Hello there. I participated in the dynamic testing event too, but this was at the Westin, Chennai. We had the same line up of cars – 3 imports and 2 stocks to drive around. I took a slightly longer route to judge the transmission though.
I was one of the first participants there and therefore got a good opp to talk to the guys at Schaeffer before we drove the cars.
In my opinion, they should have probably brought 5 of the same cars to test the transmissions because your judgment gets influenced by the cars that come equipped with them because each car offers a unique driving experience. I was talking to the other participants and one pointed out that he liked the AMT because the ‘Corsa felt pretty good and well planted’
At the end, we were asked to rank the 5 transmissions in the order of preference. Here was mine – DCT, ECM, AMT, AT and CVT. Let me justify my choices briefly.
1. DCT / DSG
I opted to take the DCT Polo out for a drive first because I wanted to first understand the difference between the Euro spec and Indian spec ones as I have driven the Polo GT TSI quite a lot. There was quite some difference when it came to the car and the ride but that’s off topic.
The guys at Schaeffer also took the time (maybe because I was the first LOL) to explain the tech behind the DSG – the fact that there are two shafts for odd and even gears.
The DSG, like how @Noopster put it, felt extremely good. The shifts are so subtle that you hardly notice them unless you have a keen observation skill. The shifts are also smooth when you dunk the throttle and the transmission down-shifts.
I think the DSG offers the best driving enthusiasm when compared to all other ATs. Putting this #1 is to an extent self-explanatory.
2. ECM
Call me weird, but the ECM suited my driving style perfectly because as a practice, I’m somebody who coasts down in neutral while driving a regular MT. With the ECM config, it requires you to come to Neutral whenever you want to stop.
The best part about ECM is that it offers the highest flexibility because in all practicality, it is a MT without a clutch pedal. You can shift from 2-4, 3-5, any other liable shift combination. Mind you, it has a clutch. Just no clutch pedal.
In my opinion, the biggest stress of driving a MT in high traffic is the operation of the clutch to change gears. ECM removes that element from the equation completely. It also gets a forward creep function to keep the car moving.
So, if left to me, I would not compare the ECM to any other AT transmission just because it does not have a clutch pedal.
The only issue I pointed out to the guys was the fact that when you shift to 1, the car immediately creeps forward. This pick up is something that you have to get used to because it is something that you can normally control with the clutch pedal, which is non-existent here.
Shifting gears also takes the usual routine minus the clutch where you take your foot off the throttle pedal.
The ECM also offers quite a lot of driving enthusiasm which other ATs lack (except DSG
)
3. AMT
AMT is also a promising option that gives an advantage of both worlds – AT and MT. But the shifts were pretty obvious. You can feel the ‘gear-shocks’ if you can call it that. So, it feels mostly like a manual that automatically changes gears. (Eh? Yes, similar feeling).
But this is something almost everybody has experienced in the Altos/Celerios quite a lot and the one in the Corsa was no different.
4. AT
I have some emotionally reserved respect for torque converter ATs for some reason. But I’d still put that below the AMT as it does not give you any sort of flexibility and further more reduces driving enthusiasm.
It does have a Hill hold control but the worst part is that it does not hold when you switch off the AC for some Torque related reason. I couldn’t find a difference between D and 2 mode as well.
5. CVT
This is certainly not the best of transmission systems. The Micra was loud and I couldn’t help but look at the tachometer – 3500 RPM at 40 kmph?
The only positive about this is that it does not have any gears and therefore no gear shocks. But the negatives add a lot more than the positives.
Let me know what you guys think.