Today on the way to work I'm driving up a two-lane (each way) road. Pulling up behind a few cars, I signal to move over a lane to pass; but some idiot in a Mustang Cobra accelerates up beside me - then slows down to pace the slower vehicle.

I'm not a big fan of weaving through traffic, but this is pretty irritating; especially when it appears to be done on purpose. So I shift down to 2 (auto) and am slightly behind the guy and a few car lengths behind the front car. The guy has left less than a car length gap so I can't pass - but I figured my time would come.

Sure enough, after a few minutes he fades back another half-length - and boom: floor it at about 3,500 rpm, the Max catapults forward, and rockets through the gap. Suddenly, no more problem

He immediately changes lanes to try and pass, but is blocked by other traffic . And I cruised away

 

Yep its very nice to have the power with the comfort for traffic pasing opportunities.

 

done the same many times. hate it when i try to be nice (blinker on, wait for someone to let me in) and then some jerk makes an effort to block me, cut me off, etc. The Max definatly helps avoid morons in traffic

 

Why do you down shift to 2nd? I have an auto too and I don't know too much about racing. What does the down shifting do and what did you do after you shifted to 2nd? Did you upshift, leave it in that gear?

 

In 2nd at the speed we were going (40 - 45) the auto is in the best powerband for acceleration (3,500+ rpm). And by changing to 2, I removed the time required for a) the tranny to decide it needed to downshift to 2, and b) the time required to do so. That's only a second or so, but still time.

And I would typically shift to 3 at 6k rpm, which means the car will actually make the shift around 6,400 - 6,500; but in this case I was already done and slowing down before 6k.

 

I did almost the same exact thing today except a left a new Camry eating some Maxima dust.

 

yeah, when i put it in 2nd at 50 it just flies.

 

it also flies in 3rd going like 40