Which Transmission is performance oriented

ThorOtheBIG · 07-21-2008, 06:42 AM

I own a 1991 MR2 and am looking into buying a new car. I would really like a MRS but I cant find any 6 speed SMT. For some reason I am under the impression that the 6SMT is the best performance oriented version of the MRS. I have also read that it is sluggish off the line and in between shifting. Is this true? I could certainly save some cash by buying the 5 speed. But, I seem to be impartial to the 6 speed. What do you, current, MRS owners suggest?

lbridges · 07-21-2008, 04:34 PM

For the 6-speed SMT you will have to look in the later years '03+ (not sure if it was there for '03 or not).

Euro cars had 6-speed pure manual and the Down Under cars had SMTs only.

The general consensus is the up shift is slower with the SMT, the downshift about the same. This assumes someone familiar with a pure manual...my wife would be faster with the SMT in either direction.

The SMT has additional parts to break (hydraulic pump, electronics), but then again will never bend a valve by mis-shifting.

The 6-speed SMT had some tranny computer upgrades, but they were retro-fitted to the earlier model if the owners took them in for recall. The 6-speed has only a better cruising rpm - IIRC the 1-5 gear ratios are identical.

Only you can decide...I can't make a suggestion (I own a 5-speed pure manual, have driven a 6-spd SMT).

ThorOtheBIG · 07-22-2008, 05:47 AM

Please, in your opinion, which did you like better the 5 speed or the SMT? Or perhaps, which would you rather own and repair by yourself?

supunna_picta · 07-22-2008, 07:37 AM

I drove the 5SMT and it was slow off the line and slow to upshift so based on performance I would never have chosen it. Unless that dramatically improved with the 6SMT I would say you're better off with the manual if you're targeting performance specifically.

I think you'll need to test drive them both to be sure.

alex49rs · 08-13-2008, 04:24 PM

I have a 2004 with an SMT. I have never driven the MR2 in a standard transmission. I do occasionally notice a brief lag when I shift up, but very rarely. I don't know if this is the case with the standard, but if I am stopped on level ground, the car does not idle forward. It absolutely sits, so I can cover the accelerator at a dead stop (such as a red light). I beat 99% of the cars off a light (including Mustangs, Chargers, and regularly, BMWs and Mercedeses), only revving up to about 4500 rpm. You can hear them all shifting to higher gears, and I can actually stretch my gears farther than they. When I actually accelerate to redline at each gear before shifting, I hit 85-90 in third gear before I realize it. In traffic (which we get a lot in the Bay Area), the SMT is wonderful shifting both up and down with the press of a button, and I rarely ever have to use the brakes. So I love my SMT, even though I have read that it is slower; the MR2 is fast enough!

07-21-2008, 06:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
ThorOtheBIG No Skills Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 59 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Which Transmission is performance oriented I own a 1991 MR2 and am looking into buying a new car. I would really like a MRS but I cant find any 6 speed SMT. For some reason I am under the impression that the 6SMT is the best performance oriented version of the MRS. I have also read that it is sluggish off the line and in between shifting. Is this true? I could certainly save some cash by buying the 5 speed. But, I seem to be impartial to the 6 speed. What do you, current, MRS owners suggest?

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07-21-2008, 04:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
lbridges No Skills Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: East Central FLA Posts: 144 Thanks: 1 Thanked 12 Times in 12 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	For the 6-speed SMT you will have to look in the later years '03+ (not sure if it was there for '03 or not). Euro cars had 6-speed pure manual and the Down Under cars had SMTs only. The general consensus is the up shift is slower with the SMT, the downshift about the same. This assumes someone familiar with a pure manual...my wife would be faster with the SMT in either direction. The SMT has additional parts to break (hydraulic pump, electronics), but then again will never bend a valve by mis-shifting. The 6-speed SMT had some tranny computer upgrades, but they were retro-fitted to the earlier model if the owners took them in for recall. The 6-speed has only a better cruising rpm - IIRC the 1-5 gear ratios are identical. Only you can decide...I can't make a suggestion (I own a 5-speed pure manual, have driven a 6-spd SMT).

07-22-2008, 05:47 AM	#3 (permalink)
ThorOtheBIG No Skills Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 59 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Please, in your opinion, which did you like better the 5 speed or the SMT? Or perhaps, which would you rather own and repair by yourself?

07-22-2008, 07:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
supunna_picta No Skills Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 222 Thanks: 2 Thanked 23 Times in 22 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I drove the 5SMT and it was slow off the line and slow to upshift so based on performance I would never have chosen it. Unless that dramatically improved with the 6SMT I would say you're better off with the manual if you're targeting performance specifically. I think you'll need to test drive them both to be sure.

08-13-2008, 04:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
alex49rs No Skills Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 11 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I have a 2004 with an SMT. I have never driven the MR2 in a standard transmission. I do occasionally notice a brief lag when I shift up, but very rarely. I don't know if this is the case with the standard, but if I am stopped on level ground, the car does not idle forward. It absolutely sits, so I can cover the accelerator at a dead stop (such as a red light). I beat 99% of the cars off a light (including Mustangs, Chargers, and regularly, BMWs and Mercedeses), only revving up to about 4500 rpm. You can hear them all shifting to higher gears, and I can actually stretch my gears farther than they. When I actually accelerate to redline at each gear before shifting, I hit 85-90 in third gear before I realize it. In traffic (which we get a lot in the Bay Area), the SMT is wonderful shifting both up and down with the press of a button, and I rarely ever have to use the brakes. So I love my SMT, even though I have read that it is slower; the MR2 is fast enough!