For those of you with the AT/Manual - How many use manual mode? How often? Why? At what shift points do you gear-up/down?

My answers:

I use it seldom.

I use it:
1) In snow or bad weather to gear down when slowing up.
2) When I want to mess around and hear the exhaust.

I shift up when the car starts to feel "heavy" - around 4000RPMs.

Other tidbits I've noticed about the manual mode:
- It won't gear down if your RPMs are already pretty high.
- I've heard that if you leave it in Manual and just throttle it, it will automatically shift at Redline: I haven't confirmed that, has anyone else?

 

I stopped using it when I found out how high it reved.. but this was during my break in period.. I might try it again sometime.......

 

"Other tidbits I've noticed about the manual mode:
- It won't gear down if your RPMs are already pretty high.
- I've heard that if you leave it in Manual and just throttle it, it will automatically shift at Redline: I haven't confirmed that, has anyone else?"

Both are true. It's basically idiot proof. shifts too early though.

 

Another thing I've noticed is that it will not let you shift into 5th at a point where the automatic "D" will shift from 4th to 5th.... nothing bad, just a little strange.

 

basically it will shift before redline for you (actually higher than auto) to prevent damage and will downshift to prevent stalling. You cannot downshift if that will cause redline or upshift if RPM too low and cause stalling.

I use manual to pass people, when I feel the desire to act like I have manual or just see/feel/hear the high RPM, to help slow down abruptly if needed, in the snow, or steep hills.

Monotaur- I have noticed the RPM do increase slightly when you switch to manual. So the shift points seem to rise a little.

Happy "Shifting"

SHIFT_was that a max?

 

I use it to heat the engine at full throttle, but otherwise it's useless.

 

I never use it, but see that I might if I needed to drive slowly with more power.

I have heard that some people use it when someone is tailgating them. If one decelerates using the autostick only (hence, no brake lights while slowing rapidly) it can get people's attention pretty quickly (so they back off).

 

i use it to pass people and slow down really..
the rpms increase when you use the manual mode and on top of that..

you can shift into gears only at certain speeds~
1 to 2 - almost immediately
2 to 3 - 20 mph
3 to 4 - 35 mph
4 to 5 - 45 mph

only problem with it is that in automatic, it will kick in 5th gear around 40mph but wont let you in manual mode, dont understand it but still a great car..

 

i just put on the hazards and start to slow down (they cant say i didnt warn them) .. scares them tailgaters..

 

How many use manual mode? I do.

How often? Rarely.

Why? Just scared of jacking up the tranny, and for what? Can’t really accomplish a whole lot in manual mode. Does anyone find it helps them in the “light to light” adventures with other cars?


At what shift points do you gear-up/down? Haven’t really fooled around with it enough to figure that out. Seems like Tototeee9999 has posted some accurate numbers.

I do however use it once in a great while like others here, to slow down on icy/snowy roads.

I have used it with tailgaters, although it’s much more fun to just leave them in the dust, then change lanes after they have been sufficiently smoked.

I think it's almost just a novelty. But I still love my MAX!

 

I just leave it in manual mode and don't touch it will shift on its own

 

true, but you will also see around 15mpg. why would you cause excessive wear on it, even if you're only leasing it? may be funny to you. but who will laugh when you turn it in and they access the computer to see how you drove it and charge you for tranny work?

relatively, you can shift up around 2500 RPM and higher but the next gear would not be below 1500 RPM. You can down shift as long as you are not below 1500 RPM or would make it rev above redline.

Manual mode is dummy proof, so you can play with it to see exactly when you can shift. If you want to start off, or enter the highway as quickly as possible, you can let it shift on its own right before redline. even if u forget to downshift when slowing, it will on its own to stay above 1000 RPM.

 

I'm pretty sure that it only upshifts autmatically at redline up to 3rd gear. It won't shift into 4 unless u do it yourself. All "E" shifts have the same prtection, as far as I know, unless you get a car with SMG... (which aren't many yet, Toyota/Lexus,BMW,Ferrari are the only ones I know of )

But I never use it...in the city it's a pain, if I wanted stick I would have gotten it. When u punch the car it downshifts for u automatically anyway

 

you haven't gone fast enough

 

I guess I haven't IN AUTO MODE. LOL

 

I used it at lunch today. The only thing I don't like about it is it's response time. There seems to be too much of a hesitation after you've moved the shifter.

 

are you sure you tried to shift when it was able? if you keep your foot on the gas and upshift atleast at 2500k RPM it should change immediately. downshifting should be immediately also if braking or accelerating. of course it won't go if it will cause redline.

 

Yes, I was shifting between 3000 and 4000 rpm. Downshifting was almost immediate.

 

I never really use it....sluggish. Only time I will use it is if I want to be in a specific powerband. 45 mph in 3rd is nice to play with.

Will it shift on its own if you forget...yes, is it good to do this all the time...I imagine it will cause heat, not good for the trans if you just slap it in manualmatic mode and just punch it until it shifts.

Nice little gee whiz toy, guess good for mountain decents to take some pressure off the brakes. In traffic, kinda pointless to use. Just my opinion.

 

like nismo said, " you haven't gone fast enough " cause I go through all the gears just fine when I use it. it shifts all the way to 5 with me...