Notchy gearbox?

[pcmaczone]

Is it just me or do all DS3's have a notchy gear change? The two I test drove before getting ours both had a similar feel to the gear change and now of course ours is the same so that makes me think they are all like this. Anyone else think the DS3 doesn't have the slickest of gear changes?

[djclark25]

My DSport HDi has never had the "smoothest" of gear changes. Even worse when it is cold. !st to 2nd never seems to go in smooth no matter what I try. Its even worse when its cold.

When mine was in for a service I had a 120Vti petrol and I hated that gearbox. Smoother to go into gears but they seemed really spaced apart compared to the Dsport!

[Bigfeet]

I guess it's all down to personal feel, can't say that I have really noticed that much but I have been driving Citroen's for nearly ten years so must be used to it now!

In my mind the gearboxs I don't like are the ones fitted to Vauxhall cars, I think they feel horrible.

[pcmaczone]

I have owned 8 Citroens before this one and none were as bad as this. It's like there is too much resistance to going into each gear and sometimes it's hard to get into a particular gear at all. I figured it may loosen up over time but I have a feeling now that this will not happen. Having test driven two DS3's previously and finding them to be the same I doubt there is any fault with the gearbox, I think it's just the way they are

[Bigfeet]

Think positively!

The stiffer gearbox allows you to make macho, he-man style aggressive gear changes! Grrr!!

[pcmaczone]

Actually, now you mention it. My brother once had a Lotus Elite that had very much the same feel to the gear change

[pcmaczone]

Tell a lie, he informs me it was an Esprit not the Elite

[pcmaczone]

Just discovered that the Esprit, at least the one my brother had, was fitted with a Citroen gearbox! So that explains a lot

[Human after all]

I guess it's all down to personal feel, can't say that I have really noticed that much but I have been driving Citroen's for nearly ten years so must be used to it now!

In my mind the gearboxs I don't like are the ones fitted to Vauxhall cars, I think they feel horrible.

I haven't noticed it either, but then I have only ever owned cars that are inferior to the DS3. One thing that did happen was that whilst on my test drive, I shifted from third into sixth by accident. For some reason it took me a while to get used to moving in a straight line from third to fourth. I'm guessing it's because I have only ever owned cars with five speed gear boxes and I must have had a tendency to pull the gear stick towards me as well as down when shifting up into fourth. Now that I am used to the gear shifting, it feels really smooth and I feel that I can just ease the stick in the direction that I want it to go.

[Czar]

Anyone that feels your not happy with your gear selection (notchy) changing the gearbox oil to a gearbox oil that contains nanotechnology will improve the feel and transition movement when selecting gears.

[pcmaczone]

Maybe it's pot luck then? I can tell you after 35 years of driving all sorts of cars, this is definitely NOT a smooth gear change. Our C4 VTR+ was not brilliant but certainly smoother than our DS3. My other Citroens have been two CX's, three BX's and two Visa's so actually that's 9 Citroens I have owned including the DS3 Can't remember any of them having a gear change like this but they were all much older cars with high mileages so that may have something to do with it. Anyway, it's not a deal breaker. Still absolutely love the DS3 and right now I don't think there is anything that compares in terms of looks, performance, finish and mpg and trust me, I did a LOT of looking before settling on the DS3.

We have done approx 600miles since getting it, two weeks ago so it's early days yet but definitely the right decision

[skylaq]

I know the feeling, that was the first negative reaction to the DS3 when I tested her..
But I figured I would get used to it, and I kinda have.... until I go and drive the Audi A5 and come back to the DS3 again :P
Better to just stick to the DS3 then I guess..

[pcmaczone]

Well we only have it for two years anyway so it's not like we are stuck with it for very long and yeah, you do sort of get used to the gear change but, I can imagine what it must be like going from the far smoother change in the Audi to the DS3! Luckily we don't have that comparison as the DS3 is the only car we have now. Just thought though, if any of you have ever experienced the tractor like gear change on a BMW motorcycle, the DS3 gear change is a dream in comparison

[chiefnerd]

The actual stiffness lessens about 3 or 4000 miles but 1st to second is always a little notchy but you do get used to it and if you;re aggressive with your changes it's actually quite nice but at day to day driving I always notice it- just part of the car- love the whole or not at all

[Bigfeet]

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