Car Question: Shifting In An Automatic

[BamShizNackityBam]

I own an automatic car. Other than the obvious differences like the clutch, and stick layout, is there any difference between manually shifting on an automatic car and manual car?

Is there anything I have to watch out when manually shifting in an automatic?

Thanks for your time.

 

[TallBill]

Uh... wtf? No.. just put it in drive when you wish to drive.. reverse when you wish to drive backwards.. and park when your done.

 

[Imdmn04]

Originally posted by: TallBill
Uh... wtf? No.. just put it in drive when you wish to drive.. reverse when you wish to drive backwards.. and park when your done.

there are different gears for drive, like d1, d2, d3, d4...
but usually u dont need to shift it manually, unless u r towing something

 

[BCYL]

Yes... the designs of an automatic and manual transmission is fundamentally different... That's why cars with automatic trans are usually much slower than their manual counterparts...

Just put the car in D and drive... manually shifting an auto trans will only add to the wear and tear of the trans...

 

[TallBill]

yeah.. but you dont really use those.. they put those there to make you feel good with a stick in your hand.

 

[Lithium381]

Originally posted by: TallBill
yeah.. but you dont really use those.. they put those there to make you feel good with a stick in your hand.

:Q

 

[syberscott]

Depending on your car you may not want to shift manually. For example, downshifting manually in an auto will sometimes give you less power than letting it do it by itself. This is because you aren't letting the kickdown switch operate which sometimes has other features like like boosting fluid pressure for less torque converter slip.

 

[erikiksaz]

A similar thread i posted a while back

Conclusion -- manual |= automatic for a reason

 

[Linux23]

i do in my 2000 Maxima, as it refuses to downshift when i really need it.

 

[BamShizNackityBam]

How much would it cost to turn the automatic car into a manual car? Hahaha. I'm curious.

 

[syberscott]

Lots, what kind of car do you have?

 

[BamShizNackityBam]

Just a Subaru Legacy Wagon, year 2000.

 

[syberscott]

Forget it, it would seriously be cheaper to buy a new car.

 

[BamShizNackityBam]

Haha. What is this thing called "sports shifting?" Would my car have it?

 

[BCskunk]

sportsshifting.... tiptronic...

most of the newer nice cars have it...

my Z350 has tip.... not much use tho...for fun and games only

 

[ElFenix]

computer controlled automatics where you can "select" the gear by tapping the shift lever up and down have nothing to do with a manual transmission.

as for shifting it when the computer wouldn't have, no that doesn't add wear and tear to your transmission.

 

[BCYL]

Originally posted by: BamShizNackityBam
How much would it cost to turn the automatic car into a manual car? Hahaha. I'm curious.

When you bought your car, you already paid like $1000 to get the auto trans... now you wanna pay even more (a couple of thousand $$) to turn it back to manual? Why didnt you get a manual in the first place and save all that money? It would be cheaper if you sold your car and buy another car w/ a manual trans instead...

 

[BCYL]

Originally posted by: BamShizNackityBam
Haha. What is this thing called "sports shifting?" Would my car have it?

It's basically an auto trans that lets you select which gear to be in...

but bottomline it's still just a fancy auto trans, thus robs MUCH more power than a true manual trans...

 

[Marshallj]

There's no real benefit shifting any automatic transmission that still uses a torque converter instead of a clutch (like a manual).

Only on the really expensive automatics (which are really computer controlled manuals with a clutch) is manual shifting worth it when you want to have fun. Other than those rarities, it's still a slushbox.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: BamShizNackityBam
Is there anything I have to watch out when manually shifting in an automatic?

That horrible noise your transmission makes when you disembowel it mid-shift?

Sell your slushbox. Buy a stickshift. Enjoy.

- M4H

 

[Zee]

the options are available so that you can use them if you need them (ie: going up a steep hill or towing stuff) not for you to make believe you have a stick shift

 

[kami333]

Another suby owner

Like the others have said, it's not a replacement for having a stick but does come in handy in certain situations. Nice thing about our 4eat is that once you get the hang of it, it is very predictable.
There are a couple of threads at nasioc.com about shifting with the 4eat if you want to look at what other people do.

 

[rh71]

The only time I see a reason to manually shift an auto is when you're going up/down a steep hill for any length of time. I guess towing in some situations too...

What's the point of downshifting fully (D-3-2...), BTW? Does it help braking? Is this meant to relieve braking ?

 

[StageLeft]

Shifting in an auto is almost always a waste of time. You still have a torque convertor so all you're doing is pretending you have a manual when in fact you don't. Let the car do it and slosh through the gears as you slosh through life.

In regards to turning your car into a manual it will be prohibitively expensive. Don't bother.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: Linux23
i do in my 2000 Maxima, as it refuses to downshift when i really need it.

My car never downshifts.. I downshift it!