I hate it. The only reason people like them is because they’re lazy that don’t know how to drive a wagon properly with a traditional gear stick.
Sorry Rob, I had a manual FM12 before the I-Shift, I had no problems with that, or the ERF with the eaton twin split I had, or the MAN with the range change box.
There is nothing wrong with the manual box in the Volvo heavies (bar the later models with the cable shift) and has worked excellently for years without complaint so why go and ruin it by taking away the need for the natural movement of your left leg and also have something resembles a kangaroo when trying to reverse at a slow steady pace
Fully agree with the bit about nothing wrong with the manual boxes in the heavies, but they haven’t ruined it, just made the drivers life a bit easier.
Easier I-shift makes your life harder, not easier.
I am less tired at the end of the day driving this instead of the manual, especially after doing loads into Brum city centre all day.
You must have had a badly set up/faulty one if it kangarooed, mines just as smooth as a manual.
Nope. These are all different wagons across a number of companies, all the same. Even long-standing members on here have commented in the past that when reversing it’s either all or nothing.
At the end of the day all truck manufacturers see auto boxes as the way forward, so unfortunatly it’s something we will have to get used to sooner or later
Yes I agree and that will be the day when I give up wagon driving altogether or go and work for a company with old manual box trucks.
Rob K:
The only reason people like them is because they’re lazy that don’t know how to drive a wagon properly with a traditional gear stick.
I know how to drive a manual wagon properly - it’s just that I prefer two pedals when I’m stuck in traffic on the north circular.
It’s horses for courses - trunking up and down a motorway all day long - I’m not bothered what 'box I’ve got. But if, like me, 80% of your time is spent crawling along in city centres, I-Shift is a god-send.
Rob K:
As for trying to accelerate hard into a gap on a busy roundabout or junction, forget it.
Don’t think there’s been a mention of accelerating ‘hard’ onto roundabouts or junctions. All I said was there is a need to press the accelerator a few seconds earlier than normal to allow time for gear selection.
A lot of drivers I’ve spoken to say they feel an I-Shift is slow to pull away - but they’re not. They just take a second or two to click into the correct gear. It’s just a case of adjusting your driving style to suit the specific vehicle you are in.
Do you drive your car like you do your wagon Rob? Well there you go!
If you’ve had a bad experience with I-Shift, I can only think it was a faulty I-Shift.
paul@midway:
if i,m in a 430 stralis then i will select semi before the incline and drop down into 11 as agin in the auto box it wont change down til you have hit 45 - 50 mph where as manually doing it you can on a reasonable hill maintain 50 56 mph by changing down early …
screws the fuel economy up but it gets you up the hill with a decent pace
No need to select semi for that Paul. Just before you reach the bottom of the hill knock the stick back, your box will change down one, and hold it down till the climb levels out. It won’t necesarily screw the fuel economy either. Although you’ll be burning fuel faster, you’ll also get to the top of the hill faster, so that will more or less even it out.
for eg, 5 litres a minute at 50 - 56, for 2:00 minutes = 10litre (down a gear).
3 litres a minute at 40 - 45, for 3:20 minutes = 9.9litre (in top).
I haven’t worked it out properly, but you get the idea?
Well I’d love an automatic truck, I remember having a 6 wheeler actros with auto fitted and it didn’t half take the stress out of the job. All the characters that would prefer manual boxes are either ‘long in the tooth’ or kidding themselves… It’s a bit like saying “I’d prefer to look in map books than have a bang up to date TomTom Go 700 satnav system to tell me where all my drops are.” Jealousy I call it… Automatic is the future…. I’d prefer to wind down the windows instead of having electric windows!!! You know who you are you muppets!!
paul@midway:
if i,m in a 430 stralis then i will select semi before the incline and drop down into 11 as agin in the auto box it wont change down til you have hit 45 - 50 mph where as manually doing it you can on a reasonable hill maintain 50 56 mph by changing down early …
screws the fuel economy up but it gets you up the hill with a decent pace
No need to select semi for that Paul. Just before you reach the bottom of the hill knock the stick back, your box will change down one, and hold it down till the climb levels out.
ahh didnt know that cheers
and rob the vehicles we drive arent our own personal choice its the companies we work for who buy them according to there criteria … so its unfair to say people are lazy and dont want a manual box … give me either i aint bothered get paid the same no matter what i drive …
the company i work for has decided on auto boxes to bring the fuel economy into some sort of level balance
ie one driver could use 176 litrres of fuel on a run . another driver could do the same run and use say 200 litres of fuel …
so they dumped the manuals and now we have all auto units …
and this argument can probably go on and on with someone commenting on why hasnt the company spoke to the fuel burning drivers etc etc … well they didnt they bought auto boxes instead and thats the end of it , nothing will ever change that fact …
I-shift makes your life harder, not easier. 
that don’t know how to drive a wagon properly with a traditional gear stick.
