so is it bad to start from L and shift to 2 then to 3 then to D, shifting each time it hits 4rpm?

 

what's the point? it's an automatic, let the transmission do its job...

 

No, but by the time you reach 4000 in D you'll be going, like, 100! It's the same as holding the gas just enough so that it shifts at 4000.

 

That's why I got a manual, like it should be.

 

You should get a manual. D is faster then shifting an auto

 

Shifting the auto manualy will give you more control over the car. Like in traffic, or if you want the tranny to stay in a certain gear so that it wont shift to 4th and then overdrive. I hate when it upshifts and then when you hit the gas it downshifts with a slight jolt.
I asked about this on ClubScion and people chewed me out also.

I mainly was talking about downshifitng. I just like hearing the TRD exhaust rumble when downshifting. Is downshifting bad with the automatic???

 

i'm pretty sure it will go up in gear if it needs to. my friends bmw is an auto and if we put it in first and gun it it will shift itself just like it would normally, even though it's in "first" i think it's a way of "idiot proofing" the auto trans so people don't screw them up

 

/shrug I've got a Mercedes C230 Automatic and shifting it manually makes it go noticably quicker.

 

Shifting an automatic is bad, I know of several people who have screwed their transmission doing it. Anyone that has tried to time the difference in shifting between "D" and shifting an auto has found and will find that "D" is faster.

The reason autos are slower then manuals are not because of bad shifting or anything like that. It is because auto are less efficient, they lose more power to the wheels.

 

well, I know that Audi's tiptronic, as well as Porsche's allow auto-shifting. I believe that the Mazda 3 also have it

 

Thats because these are true automatics which just have some buttons on the steering wheel to simulate shifting a real transmission. The shifting in these is the same as moving the stick manually from 1 2 3 D. If you want a true manual with automatic shifting, look at the Ferrari F1 transmission available in the 360 modena, or the SMG system in the BMW M3, those are real manual transmissions shifted by a computer that controls the clutch.

 

I am also curious about downshifting in traffic for control and wear and tear associated with this.

I agree off the line, let the auto do its job, but when going down steep hills, or in winter driving it is sometimes better to shift down to 3rd or 2nd to slow down just that little bit than it is to hit the brakes. I do this all the time, but question wether I am hurting the tranny.

 

Micheal Knight style!

 

you are not hurting the tranny this way, as that is exactly why they give you the option to switch the gears.

 

only downshift on grades and the such
dont downshift to hear your exhaust thats just stupid.

should of gotten a manual

you can downshift without damaging the trans for grades. just make sure your slowing down enough not to lock up the wheels or such

in the winter its good to drive out of top gear (sorry dont know if its a 5 speed or 4 speed) sometimes drive it in 2 if the conditions say to do so. but dont drive like an ___ in the snow like spinnin the wheels it will just stress out the trans and KABOOOM

but dont upshift with the trans to be "sporty" unless it has the option to do so (sportmode, triptronic etc) the computers in these transmissions are capeable to keep the transfluid all ready to go to the right valves and the such. if not the comp in todays cars will automatically shift for you. just make sure your foot is firmly planted on the floor ;)

-Paul

 

You won't hurt the tranny, so long as you don't shift like an idiot. . . but ideally you leave it in D. . .

I used to do what you are talking about (by the way, never do a neutral drop burn out) in an auto, and now I own a manual. You are a manual driver at heart, I tell ya. I didn't believe it until I switched.

 

I am a manual driver at heart, but when you share a commuter car with your wife you have to make due.

Thanks for putting my mind at ease.

 

Yeah. . . I was in a similar situation, so I understand your pain. Try to "rev match" or, I guess it's more of an assist then a match. . . my old car was RWD, and had a massive tranny. I'm not 100% sure it was my shifting, but my tranny mounts seemed to wear down pretty fast. By giving the shifts a little throttle blip (yeah, the idea seems stupid in an auto) it made the shifts a lot smoother, and will ease the sudden jerkiness of manual shifting an auto (I think the shiftomatic style auto's do this for you). Whether or not it helps wear and stress on the tranny and mounts, the shifts are a lot smoother.