406malibu

yea... you do realize that by "manually" shifting your car actually slows you down right? Your computer shifts faster than you, just get it tuned if you want to change your shift points. and yea, downshifting like that will tear it up in no time.

'Trust'

iTrader: (24)

Plain and simple, downshifting an auto car under any kind of heavy throttle is bad/stupid. Down shifting while you slow down is okay, but equally as pointless. Holding gears past the point where the car makes peak power, again, pointless. If you do anything when you race the car, leave it in 3rd from a stop until the end of the 1/4 mile, you can do this with gears up to 4.10's and about 450RWHP in an A4 with a 26" tire. A cooler is a must if you have a stall. /thread.

DobsZ28

iTrader: (2)

Buy a manual tranny.

thunderstruck507

iTrader: (18)

downshifting can be very handy when rolling down long hills so you don't kill your brakes

its also handy holding gears (if you do it right) on long corners if you don't want the transmission to upshift and bog the engine before you power out of the corner

jsteele90

iTrader: (13)

brakes are cheaper to replace then a tranny

02 BLK WS6

iTrader: (11)

Manually shifting an auto will certainly shorten it's life. A well built unit will last longer.

thunderstruck507

iTrader: (18)

unless a 4l60e is built a ton different than a 4l60 and i just don't realize it, there are engine braking bands and downshifting to slow the car won't harm it at all

Blackhawk777

Yea downshifting a 4l60e is VERY bad. Ask me how I know.

'Trust'

iTrader: (24)

I said under heavy throttle.... slowing the car down wouldn't be under heavy throttle.

87gnx

iTrader: (3)

To the o.p. Get your stall and cooler (24k should get you by), and let us know how it works,If its like ours, you'll have a "perm a grin" on your face every time you drive it!!.

thunderstruck507

iTrader: (18)

I was referring to where it said it was "equally pointless"

everyone on this site seems to think for some reason the shifter in an auto fbody is like the self destruct button on a GTR so I was just offering some examples of when it's not only acceptable but can actually be better for your car

also a lot of reputable people recommend using the shifter to hold the car in 1st during a burnout so you can modulate tire spin and prevent the transmission from shifting into 2nd so you're not bouncing off the rev limiter (also supposed to be easier on some of the parts) hooking up in 2nd or 3rd gear is bad and this is even mentioned in paperwork from transgo with their kits

but I agree downshifting under hard acceleration is not a good idea and manually shifting through from 1st at WOT is also bad due to hitting the rev limiter and other things

shaun

i can make 5th gear chirp in my a4 hahaha.
just droping down a gear with the gear selector is hard on the drive train also its a good way to wear out or bear motor mounts and tranny mounts.
a friend of mine used to do that in his 99 ws6 a lot and he had to replace his tranny mount every few months.
let the pcm do the shifting.

Flaring Afro

5th gear?

jrob56

iTrader: (39)

i think maybe its a joke?

Ironxcross

iTrader: (8)

automatics are for letting the transmission shift itself

if you want to shift get a 6-speed and do it right

if you want different shift points, get it tuned for them so it can "hold the gear a little longer" automatically

shaun

it was a joke lol.

Ironxcross

iTrader: (8)

lol trolls.

Dan Stewart

OP, unless you have a manual valve body installed, stick to leaving it in "D". Get yourself a stall and a tune and you'll lose the "itch" to manually select gears ever again.