Awkward downshifting with auto SE
08-14-2003, 06:17 AM
#1
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Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 218
Awkward downshifting with auto SE
For all you with 5 speed autos:
I've only had my car for about 3 days now and cant get enough of it. My question is about slowing down. I've noticed when I'm slowing down that the car down shifts and it's very noticable. I actually have to let off the brakes as the car starts down shifting. I like this feature but it's still a little awkward and hard to get used to. I let my wife drive and she was asking me about it too. Has anyone else noticed this?
I've only had my car for about 3 days now and cant get enough of it. My question is about slowing down. I've noticed when I'm slowing down that the car down shifts and it's very noticable. I actually have to let off the brakes as the car starts down shifting. I like this feature but it's still a little awkward and hard to get used to. I let my wife drive and she was asking me about it too. Has anyone else noticed this?
08-14-2003, 06:25 AM
#2
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 230
Re: Awkward downshifting with auto SE
Originally posted by 4drsleeper
For all you with 5 speed autos:
I've only had my car for about 3 days now and cant get enough of it. My question is about slowing down. I've noticed when I'm slowing down that the car down shifts and it's very noticable. I actually have to let off the brakes as the car starts down shifting. I like this feature but it's still a little awkward and hard to get used to. I let my wife drive and she was asking me about it too. Has anyone else noticed this?
For all you with 5 speed autos:
I've only had my car for about 3 days now and cant get enough of it. My question is about slowing down. I've noticed when I'm slowing down that the car down shifts and it's very noticable. I actually have to let off the brakes as the car starts down shifting. I like this feature but it's still a little awkward and hard to get used to. I let my wife drive and she was asking me about it too. Has anyone else noticed this?
My car does it, but after I really started hitting it hard.
08-14-2003, 07:55 AM
#3
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Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 218
No, I haven't been driving it hard because it's only got 550 miles on it. I noticed the down shifting more when I'm braking really slow. In the more aggressive breaking I don't feel it at all, but you have to remember my brakes are still super sensitive.
08-14-2003, 11:23 AM
#6
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Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 10
When you brake quickly, most automatic transmissions don't downshift into every gear. They wait until you hit the gas and THEN downshift into the gear appropriate for the speed you are at after braking.
But it would seem that Nissan programmed the Max tranny to downshift in advance of the need for the gear. When you brake the car slowly, the tranny has time to downshift into every gear (5, 4, 3, etc.). When you brake quickly it doesn't have the time.
This is how the tranny in my current 2000 Passat works as well.
Why do this downshifting? Because the car will then already be in the appropriate gear when you go to accelerate again. As the others have said, you'll adjust to it, and may come to appreciate it, because of the greater responsiveness from the engine and tranny.
But it would seem that Nissan programmed the Max tranny to downshift in advance of the need for the gear. When you brake the car slowly, the tranny has time to downshift into every gear (5, 4, 3, etc.). When you brake quickly it doesn't have the time.
This is how the tranny in my current 2000 Passat works as well.
Why do this downshifting? Because the car will then already be in the appropriate gear when you go to accelerate again. As the others have said, you'll adjust to it, and may come to appreciate it, because of the greater responsiveness from the engine and tranny.
08-14-2003, 11:41 AM
#7
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Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 218
Chris,
Thanks for the explaination. That's exactly how I percieved the whole situation, I just wanted to make sure it wasn't a problem. I actually like the feeling of the downshifts and I'm sure I probably wont notice it after a couple weeks of driving.
Thanks for the explaination. That's exactly how I percieved the whole situation, I just wanted to make sure it wasn't a problem. I actually like the feeling of the downshifts and I'm sure I probably wont notice it after a couple weeks of driving.
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