Did you guys ever try the sport mode with a slower shift time when driving casually around town? It is very similar to manually shifting and less abrupt.

Gotta say the security the LFA provides makes it so easy to push the limits of the car and cover ground in a seriously fast way.

This car needs to be on a track, otherwise tickets no matter how much you look over your shoulder will definelty happen.

 

I believe the chief engineer once explained, in the slower shift speeds, it slips the clutch more in order to provide smoother transition into the next gear. In max shift speed, it will slam into the next gear with no emphasis on smoothness.

Also, depending on the shift speed, the throttle position also influences the shift speed. There was a graph showing the relationship of shift speed and throttle input percentage. Even in slower shift speeds, as you can increase the throttle input, the shift speed would actually increase. At full throttle, even in slowest shift modes, it will shift at the same speed as it does on level 7.

 

I usually leave the LFA in wet mode when casually driving on city streets. The shifts will be slow and relatively smooth so long as the throttle isn't depressed.


The graph is in the owner's manual; I posted a picture of it before on this forum. From my experience, there's still a cap at each shift level - e.g., in slow shift modes it won't shift as fast as the fastest level 7 shift, no matter the pedal depression.

EDIT: Here's the post where I attached the picture of the manual - I'll attach it again to this post. https://www.clublexus.com/forums/lfa...ml#post6351478

The graph does seem to support my recollection of how the shift speed is capped.

 

Thanks. I saw it years ago so my recollection was not entirely correct.

 

Tried the wet mode. Did not like it at all. The car feels dead due to the slow engine response. Using sport with slower and smoother shift speeds seems much better.

 

Not sure if you figured this out, but one easy thing to do is let off the throttle slightly as you upshift if you need a temporary smooth shift. I do that sometimes when I'm in sport but need to not go nuts in a reduced speed zone, stop lights, traffic, etc.

Basically, the chart gengar posted shows you can control speed via the speed controller, but also throttle position.

BTW: I also have a CBR1000RR. Ride red!

 

Beautiful cars!

 

I have recently tried shifting more like a manual and once you get the feel for it it is so similar to a manual tranny it is amazing, just less motion. No need to depress the clutch pedal and move the stick, just let off the gas, tap the paddle and get back on the gas. This transmission is so much more rewarding than my Porsche PDK which is essentially an automatic. The media was just initially enamored with the dual clutch tranny because of the lightning quick shifting. Unfortunately it takes away from the pleasure a car enthusiast feels when shifting a true manual. I feel the LFA single clutch offers the best of both worlds. Sit in traffic, no big deal. Want the emotion of a manua,l then shift as I have stated. Want to create quick lap time, keep your foot in it and tap away.

 

It is interesting you say that. The one thing some (and I repeat some) ragged on was the transmission of the LFA by deeming it "antiquated" and too jerky especially in daily driving. Many including Tsuchiya had a lot of praises for it especially its on-track behavior. I always loved the LFA transmission because in the fastest transmission speed, it has that bark during shift as it slams it into next gear that contributes to the aural drama the sound creates.

Tanahashi had said in multiple interviews that early on during development a Borg-Warner dual clutch unit was tested for the LFA, but dropped in favor of a single-clutch design for various reason (the shift jerk, durability, lighter weight, simpler design, more compact etc.)

I also studied the telemetry data from LFA's track laps and the transmission actually shifts very quick in quickest mode for a single clutch transmission. Not as quick as a double clutch, but certainly not much slower.

Also, I noticed it looks like if you flick the paddle with the finger tips it shifts faster than when the driver pulls and releasing the paddle.

 

On a racetrack the full throttle shifts are sublime. Like a sequential racing box with loads of analog feel and engagement. Plus the blip on downshifts is perfectly calibrated. From reviews, I was worried the box wasn't up to par. Now I would not swap for a dual clutch under any circumstance.

 

I feel precisely the same way.

 

Are you saying the paddles are sensitive to various levels of touch??

 

Not the paddle themselves, but how they are actuated by the driver would result in slight variation how quick it slams into gear.

 

I would swap my PDK (automatic) in a heartbeat for the LFA single. The dual clutches are essentially automatic transmissions. Great for DD duty but not for a sports car I am driving for engagement.