Auto to Sportronic while moving?

[2002EclipseGT]

I just bought an 02 Eclipse GT, like 4 days ago, and was wondering whether I could move the shifter from the automatic gate to the sportronic gate while the car is driving in a high gear (3rd, 4th etc.)? And from sportronic to auto.
The manual is very vague on this and I would prefer not to learn the hard way.

Sorry if this has already been asked and answered but I'm a noob to mitsu's. And yes I tried the search button.

[crazy_ugly_coyote]

go ahead and move it back and forth to your hearts content!!! i am always using it to down shift to slowdown, or when i know better than the computer. i also throw it into neutral when i sit at the light so i dont have to hold onto the brake. so go ahead and move it back and forth all you want at any RPM! (just be sure to shift up!!!! it will not shift up for you at all, only down at low RPM's!)

[FairyDust]

one thing though, I wouldn't use it too much when your like on the freeway or at high speeds because it eats more gas. I dunno why. I play with mine a lot and I've noticed it. So when I wanna play iwth it I generally just use it on back roads or roads where the speeds aer under 50 and stuff.

I got a question about this though. So many of my friends really like the sportronic, they think its really fun and stuff. I'm not overly impressed with it. Why do so many think its so fun?

[MitsuGrl2002]

I think it is great! I will admit it gets boring going through the city with the constant shifting when not really necessary (for us who are used to automatic shifting) but when you are pissed at someone and want to head em off at a stop light or something, the sportronic rules!!! I kicked so many asses with it =)

[Vtec95Civic]

Yeah unless they have a real manual tranny.

Pfft I hate sportronic.. gimme a clutch anyday.

[94tegRS]

Originally Posted by FairyDust

one thing though, I wouldn't use it too much when your like on the freeway or at high speeds because it eats more gas. I dunno why. I play with mine a lot and I've noticed it. So when I wanna play iwth it I generally just use it on back roads or roads where the speeds aer under 50 and stuff.

thats cuz you are at higher RPM's much more when you are in the manumatic mode. you wouldnt use it for just regular driving, it would be pointless, you use it when you want control for twisty roads or when racing, and even if you arent racing, go out and rive it in manumatic for a while and pay attention to where you usually shift, then go out and drive it like you would on the way to work just relaxing and see where it shifts, its probably alot sooner in the revs than you do.