Manual shifting with Automatics

[z33_Tec]

Ive never tried this before and was just curious about it. Ive heard its better to shift the gears manually when racing with an automatic. I was just wondering, do you just start in 1st and then go and when your ready to shift take your foot off the gas and shift it up to 2nd then step on the gas again? I know with some gears you cant shift without having your foot on the break pedal so I was just wondering if you just shift it while driving and if it will damage your transmition at all. I got great feedback about break standing and dont think ill be trying that at all but from what it sounds like you can just shift manually while driving and it wont damage anything. Any feedback is greatly appreciated, thanks!:flash: :licker: :flash:

[flylwsi]

if you've got your foot down, it's going to shift at the most optimal point.

shifting manually works, but it's easier, and quicker, to let the trans do the shifting...

depends on the car... your car, the cav, i'd say let it shift on it's own...

[z33_Tec]

Really? Ive heard when racing you want to be able to control the RPM's more. I heard the auto-tranny usually shifts too soon or something. Ahh, well what do I know! If anyone has any experience doing this though post some more info if you can, thanks.

[90gs]

do 1->2->D

most cars shift early if they're auto even if its floored

[z33_Tec]

Oh, also my friend just told me that if your manually shifting with an automatic, to start in 2nd and then shift to drive because 1st gear does nothing for automatics. I have no idea if this is true or not, it doesnt really sound right but maybe it is, I have no idea, any help would be appreciated, heh.

[fatninja19]

Shifting your auto trans. like that also leads to a shortened life span of the trans.

[flylwsi]

if you shift it, you're holding to an rpm you think is necessary...

there are different shift maps for how hard you're driving your car.

if you've got it floored, it will take the "hardest" shift map, which has optimized shift points.

you also need to take into account how long it takes for the trans to actually shift once you've shifted the shifter... if you're going to be shifting it, you need to shift "early" like if you know it takes 1/2 sec. to shift, and you want it to shift at 6500rpm or something, YOU need to shift early so the car shifts at the right spot...

[z33_Tec]

Ah, yep, I knew that you were controlling it if you did it this way and that it takes time to shift, but that guy just said it can hurt your transmission so that it doesnt last as long? Is this true? I dont want to do anything that will hurt my car, in the end ill probably just be using drive all the time, this way just sounded fun and I thought I might try it out if it was safe heh. Oh welll... btw, everyone who replied, you guys are amazing, these replies are like chat room speed, heh, thanks so much.

[flylwsi]

it's not going to destroy the motor, just like me having a few powershifts in my car isn't going to destroy the motor/trans...

it'll do a little damage, not a lot, and definitely not noticable.

[z33_Tec]

What kind of car do you have?

[flylwsi]

read and see...
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t101166.html

[z33_Tec]

Wow, sweet, sounds like a really nice prelude. Do you have any pics?

[flylwsi]

i will in a week or so...

going on a cannonball, so i'll have mad pics from there... i'll try to get a few with my digi tonight for everyone...

[z33_Tec]

Ah, sweet. Oh by the way, you always talk about shifting at like 6500... my auto usually shifts at like 3500 I think... Isnt that... really early? Or is that normal?

[RACER D12]

but see thats when your not driving hard. Go out to a SAFE spot and floor your car and then watch were it sifts