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I'm lifting a comment/reply from a somewhat unrelated thread and making it it's own thread because I'm really interested in what thoughts people have on how driving style impacts the life of your CC clutch (setting aside the real answer, which is drive the way that makes you happy, and pay for clutches as needed):
That's interesting - I've been wondering about the best way to extend clutch life. I know two people, both with 02s (one coupe, one spyder), but with very different driving styles. One more or less follows your recommendation - drives always in sport mode, fairly aggressive, doesn't lift off the gas when shifting... and in 25K miles, is about to burn through his second clutch. The other never drives in sport mode, not terribly aggressive (i.e. 2-3K RPM shift), and lifts off the gas slightly when shifting. That clutch is at 28K and counting, never been replaced.
Owner #2 credits lifting off the gas at the shift for the life of the clutch (this is contrary to the owner's manual, of course, that says not to lift when shifting).
I have no idea. Haven't owned the car long enough to have developed an opinion, and my engineering knowledge is too limited to understand exactly how the F1 system works (this is also my first F1).
I have already figured out that Auto mode sucks, clutch wear or no clutch wear.
Interesting that reverse causes extra wear. What about taking off from a standing stop in second (as the owner's manual suggests you can)?
I see that at least one person reports getting 40K on the original clutch:
http://www.maseratilife.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3420&highlight=clutch
Being "heavy footed" with the F1 is actually the way to extend wear. Throttle position determines how the ECU controls the clutch engagement. If you're just driving around with the RPM's around 3k and you shift into the next gear, it interprets that you are driving slow and want a smooth clutch engagement. The clutch is slipped slightly, giving you more wear than if you had the RPM's at 5500 and the pedal to the floor. This was the ECU would interpret aggressive driving and would engage the clutch as fast as possible, causing less slippage and less wear. Also, driving in "sport" mode has a similar effect.
For maximum clutch life, shift above 4k RPMs, drive in Sport mode and when shifting, give it full throttle (even if only momentarily while you're shifting). Use reverse as little as possible and when engaging in first, give it a full throttle, don't slowlly ease into it. Oh yea, and NEVER drive it in Auto mode.
That's interesting - I've been wondering about the best way to extend clutch life. I know two people, both with 02s (one coupe, one spyder), but with very different driving styles. One more or less follows your recommendation - drives always in sport mode, fairly aggressive, doesn't lift off the gas when shifting... and in 25K miles, is about to burn through his second clutch. The other never drives in sport mode, not terribly aggressive (i.e. 2-3K RPM shift), and lifts off the gas slightly when shifting. That clutch is at 28K and counting, never been replaced.
Owner #2 credits lifting off the gas at the shift for the life of the clutch (this is contrary to the owner's manual, of course, that says not to lift when shifting).
I have no idea. Haven't owned the car long enough to have developed an opinion, and my engineering knowledge is too limited to understand exactly how the F1 system works (this is also my first F1).
I have already figured out that Auto mode sucks, clutch wear or no clutch wear.
Interesting that reverse causes extra wear. What about taking off from a standing stop in second (as the owner's manual suggests you can)?
I see that at least one person reports getting 40K on the original clutch:
http://www.maseratilife.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3420&highlight=clutch