Hello to any owner's of an automatic transmission NSX. I would love to hear your impression of the automatic transmission with relation to smoothness and power. How well do you like the Sportshift? Any and all information would be greatly appreciated. Please owner's of 6 spds, no response here as I have driven a 6 spd but not an automatic and am not interested in hearing the benefits of the 6 spd as I am already familiar. Thanks so much everyone!!
Attn: Owner's of Auto NSX's
- Thread starter Rococo
- Start date
I like the sportshift. I would say that, in terms of smoothness, the downshifts feel a little bit rough when you really punch it. Normal shifts feel great, though, and the tranny is better than the GM auto I had on the Vette (which didn't really "wake up" until after I had done the PCM, gear and TC change).
The actual sportshift mode is interesting. I have played with it a bit and there is a definite performance gain. You have to get the feel of what the computer is doing, however, in order to get optimal shifts.
The sportshift mode requires practice to master (unlike some other "manu-matics"), but the benefits are there.
Performance with the auto is obviously not in the ballpark of the 6-speed on the newer cars. The 6-speeds benefit from the 3.2L engine as well as the tranny, so the performance gap is wider than normal.
The actual sportshift mode is interesting. I have played with it a bit and there is a definite performance gain. You have to get the feel of what the computer is doing, however, in order to get optimal shifts.
The sportshift mode requires practice to master (unlike some other "manu-matics"), but the benefits are there.
Performance with the auto is obviously not in the ballpark of the 6-speed on the newer cars. The 6-speeds benefit from the 3.2L engine as well as the tranny, so the performance gap is wider than normal.
Thanks for the reply Spooky. Tell me more about the Sportshift and how it works. I'm not real familiar with it on the NSX in terms of the logic behind it. Do you feel the car is still a performance car with the Automatic?
I have a '91 automatic NSX, and compared to some of the other automatics i've owned (1989 Corvette, and a IROC Z/28) the transmission shifts very nicely, fairly firm and crisp. I would rate it better than a stock 700R4 (GM) auto tranny. But every now and then i long for the TCI StreetFighter tansmission that i put into both the vette and the iroc (after the blowers killed both the trannys), with all the fixings, and the manual control valvebody. Semi-Tiptronic-Like, back in the days before porsche and the others started making sport shift trannys.
I'm dying to put a charger on the NSX, but a little hesitant because i have a feeling that the tranny might not agree with it wholeheartedly. I've read about Level-10 Performance who is excellent at modifying automatic transmission, but i'm afraid of letting someone crack open and start to tinker with my Tranny, and then screw it up.
Waiting for someone else to spend the money and see if the auto can be upgraded reliably.
But, back to your original point. I love the automatic. In the morning one the way to work, when i'm still a little groggy, with a cup of coffee in my hand. On The way home when i'm beat from a long days of work. I would never trade my automatic.
NOW, to you auto-bashers. I do own a partial tube frame integra that i recently dynoed at 595 at the wheels, and fully caged AE86 RWD Corrolla drifter with a turboed 4AGE motor, SO YES!!! A MANUAL tranny is defintely better for sport driving, but my NSX is my daily driver that i spend all my time in. The convience of the automatic i would never, ever, ever... give it up in that car.
-Ray
[This message has been edited by NA1 #2853 (edited 12 March 2002).]
I'm dying to put a charger on the NSX, but a little hesitant because i have a feeling that the tranny might not agree with it wholeheartedly. I've read about Level-10 Performance who is excellent at modifying automatic transmission, but i'm afraid of letting someone crack open and start to tinker with my Tranny, and then screw it up.
Waiting for someone else to spend the money and see if the auto can be upgraded reliably.
But, back to your original point. I love the automatic. In the morning one the way to work, when i'm still a little groggy, with a cup of coffee in my hand. On The way home when i'm beat from a long days of work. I would never trade my automatic.
NOW, to you auto-bashers. I do own a partial tube frame integra that i recently dynoed at 595 at the wheels, and fully caged AE86 RWD Corrolla drifter with a turboed 4AGE motor, SO YES!!! A MANUAL tranny is defintely better for sport driving, but my NSX is my daily driver that i spend all my time in. The convience of the automatic i would never, ever, ever... give it up in that car.
-Ray
[This message has been edited by NA1 #2853 (edited 12 March 2002).]
Personally, I think the car is still a performance car no matter what the tranny.
I know that there are many who will say that a car can't be a "sports car" or "performance car" without a manual tranny, but this is subjective.
The cornering ability and balance of the car are still there. The "better than 90% of the cars on the road" acceleration is still there. The exotic character of the car is still there. It's just not as quick as a manual.
As for the sportshift itself... The computer is more "involved" with the NSX sportshift then on others I've driven. There seems to be a computer lag between clicking the shifter and actual shifting. It can be predicted and compensated for, however.
It's a bit hard to explain, but on the NSX sportshift, the computer is sort of a helper whereas with others (the GM tranny in the BMW 3 series, for example), you are more "on your own".
I know that there are many who will say that a car can't be a "sports car" or "performance car" without a manual tranny, but this is subjective.
The cornering ability and balance of the car are still there. The "better than 90% of the cars on the road" acceleration is still there. The exotic character of the car is still there. It's just not as quick as a manual.
As for the sportshift itself... The computer is more "involved" with the NSX sportshift then on others I've driven. There seems to be a computer lag between clicking the shifter and actual shifting. It can be predicted and compensated for, however.
It's a bit hard to explain, but on the NSX sportshift, the computer is sort of a helper whereas with others (the GM tranny in the BMW 3 series, for example), you are more "on your own".
Thanks for all the responses. If anyone else with an automatic has any input, I would be glad to hear it. I am looking at buying a 97 automatic w/ 20K miles but out of warranty. Any issues I should be concerned with?
[This message has been edited by Rococo (edited 13 March 2002).]
[This message has been edited by Rococo (edited 13 March 2002).]
I test drove a 95 Auto before I bought my 94 manual but decided against it largely because and Acura mechanic I've used for years said that he's seen many of them come in with tranny problems WAY before they were due. He said that the automatic transmissions were the achilles heal of Acuras and he believes they are undersized for the cars. This was quite an enditement. I had a 93 Vigor and had to replace the tranny on it at 80K miles so that was good enough for me.
Can anyone corroborate this story?
Can anyone corroborate this story?
The Acura autoboxes being under-sized is somewhat true (i.e., not too much room for high-end power enhancements), but the same can be arguably said for the engine (block needs reinforcement above 450 hp, etc). Contrast these to other cars with more robust slushboxes -- Soup-ras and MBZ for example... capable of handling 600+ hp and 500+ ft-lbs torque
I've tried the current-year Type-S CL and TL cars, and like the way their boxes work.
- auto upshift from 1->2
- manual upshift from 2->3 (will bang on rev limiter at 75-85), and 3->4
Not as good as sequential gearbox with automanual actuation, but IMO a lot better than early generation slushboxes.
I've tried the current-year Type-S CL and TL cars, and like the way their boxes work.
- auto upshift from 1->2
- manual upshift from 2->3 (will bang on rev limiter at 75-85), and 3->4
Not as good as sequential gearbox with automanual actuation, but IMO a lot better than early generation slushboxes.
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