ShiftSense Pro - transmission shift controller for Gen3 Tacoma

How can I invest?

 

no matter how much they do, no automatic will ever be smart enough. The atmosphere part will always remain unknown to the computer. The computer won't be aware of what's ahead or what you're trying to do, and therefor always just go back to its programming.
It will never realize that maybe you're just letting off the throttle for a second because someone is slowing down and you're about to change lanes so you'll need that lower gear ratio. This could change with technology but that change will likely just be for self driving cars.

 

I read through all 8 pages - didn't see any specific response... then again, I'm almost giddy with excitement over this solution that I may have missed it...

 

Yet a fixed boxed solution that cares not about the atmosphere makes great improvements. I think you missed the point of my post...

Toyota could have done what this product does (and I'm sure way better) with simple programming and we would have all enjoyed our trucks so much more from the get go from an actual drivability standpoint, but they chose not too for <insert **** reason here ha>.

 

Nah man. Auto trannies in modern sports cars (and I'm not talking super cars, but cars like the M3) are amazing and vastly superior in performance to manual trannies. Hell, the '16 Forester loaner I had had an amazing tranny that was lightning quick and smooth as butter. Better results than I can ever hope to achieve driving any stick.

 

simple reason though, they have MPG targets they want/have to meet.
the transmission is set up for MPG. Can't have both great driveability and fuel efficiency

 

Can't say I agree, but I sure won't start an argument. I drive a lot of vehicles, and most aren't near as lazy as my Tacoma automatic. Those other manufacturers had the same requirements you speak of. Toyota either was lazy, complacent, or didn't care about drivability.

Glad a 3rd party has provided a solution.

 

modern sport cars use sequential gearboxes though.
They may be 'automatic' but they're basically just a computer controlled manual with a dual clutch. It works differently than our autos, and yes they are amazing.
Forester would've been a CVT so yep they're pretty quick. But when it comes to typical torque converter type automatics they suck and always will.

Even with those sport car ones, as great as the are in performance you will never be able to have a computer have the intuitive nature of a driver. We see the road ahead and know whats coming, we know if we'll be needing more power in the next second or so, a transmission never will. I'm not saying gear changes can be faster in a manual, by no way could they ever change faster than a DSG transmission would, but the knowledge of what's ahead knowing if the trans should stay in say 3rd over upshifting to 4th because you'll seen want that powerband of the higher rpm will never be replicated by an automatic.
Take stop and go traffic for instance. You can often get up to speed enough to get into second gear but as soon as you do you need to slow down again. A driver knows and sees that, and knows there is no point to shift into 2nd, but a transmission is just looking at throttle position and speed, and as soon as the throttle position and speed make sense to upshift it will. even if as soon as it does you'll be on the brakes.

I have to admit coming from a DSG transmission to a normal torque converter, I miss the DSG. Just so much better.

 

meh, based on their replies from when I wrote them emails complaining about how terrible the shift was hoping they change it, they just replied with 'it is set up that way for better MPG'

I agree other vehicles can have that same MPG target but still have more driveability. But they meet that MPG target in different ways. Toyota seems to think pairing a 3.5L atkinson simulated cycle engine with a 6 speed that shifts way to much is the way to get better MPG. where others like Mazda realized that bumping the compression ratio much higher can yield better MPG, like they did with their skyactive technology.

 

Gearing can not be changed with a shift controller. The timing of shifts can be altered. I assume it would be similar to ECT. But, I do not know. The problem with six speed is it has two gears that is less than 1:1. Unlike a tranny with 1 overdrive it has to down shift only once to get to 1:1. Making for more lag an more shifts. I recall when overdrive came out. Know body liked it.

 

Is 'nt the 16 Forester a CV tranny with simulated gears ?

 

I'm really not sure. I know next to nothing about that vehicle other than I liked it.

 

I am pretty sure it is a CVT . We wanted to buy an Outback in 15 and subaru no longer sold a non cvt unless you bought a manual Forester. Stopped the deal for me and went with an Equinox. Funny thing is the Outback with CV and 6cyl. was rated to tow 3500 lbs. in 15 , then in 16 same setup was rated at 1500. It was nice to drive but ..... time will tell.

 

I feel the same way. The truck drives fine around town for me but I don't like it on the freeway. A cat can fart in Nebraska and the truck will shift to 4th. I would love programing that makes S mode a gear selector rather than a gear limiter.

 

I read all 9 pages and I don't see a definitive set of answers for anyone who posed questions related to towing.

I tow. One of the specific questions that my purchase hinged on was being able to hook up a brake controller for towing. So while your product sounds fantastic it opens up a whole can of worms for those of us who tow and especially for those of us who tow higher weights. My operators manual specifically says to limit your gear to S5 and use ECT. From all I have read in 9 pages your product will not allow us to limit to S5 and how would it behave if I used ECT?

I see what appears to be a toggle switch on the side which I assume is for enabling / disabling the unit. To be quite honest I prefer a factory look and having an abortion mounted next to the center console is unappealing to me. My towing may mean I have to keep the unit exposed so I can disable the unit in order to tow.

For a guy who tows like me and who likes the clean factory look I am not ready to order. I do not use a scan gauge but do use my OBD port quite regularly so losing it or having to buy a splitter or keep unplugging is something I think a $200 product should have sorted out. Every new product needs feedback so this is feedback more than criticism. Look forward to what you have to say about towing with your product.

Now I could just order it but then again your return policy is clear regarding unopened product so unless you feel like sending a unit to me for testing I have no desire to test on my dime and take the hit if it doesn't work out.

 

@Exracer2 I believe I read on the website if you shift to s4 from D, it will turn on, but if you bump up to s5 the unit will automatically turn off and you will be in "regular" S mode.

 

Prefer to have the guy who makes the product answer the questions directed to him. No disrespect but he is the only one that can answer the questions definitively. After all his return policy is a no open no touch no test policy. The fine print on the website goes on forever. Just need some straight answers from the man himself.

 

Not to answer my own question to the OP but - . I am thinking that for towing the best choice would be to put the truck in S then tap up to S5 and back to S4 or down to S3 then back to S4. This should disable the shift sense and allow ETC to be used without the overdrive gears of 5 or 6 and run in S4 and under while towing .
Using the option of Shift sense really creates an extra shift mode other than ETC or D or S mode . very few here seem to like the D mode including me and that is what shift sense would be for . It has been a long day ( caught a lot of fish though)
OP ?

 

I personally have towed several different trailers while using this product. A tandom-axle loaded down with stone (probably way overloaded), as well as snowmobile trailer and enclosed ATV trailers. What you will find with this device is it will not shift to 6th gear unless you are into the upper 70's mph regardless. I don't typically tow at those high speeds, so I never see 6th gear while towing. Additionally, you will find it holding 4th gear quite often while you are into the throttle at all. For me this has worked perfect, as in the hills I find that I typically like 4th gear anyway, especially on two-lane road.

I think you would be pleased with the gear selection provided by the device, but if not, then yes, you can always just cancel the automatic control by making a manual shift. At that point, it immediately relinquishes control back to the driver's hand, and S-mode works as original OEM (you make the shifts as you like).

 

I'll be honest, I was/am considering a Subaru as another option if they can't fix this trucks issues. But I drove a CVT transmission vehicle years ago when they first came out and I was underwhelmed.

I might need to go test drive a Crosstrek or Forrester (and practice being a softball playing lesbian).

Going from a truck to a Crosstrek might be tough though.