I have driven a 5AT for a couple of years and recently got a 6 speed. I love the car, but there is lot I don't know about the 6MT.

Is there any form of stability assist? My old CLS had the VSA system... do the 6MTs have any equivalent? With the auto the traction control would kick in if you stomped on it... is there any traction control on the 6MT?

 

Traction control & VSA were left behind on the 6 speed LSD tranny !!!

 

Oh and, nice car!

 

I love this car... and thanks for the info on the VSA / traction control. I kind of figured that it might be a 5AT only feature. I had it kick in only once when i lost control on a curve and it really saved my ass.

 

The 6MT has limited-slip though right? I feel something kick in when I peel out in the rain, maybe its just my imagination

 

Yes it does, LSD = limited slip differential. What you feel is the tires fluctuating between wheelspin and traction, as the LSD doesn't "kick in", rather, it is always on!

 

My crude understanding of LSD is that power is transferred to the wheel that still has traction, while the power is backed off from the spinning wheel (the slip part of LSD).

I have noticed that burnouts are even on both wheels... one wheel does not spin alone.

 

You make a good point, perhaps someone could clear that up!!

 

Good choice on the 6MT! Man, the CLs seems very popular up north.

I noticed the LSD right away on wet roads. My previous Legend would slip more during take off, the CLS 6 MT was improved in that area.

 

The Stability Assist on the 6 speed is as it should be ---THE DRIVER!

 

Helical Limited Slip Differential

 

Could you (or someone) define the Helical portion please, thx!

 

I agree with the point you are making, but we have all screwed ap periodically, and I have witnesses how effective the VSA can be, and think that it is a bit of a loss to not include it on the 6MTs.

I was in a tight spot needing a lane and slid into sport shift with my 5AT, dropped down 2 gears and punched it... on the outside lane of a curve. Well the back end slid out and I found myself going sideways at about 60MPH. The the back end came around and I was pointing the other way... looking directly at a guard rail. I thought that it was game over as I was anticipating a huge fishtailing escalation, but the VSA kicked in, applied brakes, power and whatever else it does and and the car settled back into its lane.

I also really liked the visual indication (exclamation point) that you had lost traction... sometimes on icy roads you cannot really tell until it is too late.

 

I tend to agree. I can without traction control, but any kind of vehicle stability system is desireable for as long as it can be turned off for track use / spirited driving.

I don't know much about how the VSA works, but I know about the 5th gen Corvette's "Active Handling" feature which is very similar if not identical. You have no idea how many Corvette owners say that it's saved their asses when they least expected it. Sure a 350 or 400hp RWD sports car is more tail-happy than our cars, but the same principle applies.

 

VSA on my 2001 slushbox CL almost got me into several wrecks.
It kicks on sometimes when it does more danger then help.
I’ll trust my 20+ years of driving experience and my left foot more thank you.

 

Love my VSA in the snow. Helps me ALOT!

 

the lsd also lets you pull through turns better in wet and dry