Automatic Transmission - Manual Gear Shifts

blomkvist · Mar 11th, 2011, 09:13

Having tested the car for 3 days, after familiarising myself with it, I've come to find very interesting and amusing the manual shifts of the automatic gearbox.

Are you using this option?
Do you find it practical or entertaining?

(I have to wait for 2 months for mine)

Rich17 · Mar 11th, 2011, 13:47

Only use it when going down really steep hills (Ditchling Beacon) and don't want to overheat the brakes, or when towing our caravan up steep hills. Otherwise its always in the right gear at the right time.

Dodgy77 · Mar 11th, 2011, 14:07

I had a go with the manual gears in a car I was given when mine was delayed.

I found that I couldnt hear the engine revving much so it was kinda impractical.
You dont realise how much you depend on naturally changing gear in your old manual cars when you get to a certain amount of revs.

I had it in 2nd gear going about 100kmh and I could only then hear the engine then revving the crap outta itself up near the red line

darbs · Mar 12th, 2011, 01:18

i drive on the a12 nr ipswich now and again. i don't go into ipswich, that would be wrong.

anyway, there are about 10 roundabouts to navigate. one of the problems i find with the auto is that on approaching a roundabout it doesn't change down to a low enough gear (usually stays in 4th). it only changes down when you exit the roundabout and put your foot down. i find the kickdown can be slightly jerky in hard acceleration and after about the 3rd roundabout it becomes a bit of a pain.

on approach to a roundabout now, i move the stick over to manual and change down manually to 2 or 3. this is much smoother and avoids the kick on the exit. as soon as i've put my foot down on exit i slide the stick back to D. the auto transparently takes over, and doesn't move up too quickly.

also, i use manual if i know that i'm about to need a lower gear, e.g. getting ready to overtake. again more responsive than waiting for the auto to kickdown.

one thing which takes a little getting used to is to change down you move the stick forward, and to move up you pull the stick down. you get used to it pretty quickly though.

blomkvist · Mar 12th, 2011, 09:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by darb

one thing which takes a little getting used to is to change down you move the stick forward, and to move up you pull the stick down. you get used to it pretty quickly though.

I think it's the other way around, but other than that I agree with everything you mentioned.

It's funny that when you have 3rd gear and you want to shift to 4th you tend to pull the lever instead of pushing it forward and you end up with 2nd...

Finally, when I drive with manual shifts my left foot is always keen to get in the way, and I have stepped on the brake a few times! (very dangerous...)

darbs · Mar 12th, 2011, 09:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by blomkvist

I think it's the other way around, but other than that I agree with everything you mentioned.

you're right. i said it was confusing!

Quote:

Originally Posted by blomkvist

Finally, when I drive with manual shifts my left foot is always keen to get in the way, and I have stepped on the brake a few times! (very dangerous...)

i did this once or twice to begin with but don't even almost do this now.

Mar 11th, 2011, 09:13	#1
blomkvist New Member Last Online: Sep 20th, 2012 14:46 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Athens	Automatic Transmission - Manual Gear Shifts Having tested the car for 3 days, after familiarising myself with it, I've come to find very interesting and amusing the manual shifts of the automatic gearbox. Are you using this option? Do you find it practical or entertaining? (I have to wait for 2 months for mine)

Mar 12th, 2011, 01:18	#4
darbs XC60 Owner Last Online: Mar 21st, 2022 00:40 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: London View Photos By: darbs	i drive on the a12 nr ipswich now and again. i don't go into ipswich, that would be wrong. anyway, there are about 10 roundabouts to navigate. one of the problems i find with the auto is that on approaching a roundabout it doesn't change down to a low enough gear (usually stays in 4th). it only changes down when you exit the roundabout and put your foot down. i find the kickdown can be slightly jerky in hard acceleration and after about the 3rd roundabout it becomes a bit of a pain. on approach to a roundabout now, i move the stick over to manual and change down manually to 2 or 3. this is much smoother and avoids the kick on the exit. as soon as i've put my foot down on exit i slide the stick back to D. the auto transparently takes over, and doesn't move up too quickly. also, i use manual if i know that i'm about to need a lower gear, e.g. getting ready to overtake. again more responsive than waiting for the auto to kickdown. one thing which takes a little getting used to is to change down you move the stick forward, and to move up you pull the stick down. you get used to it pretty quickly though. __________________ 59 (MY10) XC60 D5 205 AWD Geartronic SE Lux 54 RX8 231ps Renesis ****el 96 Megane Coupe 2.0 82 Metro 1.0

Mar 11th, 2011, 13:47	#2
Rich17 Junior Member Last Online: Oct 6th, 2014 22:02 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sussex	Only use it when going down really steep hills (Ditchling Beacon) and don't want to overheat the brakes, or when towing our caravan up steep hills. Otherwise its always in the right gear at the right time.

Mar 11th, 2011, 14:07	#3
Dodgy77 YAYAY Last Online: Aug 30th, 2013 05:26 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Wollongong	I had a go with the manual gears in a car I was given when mine was delayed. I found that I couldnt hear the engine revving much so it was kinda impractical. You dont realise how much you depend on naturally changing gear in your old manual cars when you get to a certain amount of revs. I had it in 2nd gear going about 100kmh and I could only then hear the engine then revving the crap outta itself up near the red line

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