clipped - 42 lines] > > Ed. Many thanks for all the replies. On the whole I think I'm persuaded towards Selespeed and will most likely get my GT armed with it! |
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