OK to shift the steptronic?
- Thread starter njmurvin
- Start date
yes, you shift the auto into normal drive mode and the letter "D" illuminates on the dash display. If you knock the shift knob to the left, it goes into sport mode and "S D" illuminates. While in sport mode, you can push the shift knob forward or pull it back. Depending on your model year, this will either up- or down-shift the automatic transmission. Once you make a shift, the dash display illuminates the letter "M" followed by the gear number you have selected ("1" through "5"). Sport mode raises the shift points by about 500 rpms and it also downshifts more aggresively. In manual mode you can push it all the way to the redline before you either shift it yourself or it shifts automatically because you've approached the redline. The system is foolproof; it won't let you over-rev and it won't let you do something foolish, like downshift all the way to 1st gear while going 100 mph. It will also downshift on it's own if you need more power. For instance, if you're loping along in manual mode 5th on the highway at 55 mph and you floor it to pass, it will automatically downshift to M4 or even M3 to get you going. If you come to a stop while in manual mode, it will automatically downshift to M2. You can start from a stop just fine in M2. There is a bit of an electronic lag with the steptronic, but once you are used to it, it is fun to drive. You can downshift and hit turns just right and fishtail the back end around (with DSC off) and pull away in M1. Enjoy.
true, just because manual let's you push the redline, that doesn't mean it's the fastest. you have to study the torque curves to find the ideal shift points. I've found manual to be faster off the line when I'm pulling into traffic and I want to stay in 1st or 2nd to merge or change lanes whereas SD would have me in 3rd by then. I also like to drop into 4th on the highway, get the revs up, then pass, change lanes, etc. vs. stomping on the pedal in SD or D and waiting for the delayed downshift. It's also just plain fun to shift on your own. Hell, I should have gotten a manual.
sort of. Downshifting will slow you down. It's not as fast as braking and it will only slow you down so much (before you run out of revs). It doesn't replace braking but you can use it as a substitute in some situations. Usually, it's the big trailers that use it, but that's cuz they aren't slowing down that much anyways.
As a side note: I have always heard that downshifting to slow down is not what you should normally do in a car. It is much cheaper to replace brake components than tranny components over the long run. Using your tranny on a regular basis to slow you down can put excess wear and tear on it. Use your brakes to slow down.
Don't get me wrong codex, I know you did not say to use the tranny to slow down. This is just info for all.
Don't get me wrong codex, I know you did not say to use the tranny to slow down. This is just info for all.