[jimv]

I'm curious. Does anybody actually use the manual gear change function? If so, why and when? Manually shifting an automatic transmission seems faintly absurd to me, but maybe I'm overlooking something obvious.

 

[dta316]

Downshifting (primarily) or to hold a gear for odd, misc. reasons

 

[Hemi_Hombre]

Ditto to what dta316 said

 

[pd171]

Downshifting (primarily) or to hold a gear for odd, misc. reasons

Like showing off the power of the HEMI! I have never used the function myself.

 

[lavalamp]

It does work. Thought I'd never use it and thought I'd hit it by mistake every once and a while, but have used and it works pretty good. Sure, showing off is one reason for using it...

 

[jcsganga34]

I use it just for fun, sometimes I just feel like shifting the gears myself. The automatic shifts when the car is in D are great without using manual mode. I guess it just depends on the mood I'm in. I'm thinking that once the winter weather is here I'll be using it to have more control over the car. Also, it works well for slowing the car down without having to use the brakes. Did I mention it also works well to show the power of the HEMI

 

[II kings 9:20]

Passing on a two lane road is one place to consider it but with so much torque and responsive drive by wire throttle it is not as necessary as in my 87 300E. In that car with a gated shifter I would routinely go from 4 to 3 with a quick flick down shift and hold 3rd gear to pass. It's 3 litre made only 177hp and 188 torque but felt much more responsive by using the downshift feature (all mechanical, not the autostick of today). Even with da hemi i will drop from 5 to 3 if passing on a two laner because I like to have the torque at full boil though you could get the same result mashing the loud pedal albeit with a little less control of what gear you are in.

 

[II kings 9:20]

I use it just for fun, sometimes I just feel like shifting the gears myself. The automatic shifts when the car is in D are great without using manual mode. I guess it just depends on the mood I'm in. I'm thinking that once the winter weather is here I'll be using it to have more control over the car. Also, it works well for slowing the car down without having to use the brakes. Did I mention it also works well to show the power of the HEMI

Even with a manual tranny I never use the engine/trans for braking, brake pads are way cheaper than a tranny and it adds useless rpms to the engine and uselles wear to the tranny. The only time I down shifted to slow a car down was in my 65 Corvair when the brakes went out, the pedal swung freely on its pivot point with zero resistance, the hand operated parking brake came in handy too.

 

[05Hemi]

Same as DTA for me...cruising in a parking lot or a tract of homes, I kick it down to 2nd to keep the inertia down (to counter the lead plate strapped to my right foot)
BTW: got my first rolling violation in 25yrs...51 in a 35 going uphill! Golly gee officer, the engine has a mind of it's own.

 

[jcsganga34]

Even with a manual tranny I never use the engine/trans for braking, brake pads are way cheaper than a tranny and it adds useless rpms to the engine and uselles wear to the tranny.

Point well taken, its not something I do all the time though. Actually, only in certain situations such as If I am on a steep hill rather than constantly pump the brake (or ride them) I instead use the tranny to slow it down. Also downshifting on an off ramp is another scenario I can think of. I too, would not recommend using the auto-stick as a primary means to slow or stop the car.

 

[jjs]

I cannot believe people AREN'T using it! Great feature, takes advantage of more 'near' peak torque and HP. Coming from a 5 speed Maxima, it is great to have that control over engine rpms and power WITHOUT having to live with a clutch...boy my left leg is much happier these days!!

 

[jjs]

Passing on a two lane road is one place to consider it but with so much torque and responsive drive by wire throttle it is not as necessary as in my 87 300E. In that car with a gated shifter I would routinely go from 4 to 3 with a quick flick down shift and hold 3rd gear to pass. It's 3 litre made only 177hp and 188 torque but felt much more responsive by using the downshift feature (all mechanical, not the autostick of today). Even with da hemi i will drop from 5 to 3 if passing on a two laner because I like to have the torque at full boil though you could get the same result mashing the loud pedal albeit with a little less control of what gear you are in.

No kidding...that situation and I also find it very helpful when two highways merge or on longer on-ramps when finding the 'sweet spot' in the powerband helps immensely getting out into traffic.

 

[Northern Rider]

I use it all the time. Around town, I place it in 4th. What this seems to do is tell the system I want criper shifts and higher revs. It automatically goes to lower gears on its own, but at slightly higher revs. The big V-8 NEVER lugs using this method and will respond blindingly fast to a nudge on the accelerator.

What it does not do is go into 5th. I reserve that for highway cruising. I also avoid that strange vibration that occurs at 55 mph. BTW, I still get good mieage.

 

[HEMEEE]

Point well taken, its not something I do all the time though. Actually, only in certain situations such as If I am on a steep hill rather than constantly pump the brake (or ride them) I instead use the tranny to slow it down. Also downshifting on an off ramp is another scenario I can think of. I too, would not recommend using the auto-stick as a primary means to slow or stop the car.

Agreed re for braking jcsg, we debated this at length some time ago. Although I don't use it on offramps and rarely on a steep hill, it's especially helpful in hilly canyons or mountains to avoid brake fade... AND the drivers behind you will appreciate being able to trust your brakelights as opposed to those riding theirs.

Now, for fun?? That's a different story...

 

[LuvaLavaRed1]

I use mine all the time! (although I let the tranny upshift on its own during hard accelleration) The ability to come into a corner or ramp and hold the power band, instead of freewheeling with the motor lugging is one of the main reasons I purchased this luxury "performance vehicle". It has most of the advantages of a standard transmission, without having to ride a clutch in rush hour traffic! Northern Rider, after reading one of your previous posts about useing 4th gear around town, I have been doing the same, thanks for the tip! Although I have not had any vibration issues, the car is crisper in 4th around town. Having a custom exhaust system makes shifting even more pleasureable hearing the revs of the HEMI build up, and that powerful backpressure burrbell gearing down in a corner. Can't wait to do the anti-sway bars and springs to eliminate the body roll! The 300C is not "All show and no go" take advantage of the engineering, and fully enjoy the driving experience!

 

[OzKen]

No. I never use mine in normal driving. I was adamant that I had to have the 5 speed with the shifter, but I find it pointless.

The few times I have towed a trailer, I have used it to hold gears.

But my previous old autos were ok because you could "knock them back" to slow you down. In my manual cars I don't use the brakes at all until actual stop, as just "go down through the gears."

But new cars have very little engine braking, and I find the V6 has the least engine braking of any engine I have ever seen. "knocking it back a gear" just revs the engine, and you THEN have to brake anyway.

Nothing unusual, most cars eat brakes and that is the way they are now out of various trends, emissions etc.

I LOVE driving my manual cars, but driving the 300c with the "sports shift" is nothing like a manual for me.

Each to their own. It is a good auto box, so I let it "do it's thing." May be completely differnt in the V8's, they may be throttled differently on over run.