V70 Geartronic

[TangoDeltaSierra3]

Hi, i noticed a few V70 police cars yesterday all with the geartronic gear system, i've seen the odd comment saying it's a poor gear box, can anyone offer any valued judgement on it. Thanks.

[TonyR]

Hi, i noticed a few V70 police cars yesterday all with the geartronic gear system, i've seen the odd comment saying it's a poor gear box, can anyone offer any valued judgement on it. Thanks.

Essex plod have the V70 in geartronic huise. Have not heard any negative statements yet. Most of their vehicles are two or less years old.

TonyR

[lance]

Geartronic is slower than Auto or Manual its not as strong as either! Its also computer controlled and prone to gremlins particularly on early S80 T6!
Personally I would avoid unless really really really cheap!
Its a complex system that will leave your average auto specialist scratching his head after spending a week on it!

[TangoDeltaSierra3]

Geartronic is slower than Auto or Manual its not as strong as either! Its also computer controlled and prone to gremlins particularly on early S80 T6!
Personally I would avoid unless really really really cheap!
Its a complex system that will leave your average auto specialist scratching his head after spending a week on it!

I wonder why the police are buying cars with this system instead of manuals then, the 6 cars i saw were 51 reg or newer, i hope the S60s are manuals that there buying now in S.Yorkshire as i'm sat waiting for them to filter through the auctions.

[V8guitar]

I have a geartronic and used to have a P1 V70 with auto, so I reackon I can tell you the difference....

The geartronic is just like a regular auto with a manual override.....sounds ideal which is why I bought one and I suspect the cops have as well.

However, what they will discover is that the auto is slow changing in both auto and manual mode. Mine also has a fuel saving device that means there is a lag in engaging the gear when you release the brake. The net effect is that on take off its much slower than a regular auto as there is a delay of nearly 0.5 of a sec whilst it engages the gear. It is also less aggresive in its changes and so throughout its acceleration, its less punchy at changes. Its also not that smooth!!!

The only advantage over a regular auto is if you want to engage a gear early, so you come upm behnid a car, know hes going to gun it and change down in advance so that the engine/turbo is already spooled up. But this is less of an advantage over the regualr auto when using Sport mode as they shift pretty quickly anway!!

The last run at Avon, I tried the power brake technique to build some revs and improve take off. This is what happened....
Brake on, in 1st in manual mode, give it some throttle.
Released the brake and nailed the throttle...car pulls away pretty well.
Hits boost, wheels spin, revs fly round and I change gear
Geartronic "thinks" about this and decides to shift.
By this time hit rev limiter, revs drop off, car splutters and forward trust stops momentarily.

Clearly this does not make for impressive take offs!!

I am now convinced that my gearbox cost me at least 0.5 if not 1 sec off my 1/4 mile because I stayed with every car I raced but everyone beat me off the lights with similar reaction times. I also ran the same time as another geartronic.

So its OK as a gearbox in general but tends to give the worst of both worlds rather than the best. If you want max performance, go manual. If you want a bit of luxury without too much loss of performance, go Auto. If you like gadgets so that your kids can change gear for you, go Geartronic.

Its not total doom and gloom, but I would not have another geartronic unless its dramtically improved.

[TangoDeltaSierra3]

Thanks for that, sounds like it won't suit me at all.

[Matt30462]

i hope the S60s are manuals that there buying now in S.Yorkshire as i'm sat waiting for them to filter through the auctions.

Thought you would want them to get Geartronics, that way when they are chasing you you are that little bit faster and they breakdown, leaving you to dissappear off into the sunset.

[TangoDeltaSierra3]

Thought you would want them to get Geartronics, that way when they are chasing you you are that little bit faster and they breakdown, leaving you to dissappear off into the sunset.

What u mean Matt, i'm a very sedate driver lol, seriously tho does anyone know if the new S60 cop cars are geartronic or does it vary force to force ?

[After_Shock]

Must be force to force, all the ones we get in at work are manuals, even the undercover D5's are manuals.

[V8guitar]

The V70's I've seen in Notts are manuals as well....

[V8guitar]

Oh, and I'm very excited because someone on this site suggested there is a software upgrade for the geartronic and my car goes in to the dealer next Thurs and they are doing the upgrade - they are charging me for the pleasure though!!!

I'll let you know how it goes...

[highgun]

I don’t think you will have the same negative opinion to the Geartronic once you have the software upgrade!!!

It only cost me about £40.00 - £50.00 for the upgrade, and you won’t have that silly fuel saving device: (when you have your foot on the brake and release it, you will go without hesitation!!)

My quickest time with the Geartronic at Avon was 15.1 seconds, I think it should improve by around 1 second.

All the best,

Tony.

[TangoDeltaSierra3]

Oh, and I'm very excited because someone on this site suggested there is a software upgrade for the geartronic and my car goes in to the dealer next Thurs and they are doing the upgrade - they are charging me for the pleasure though!!!

I'll let you know how it goes...

Cool keep us posted them, i may be comverted yet.

[V8guitar]

I don’t think you will have the same negative opinion to the Geartronic once you have the software upgrade!!!

It only cost me about £40.00 - £50.00 for the upgrade, and you won’t have that silly fuel saving device: (when you have your foot on the brake and release it, you will go without hesitation!!)

My quickest time with the Geartronic at Avon was 15.1 seconds, I think it should improve by around 1 second.

All the best,

Tony.

I knew someone recommended the upgrade but couldn't remember who.....so I hope it does change the characteristics.

Also glad you were charged as I was worried they were taking the Micheal....

I'll get a chance to test and Nurbergring a week Friday...oh, did I slip that into the conversation ???

[TangoDeltaSierra3]

Have you had the upgrade yet, i've seen a nice V70P2 with geartronic, let me know asap after the upgrade if its improved.

[philt6]

Mine is an S80T6 Geartronic Done 96000 miles roughly i've had no problems with it. does the job when you need it. Even better when you turn traction off and use it as a manual

[TangoDeltaSierra3]

Mine is an S80T6 Geartronic Done 96000 miles roughly i've had no problems with it. does the job when you need it. Even better when you turn traction off and use it as a manual

Yes but some people say its too slow to react/engage, hence the software upgrade, have you had the upgrade yet?

[philt6]

I wouldn't say it was slow to react. reaction time is footdown drops a cog and goes. i haven't had the upgrade done but previous owner might have.in manual just a case of flicking stick down and flooring it.

[TangoDeltaSierra3]

Mmmmm, i wonder at what age the gremlins will start to affect them. It aint gonna be cheap to get it looked at if/when it decides to play up.

[highgun]

Mmmmm, i wonder at what age the gremlins will start to affect them. It aint gonna be cheap to get it looked at if/when it decides to play up.

Mines done 122000 miles, with no problems. Hade a RICA done around February, and I went a bit mad for the first time last weekend: in auto 3rd gear pulled to an indicated 100 mph, 4th gear pulled to 150 mph, in to 5th and it went off the clock! Around 170 mph with 1000 rpm to go!

Err, I wouldn’t say it was a bit slow!

All the best,

Tony.