Know what I liked most about our BMW M3 was last night? It wasn't its sweet, purring V8 -- nope. It wasn't its unparalleled handling, nor its heated seats that do a back good after a long day spent chained to the computer screen.
What I liked most about the M3 last night as I waited behind a line of cars, halfway up the steep incline that leads out of our underground parking dungeon, was its hill-start assist. Works like a charm and makes starting on a slope nothing more than business as usual.
Warren Clarke, Automotive Content Editor
mmmmmmmm3 says:
03:46 PM, 02/18/10
I agree. I never thought I would care but it has proven to be a nice feature.
jederino says:
04:37 PM, 02/18/10
New Subarus have this feature as well - and on the CVT, which rolls back just as a manual.
jeepsrt says:
04:42 PM, 02/18/10
That is a nice feature, but what's with the first sentence? Lol
desmolicious says:
04:53 PM, 02/18/10
Doesn't the LT Challenger also have this?
dsheppard1 says:
05:18 PM, 02/18/10
@jederino: My beloved (May she RIP) 1987 Subaru GL wagon had the feature, too. If Subaru had this on a car in 1987, I can't figure out why every other manufacturer hasn't put it in their cars with manuals since then. It's a great feature.
frazier500 says:
06:02 PM, 02/18/10
@jederino
I think you're mistaking on the CVT rolling back part. CVTs still have a torque converter, or at least the Nissan ones do. My mom's Maxima creeps forward with the best of them...
bimmerjay says:
09:32 PM, 02/18/10
Hill-start assist FTW... it also works in reverse to hold you from rolling forward.
sk8nsanta says:
08:01 AM, 02/19/10
I have this on my Challenger R/T 6spd as well, and truth be told I don't actually like it as much as I thought I would. The release of the assist (once you apply enough torque) isn't all that smooth. The feature works exactly as described, but once it releases it makes you look like you don't know how to drive a stick.
My method has been to let off the brake earlier (than I normally would) and just let the system let go by itself after 2 or 3 seconds, and then give it some gas like normal. Much smoother that way.
exnevadan says:
09:27 AM, 02/19/10
Would love this for my '07 G35s 6MT (which I bought despite Edmunds', and other's, comments regarding the clutch). No easy way to get moving smoothly on a hill during a New England winter, even with blizzaks and a deft touch.
jederino says:
09:32 AM, 02/19/10
@frazier500, the Subaru CVT in the new Legacy definitely rolls free, based on my test drive. I haven't driven the Nissan CVT, but I read that's a good unit, too.
911cs2 says:
07:31 AM, 02/28/10
The incline assist feature - especially when needing to start in reverse - is a God-send (or should I say Engineer-send). Useful.