Triumph Acclaim

Highly Acclaimed

Triomatic Gearbox - a treatise

Some Acclaims are equipped with Honda's semi-automatic gearbox. This is a bit of a curiosity but very useable.

There is no clutch, just the usual two pedals as per an automatic. Three forward gears may be manually selected but in practice First is never used except for hill starts and heavy loads though it is recommended when crawling in traffic or parking. Most normal driving is done in Second and Third.

This may sound restrictive but the 1335cc Honda Fireball engine is so flexible that it actually works!

The gears operate as follows:

P Park As per a normal Automatic.

R Reverse As per a normal Automatic.

R Neutral As per a normal Automatic.

OD Top (3rd) gear

For use from 40 mph upwards unless you need 2nd for overtaking or an incline. I don't actually shift up to this gear until I'm in a 50 limit or higher.

On the overrun is OK right down to a stop - the only problem is sometimes forgetting to change down to 2nd at low speed - the car can handle it but take-off is slow - and habitual occurence can ultimately harm the torque converter.

* Intermediate (2nd) gear

For use from 0 to 80 mph including starting from rest - I've taken it to 70 just for devilment but for normal motoring an upshift at 40-50 should suffice. Handy for overtaking though.

This is the usual gear for town / low speed driving and for use in 40 mph limits and below. On a regular run from Croydon to the M25 I do the first 15 miles in 2nd!

No problem driving off in 2nd on the flat - this is what it is meant for, but see below for situations where 1st is appropriate.

L Low (1st) gear Essential for:

Hill starts

Starting with a load, be it a trailer or even several passengers

Recommended for:

Prolonged slow driving - either crawling in traffic or in back streets driving where limits or safety demand no more than 20 mph.

Manoevering. You have to change gear anyway so might as well use this one.

Leaving boy-racer Corsas behind at the lights! (Sometimes you gotta act your shoe-size instead of your age)

P	Park	As per a normal Automatic.
R	Reverse	As per a normal Automatic.
R	Neutral	As per a normal Automatic.
OD	Top (3rd) gear	For use from 40 mph upwards unless you need 2nd for overtaking or an incline. I don't actually shift up to this gear until I'm in a 50 limit or higher. On the overrun is OK right down to a stop - the only problem is sometimes forgetting to change down to 2nd at low speed - the car can handle it but take-off is slow - and habitual occurence can ultimately harm the torque converter.
*	Intermediate (2nd) gear	For use from 0 to 80 mph including starting from rest - I've taken it to 70 just for devilment but for normal motoring an upshift at 40-50 should suffice. Handy for overtaking though. This is the usual gear for town / low speed driving and for use in 40 mph limits and below. On a regular run from Croydon to the M25 I do the first 15 miles in 2nd! No problem driving off in 2nd on the flat - this is what it is meant for, but see below for situations where 1st is appropriate.
L	Low (1st) gear	Essential for: Hill starts Starting with a load, be it a trailer or even several passengers Recommended for: Prolonged slow driving - either crawling in traffic or in back streets driving where limits or safety demand no more than 20 mph. Manoevering. You have to change gear anyway so might as well use this one. Leaving boy-racer Corsas behind at the lights! (Sometimes you gotta act your shoe-size instead of your age)

When slowing down, use the brakes, not a 3-2 downshift. This is kinder on the car and makes for smoother driving. Just engage 2nd before putting power on again.

2-3 upshift is sometimes jerky, sometimes silky smooth - just live with it.

Finally, do not use the gearshift 'safety' button on routine changes between 2nd and 3rd. Such a habit could catch you out if you accidentally 'upshift' from 3rd to neutral but overdo it. Reverse would then get engaged with interesting results!