>I have a disabled customer that REALLY wants a Syncro, but he can not drive
>a manual transmission due to the amount of pressure needed to push the
>clutch.  I've been tossing around the idea of solenoids to control the
>shifting, but like I said, tossing around the idea.  Sort of a tiptronic
>style of setup where there would be paddles on the steering wheel.  One for
>up and down in gears and one for the clutch.

The clutch won't work with a simple in-out switch. You have to be
able to feather it to varying degrees according to conditions. A mere
switch will actiuveta the clutch just fine, but on release will just
dump it. No control.

>Left paddle being more of a potentiometer than button so that you can
>control how fast the clutch goes on.

So how will the clutch be itself actuated?

>The right button being used to select
>the gear - push in to go up push out to go down.

A lever (paddle) would be far more ergonomic. Forward for down, back for up.

>This is beyond my design capability but it would be neat to have a system
>like this.  The other issue that I can see with this is the ergonomics of it
>all.  Unlike and Audi TT, the Vanagon needs several revolutions of the
>steering wheel to accomplish things.  Making emergency situations quite
>dangerous if you have to think "WHERE is the clutch" when you are trying to
>avoid Mickey Moose that steering to avoid.

That is a problem... if the wheel's not straight you could not use
the system, necessitating waiting til the corner's been done. Could
also interfere with use of the indicators, if fingers on BOTH hands
are reaching for levers...
--
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin, New Zealand
64 (3) 473-8863
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Fossil preparator
Seashell, Macintosh & VW/Toyota van nut