Taking the clutch and manual box away sterilises the experience and robs the driver of the satisfaction achieved from a perfect downchange on the way into a corner, with the merest hint of opposite lock to catch the slide.
You need to match the revs on the downchange when pressing on with the largely forgotten art of heel-and-toe.
The engine blips on the downchange and 11 different settings take the box from a racing set-up to fully automated ‘soft’ changes.
It would be better if the brake pedal offered a more stable fulcrum for heel-and-toe downchanges, even if that meant it needed a firmer shove.
‘The downchange got a bit sticky as soon as I took over,’ said the 2000 FIA Sportscar champion.’
Though I was disappointed by the automatic mode, which is tardy and jerky on both up and downchanges, the manual set-up is much more satisfyingly reactive.
I have now accustomed myself to its limitations and have become reserved about overtaking and used to swift downchanges of gear.
verbˈdaʊntʃeɪndʒ
[with object]
1Put (a vehicle) into a lower gear.
把（车）调至低速挡
1.1no objectChange to a lower gear.
（机动车）排挡的调低
Example sentencesExamples
I just downchanged going up a hill, and it snapped on me.
Cue frantic braking, downchanging and wheel twirling in that order, combined with the anticipation of the front end sliding wide to the accompaniment of squealing rubber.
The system worked well, t hough it seemed slow to respond to the ‘resume’ command - unlike some German vehicles, which respond fast by downchanging and propelling you to the chosen speed.