230SL automatic

[BobH]

This may seem like a dim question, so be gentle with me.  Something that i've never understood, modern automatics simply have drive for forward gears, why does the SL have 2, 3 and 4 drive options.  I normally drive off in 4, i don't think i've ever used 2 or 3.  When would you need to select 2 or 3, and what gear is 4 actually in comparison to a manual?

[JamesL]

Try going up some alpine passes and hairpins. It just keeps the engine on the torque curve as you come out of a curve and head to the next one. 3 is definitely your friend then.

[BobH]

i sort of get that, but then if i was choosing a car for that type of driving and terrain, i'd choose a manual.  Why doesn't the auto simply start off in 2 or 3, (is 2 the equivalent of 2nd and is 3 the equivalent of 1st?)

What is the equivalent of 4?

It's almost like a semi automatic

[JamesL]

One quirk of the car is that it does start off in 2 most of the time. 1st is almost never "used" by the gearbox as it's geared very very low

So 2/3/4 is the top gear depending on lever position.

A modern box has a computer that fixes the gear depending on revs, and how you're driving it - some cars will have a button or setting to make that more sporting. Our cars have a smart driver who will generally leave the auto in 4 (top) but know that occasionally, knocking it to hold 3rd keeps the revs (and so momentum) up. Don't get too heavy footed though as kickdown still works

[rwmastel]

2 = second gear
4 = fourth gear

Just the same as a manual transmission.  No tricks here.

Leaving the lever in 4 actually tells the transmission "4th is the highest gear to use, and start in 2nd".
Leaving the lever in 3 actually tells the transmission "3rd is the highest gear to use, and start in 2nd".
Leaving the lever in 2 actually tells the transmission "2nd is the highest gear to use, and start in 1st".

Also, you can leave the lever in 4 and floor it to activate the kick down switch (literally, a switch under the gas pedal on the floor) and that will force it to 1st for a moment.

This should all be in the owners manual.

First is very, very low gear.  Good for, well, I don't know what it's good for.  I wish they geared all 4 gears a little taller/higher and always let the transmission use 1st to start off with.

[BobH]

Thanks, that's sort of what i understood, i have used the kickdown, mainly only to prove that it still works.  What i didn't get is what's the point of 2, you need to change up almost immediately, and in my car doesn't provide much improved acceleration from start.  If the gearing was slightly higher, surely you could just drive off and leave it in 4, and use the kickdown to give added boost for overtaking or hills, without using the box as a manual

Was it designed as such or was it just a poor design

The problem is of course, it's difficult to compare against other cars to see if your car is set up correctly

[zak]

I read somewhere that the pagoda auto trans can be set up to start in first gear.

jz

[rwmastel]

What i didn't get is what's the point of 2, you need to change up almost immediately, and in my car doesn't provide much improved acceleration from start.

Right, that's why I said I don't know what it's good for.  First gear, that is.  I don't think anyone has much of a use for it.

The problem is of course, it's difficult to compare against other cars to see if your car is set up correctly

Not true!  Just attend a Pagoda Group event.  If there are none planned in your area, then plan one!  It doesn't need to be extravagant.  Just plan to meet in a car park near a restaurant or coffee shop.  Communicate here in the Events forum.  People will show up, and if it is only 2 or 3 people, that's a start.  Share what you did to gather interest, get feedback on possible better meeting places, and do it again a couple months later.  You could even use the membership roster to directly invite UK members.

[JamesL]

It's an auto box that was first used in 1963, and likely state of the art at the time. Maybe engineering has changed thngs a bit in the intervening 60 years. I'd like to bet the folk in Stuttgart had their reasons in 1962

Hell, synchromesh was an unused idea to many manufacturers in 1962, and an auto...?

[Lorsar]

There are a few threads about this if you use the search.  But here is the info from the owners manual. 

[JamesL]

What sort of revs are you at in 2nd at 45mph ? (yikes....)

[BobH]

Not true!  Just attend a Pagoda Group event.  If there are none planned in your area, then plan one!  It doesn't need to be extravagant.  Just plan to meet in a car park near a restaurant or coffee shop.  Communicate here in the Events forum.  People will show up, and if it is only 2 or 3 people, that's a start.  Share what you did to gather interest, get feedback on possible better meeting places, and do it again a couple months later.  You could even use the membership roster to directly invite UK members.

i meant to attend recent UK events, there are several every year, but then i come down with Pagodanxiety.  The UK roads are the worse they've ever been, potholes, more like sinkholes that could swallow a Pagoda whole.  The standard of driving has never been worse, uninsured drivers, drunk drivers, drugged drivers, just plain bad drivers. Roads are constantly closed due to accidents or protestors, a round trip of 100miles in the in South of England can easily turn into a short stay holiday.  i would never feel safe taking the car on a motorway, with no headrests or hazard warning lights

I know, all pretty feeble excuses.  Perhaps next year when the sun is shining again, i'll have a bash

[JamesL]

If it's in decent mechanical shape it'll go very happily on the A12 and M25, keeping up (and slowing down) with the other road users. You're such a curiosity, people are generally very considerate. Biggest problem I have is people sitting in the blind spot staring so if I want to change lanes...

I had an SLK and the Pagoda deals with the roads better than that ever did

[BobH]

Thanks everyone

[AndrewB]

My 280SL makes short work of the M25 - I find it has more than enough go to comfortably overtake most people dawdling along at less than 70mph

[teahead]

I find the gearing of older automatic Mercs to be just freakin' odd.

Basically it's a 3-speed auto w/a granny gear no one uses.  And you start off in 2nd which then necessitates a super low rear end ratio to get off the line.

Weird and annoying as heck.

Should have just had 3 speeds and a decent 1st gear, and a nice higher rear ratio; like 3.55 or the like.