Quote:
Originally Posted by RatedZ
What about when passing on the highway, such as with "2-gear downshifts?" In other words, if I leave the car in drive, and then mash the throttle, does it sluggishly "kick down" one gear, and then another, or is it pretty much a "7-5" downshift?
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If you don't touch the paddle shifters and mash the throttle, it does hessitate a bit as it's trying to figure out if it needs to go to 5th, 4th or 3rd...the shift itself is pretty quick, but more or less it's like it decides on 4th, makes the move, then changes it's mind and goes to another gear. It's enough that you'll notice it, and change how you accellerate if you don't use the paddles or tip it to manual.
If you use the paddles, two bumps and a stomp does nicely (7=>5, 5=>4)
When it goes into 3rd it's only there for a little bit before it drops into 4th. I think the ECU is thinking "fastest accel possible" and forgets where the redline/manditory shiftpoint is...
In that respect, the auto, in auto-mode, is lacking, is on heavy accellleration and how it handles downshifting.
Using the paddles it's easy, as you know when you'll punch it, and once you get used to the ratios, you know where it'll be ideal - and it'll hold that gear...
And after you pass, just drive to maintain speed and it'll slip back into auto-mode again.
One thing I have noticed is that with the automatic in auto mode, it's fairly smooth. Using the paddles gives it a bit more kick. Have it in manual-mode, gives it a lot of kick.
Kind of cool - it's a manual transmission with different levels of "manual" to it.