Our executive editor Michael Jordan has given you the technical and philosophical lowdown on the Mitsubishi Evolution MR's Getrag-built twin-clutch transmission. Plus, we know from experience that the TC-SST (with its S-Sport mode) is the real deal if you want to go fast on a road course or mountain road.
But, I can't stop wanting this advanced transmission to feel like a regular automatic in traffic. Yep, I'm soft like that. And while TC-SST is probably the friendliest of all the automated dual-clutch boxes out there, I can't settle on a driving mode.
In "Normal," the car feels sluggish moving off the line and I feel like I'm always having to rethink my throttle input to compensate. But after I'm moving, the shift logic is spot-on for mindless drives around town.
In "Sport," our Evo MR moves off the line like I want it to, but then the TC-SST has you cruising in one gear too low for comfort. Also, downshifts are now rev-matched in a very obvious way, which feels gratuitous around town.
The upshot is that I'm continually switching between Normal and Sport, even when I'm just running errands. I think I'd rather get the cheaper Evo GSR and have more control over shift points and how the car responds to throttle input. But in saying that, I'm admitting that I don't care about being fast through corners: Even if I'm really on my game shifting the GSR's five-speed, I'm no match for the MR's TC-SST.
So, are you a Normal, a Sport or a Neither? Update: Or a Super Sport (S-Sport)?
Erin Riches, Senior Editor @ 18,444 miles
boxermike says:
11:59 AM, 06/ 4/09
Erin, you forgot my preference: Super Sport. When stopped, hold the button towards sport for 3-seconds and super-sport mode kicks in. Much better.
-mm
altimadude00 says:
11:59 AM, 06/ 4/09
Sounds like it's more trouble than it's worth. More like "living with" the car than the car "conforming to" the driver. Ah well, you don't have to own one.
spen1818 says:
12:16 PM, 06/ 4/09
Neither, conventional 6 speed please!
eriches says:
12:21 PM, 06/ 4/09
@boxermike: I didn't forget...
jkavanagh says:
12:24 PM, 06/ 4/09
How about Super Sport, but shifted manually?
carguy622 says:
12:28 PM, 06/ 4/09
Clutch and stick for me please.
boxermike says:
12:31 PM, 06/ 4/09
@Eriches: But you forgot to list it! Just because it doesn't upshift until redline doesn't mean it's not streetable and fun.
-mm
huyracing says:
12:53 PM, 06/ 4/09
maybe i'm weird but i like normal for normal driving, super sport for super sport driving. it will NEVER feel like a normal automatic. it cannot by nature of design. VW still has to spec cars with traditional automatics in the US because the people can tell the difference no matter how they calibrate the DSG.
firstwagon says:
01:26 PM, 06/ 4/09
I would say neither.
Not just because I prefer to drive a real manual but because of a real concern for the long term durability of these gear boxes.
Most manuals will last the life of the car and last time I changed a regular clutch it only took a few hours and cost about $200.
I don't think I could do the same with one of these. By the time the car is a few years out of warrantee, I could see bills exceeding the value of the car.
lysine says:
01:49 PM, 06/ 4/09
I use normal most of the time. Sport in manual mode for fun. Super sport for canyon runs.
eriches says:
02:33 PM, 06/ 4/09
OK, change of heart time: I just drove the Evo MR around town in Super Sport, but shifted it manually, as jkav suggested, and this is the setup for me: Smooth yet rapid response off the line, but I control the shift points so they're not too aggressive.
Inexplicably, it had never occurred to me to shift manually during leisurely driving in the city and that's where I went wrong: I've relied on "D," and as we've written so many times, this just isn't an automatic transmission. --Erin Riches
evocr says:
09:26 PM, 06/ 4/09
You can also drive in Sport and in those spots when "the TC-SST has you cruising in one gear too low for comfort" you manually tap the upshift paddle to the next gear and at the next stop it will automatically be back in Sport "D".
felonious says:
08:48 AM, 06/ 5/09
Darnit! I was going to reply with what jkav said but I couldn't log in on my phone. Then I forgot. :(
pengwin says:
10:45 AM, 06/ 6/09
i've never driven mitsu's double clutch but the VW/Audi DSG's are amazing in auto-mode. Feel just like real automatics.
jace88 says:
04:13 PM, 06/11/09
I personally leave it in normal most of the time and just drive it like a regular automatic keeping in mind there is still a tad of throttle delay and whatnot. I like how it can shift to the highest/fuel efficient gear quickly yet can still do kickdown if needed.
Sport more is when I need to overtake and want the more sensitive throttle.
Super Sport I never use on the street.