BA SSS Owners - Do you use it?

Steffo · 26-05-2005, 05:03 AM

Here's a short poll for any owners of BA SSS cars, or any tiptronic auto for that matter....

geckoGT · 26-05-2005, 08:04 AM

Use it whenever in the mood to play, especially with the shift mod turned on. Good fun changing at 5000 and spinning up the rears!

SpoolMan · 26-05-2005, 08:08 AM

i have to use it when ever i want to rev mine out, i changed my diff gears and it wont shift the gears in time if fanged out in auto mode..it sits on the rev limiter for a long period of time if you try .

EA2BA · 26-05-2005, 08:13 AM

I use mine all the time, best thing I installed in the EA

paul7v7 · 26-05-2005, 08:15 AM

use it maybe once or twice...prefer a real manual.

Twisted · 26-05-2005, 08:19 AM

I was thinking about getting the auto when I got the Turbo but decided against it. Would have been good though, the auto is actually quicker in the T and the tiptronic would be good when im in the mood for fun. I still think I prefer the manual though, even though im still in the process of getting used to full time manual driving again lol.

Citric GT · 26-05-2005, 08:22 AM

I rarely used it when I had the Turbo ute.

RED_EL_XR8 · 26-05-2005, 08:26 AM

All the time, though mainly for engine braking, or locking the o/drive out or holding it in a gear to not upset Mr Plod.

**russellw** · 26-05-2005, 08:31 AM

Mine gets plenty of use too but it continually frustrates me as well. The shift response is a massive backward step from the T1 which was considerably faster (but presumably wasn't good for the marginal driveline) and the removal of the buttons from the steering wheel back to a console shift was another retrogragde step - it's unbelievable that they couldn't work out how to fit the extra wiring down the steering column in this age of multiplex systems.

Cheers
Russ

**Chris** · 26-05-2005, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by russellw

Mine gets plenty of use too but it continually frustrates me as well. The shift response is a massive backward step from the T1 which was considerably faster (but presumably wasn't good for the marginal driveline) and the removal of the buttons from the steering wheel back to a console shift was another retrogragde step - it's unbelievable that they couldn't work out how to fit the extra wiring down the steering column in this age of multiplex systems.

Cheers
Russ

There is a fix for that russ, it comes in a little black box with LED's flashing all over it!!

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RED_EL_XR8 · 26-05-2005, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by russellw

Mine gets plenty of use too but it continually frustrates me as well. The shift response is a massive backward step from the T1 which was considerably faster (but presumably wasn't good for the marginal driveline) and the removal of the buttons from the steering wheel back to a console shift was another retrogragde step - it's unbelievable that they couldn't work out how to fit the extra wiring down the steering column in this age of multiplex systems.

Cheers
Russ

The shift response was heaps better with the windsor, all up engine and trans were a better match. The auto is fast reaching its useby date and I think the culprit for many of Fords included Torque limits.

That box with the LEDs on works , I was impressed but I do wonder what it will do the the life of the 4speed auto give it has to cope with the higher outputs from the Boss engines.

jonbays · 26-05-2005, 11:10 AM

Tickford got it right with the AU T series then Ford tried to do a Magna and stuffed it all up in the BA.

I only test drove a TL50 once but the shifts were quick and firm and so easy to do on the wheel. this is what you want when you want to manually shift an auto.

In a hire BA the manual mode shifts were slow and sloppy.

Its just not much better than manually shifting my AU auto which is slow and sloppy too. I mean the std AU Auto in manual mode holds first and second to the rev limiter and third to the speed limiter which is better than the commonwhore which shift up for you.

**Polyal** · 26-05-2005, 11:29 AM

yeah I use it now and then, it just depends where you are driving I guess.

Racecraft · 26-05-2005, 11:37 AM

I have installed a plate in mine so the stick cannot be moved to the left. THere is no use leaving it 'enabled' for others that don't know how to or are not familiar with it.

bathurst77 · 26-05-2005, 11:44 AM

I have I6 XT/SR clone. I use SSS all the time.

Normal driving i leave it in ADP mode. When overtaking, into slower corners or I just need a spurt, I flick the lever to the "power" gate to force it into 3rd (faster then kick down). Into very slow corners its across and forward once so im already in second when i power out, then back to 3rd and back to 4th or over for adp. I find the SSS means i can "preselect" 2nd and 3rd going into slower corners when im having a go, where in a normal auto it always seems to be a second or two after you feed on power at the apex before you get the right gear, making it a bit sloppy thru the twists.

For traffic light drags (tut tut) i use power auto-mode (im sick of hitting the cutout in full manual on drags)

Other times when i really want to slug along or use less fuel on freeways. i will use manual mode to hold 4th, so it wont change down on hills or if i feed on a little power, let it lug a little. Thats funny tho. as I ALWAYS forget that i manually forced 4th and need to manually change up if i stop at traffic lights etc.

Maybe i need a riceboy change light at 500 rpm below the cut out .
Remind me, what RPM is the cut out on the Barra6?
Dont matter, i will be reminded 2 minutes after leaving work this arvo!

For me SSS is a perfect compromise, as I do a lot of stopstart city traffic jams, anda lot of freeways and mountain road hi speed blasts. When i bought the car, i thought iwouldnt use it, now i love it. I jsut wish there was a lockout fromnormal Drive to neutral. I have smacked it into neutral and floored it a couple of times, thinking i was in the power gate and going into 3rd.
Bit scarey overtaking a semi, planting the foot and going nowhere as Im in Neutral!

EA2BA · 26-05-2005, 11:46 AM

It does lock out from drive to neutral i havent managed to push mine into neutral, there is no need to press the button in at all to use SSS mode, so how do you get it into neutral.

mcflux · 26-05-2005, 12:07 PM

The BA SSS works quite well with a 5.0

BA GT-HO · 26-05-2005, 12:25 PM

I use it mainly for engine braking and in the hills. It is pretty handy actually, makes the dullness of living with an auto that little bit more exciting.. 6 speed Typhoon please.

bathurst77 · 26-05-2005, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dellboy999

It does lock out from drive to neutral i havent managed to push mine into neutral, there is no need to press the button in at all to use SSS mode, so how do you get it into neutral.

On mine there is a lockout on reverse, but Drive to Neutral does not have lockout.
Can others check this...

EA2BA · 26-05-2005, 01:23 PM

I just and went checked mine, I CAN get it into neutral, just with it being a non factory setup it takes a bit of effort, geez i eat my words ... lol

deesun · 26-05-2005, 01:25 PM

I don't get to drive much around town but I use it a bit when I'm driving on highway specialy to kick down for overtaking.

Racecraft · 26-05-2005, 01:26 PM

I think bathurst is right, i am sure you can knock it into neutral with engaging the button.

cogdoc · 26-05-2005, 01:49 PM

Makes the auto much easier to live with. It is jerky on the downshift, and slow on the up, but hey it's better than nothing!!

cogdoc · 26-05-2005, 01:51 PM

And yeah, Tibbo had better not be using it too much tomorrow either.....

:

GTP 320 · 26-05-2005, 04:39 PM

I use it most of the time and find it great better than the T2 which had the stupid buttons on the steering wheel,it used to be extremly hard to use the buttons if going around corners with the control buttons being upside down and then not knowing whether to click up or down,much better control on the BAs where they are situated on the T-bar
Cheers John

RED_EL_XR8 · 26-05-2005, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTP 320

I use it most of the time and find it great better than the T2 which had the stupid buttons on the steering wheel,it used to be extremly hard to use the buttons if going around corners with the control buttons being upside down and then not knowing whether to click up or down,much better control on the BAs where they are situated on the T-bar
Cheers John

I was going to say anything about steering wheel mounted controls, which I hate with a passion other than the cruise, but I have heard just as many sensible people say they love them. Likewise on the rgonomics side of thing the SSS should supposedly be towards the driver for power, and there are two schools of though on whether up should be forward or back, but you soon get comfortable with the BA just as it is. And I am more likely to wipe the windows doing a right hand turn in a BMW than I am to mix up and down changes in the Falcon.

GlennBA · 26-05-2005, 08:36 PM

I use it sometimes when i drive dads xr6t, but i find just normal performance mode is heaps better..

geckoGT · 27-05-2005, 12:12 AM

come om ford, give us column mounted paddles, please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will take mine with a six speed.

bathurst77 · 27-05-2005, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geckoxr8

come on ford, give us column mounted paddles, please

I often only drive with one hand on wheeel, so i dont thingk paddles would work for me. And when yor crazily twirling the steering wheel going hard on a twisty road, i reckon a floor shift would be easier to find in a hurry, then the paddles when u at three-quarter oppy-lock!
JUST PLEASE MAKE ME A NEUTRAL LOCK OUT!

irsa76 · 27-05-2005, 08:15 PM

Used it in the Magna, Mercedes, Audi and VW. For 99% of driving I find it a gimmick and a pain in the 1% when it could be useful.

View Poll Results: How you use your tiptronic auto?
I use it all the time!	72	62.07%
I never use it.	8	6.90%
I've tried it once, but haven't used it since.	16	13.79%
I haven't tried it yet, but I will.	2	1.72%
Other (Please Specify)	18	15.52%
Voters: 116. You may not vote on this poll