Manually shifting an AT.

[finch]

I have a new OBW 2.5 AT. My first AT ever. For the past
30 years, everything I have ever owned has had a manual tranny.
Now I have this AT. I find that I get better acceleration
with lower RPMs if I manually select my gears. I can
also downshift and engine brake better if I do it manually.

Will this hurt the tranny? I thought, many years ago, that people were
told not to manually shift an AT. Is this still the case?

TIA

 

[Voja]

I'm doing the same with my 2002 Outback 2.5 AT. No problems so far (~
68K km).

Voja
Burnaby, BC, Canada

 

[Leader]

I have a new OBW 2.5 AT. My first AT ever. For the past
30 years, everything I have ever owned has had a manual tranny.
Now I have this AT. I find that I get better acceleration
with lower RPMs if I manually select my gears. I can
also downshift and engine brake better if I do it manually.

Will this hurt the tranny? I thought, many years ago, that people were
told not to manually shift an AT. Is this still the case?

TIA

it has never been the case in any vehicle.
gmc vans to trucks to cars
shift it or leave it in drive

 

[Danny Russell]

I have a new OBW 2.5 AT. My first AT ever. For the past
30 years, everything I have ever owned has had a manual tranny.
Now I have this AT. I find that I get better acceleration
with lower RPMs if I manually select my gears. I can
also downshift and engine brake better if I do it manually.

Will this hurt the tranny? I thought, many years ago, that people were
told not to manually shift an AT. Is this still the case?

TIA

I use the Manual control of my 4EAT all the time. Ultimately my tranny shifts less (I manually hold
it in the proper gear) and the car is a lot more fun to drive.

If I don't need to get away from a light quickly, I start out in second, and at speeds under 40 mph,
I usually keep it out of OD.

I downshift when slowing, but I've mastered a carefully-timed throttle blip that minimizes
clutch-pack wear. -Danny

 

[Ragnar]

I have a new OBW 2.5 AT. My first AT ever. For the past
30 years, everything I have ever owned has had a manual tranny.
Now I have this AT. I find that I get better acceleration
with lower RPMs if I manually select my gears. I can
also downshift and engine brake better if I do it manually.

Will this hurt the tranny? I thought, many years ago, that people were
told not to manually shift an AT. Is this still the case?

This begs the obvious question: Why did you buy an auto if you're going to
shift it like a stick?

 

[Rockin Ronnie]

This begs the obvious question: Why did you buy an auto if you're going to
shift it like a stick?

I too like to manually shift our new 05 OBW. However I am not the only
driver and others in my family prefer to let the trans shift itself.
Were I the only driver I likely would have chosen the manual.

Ron

 

[Nicolas Dore]

I have a new OBW 2.5 AT. My first AT ever. For the past
30 years, everything I have ever owned has had a manual tranny.
Now I have this AT. I find that I get better acceleration
with lower RPMs if I manually select my gears. I can
also downshift and engine brake better if I do it manually.

Will this hurt the tranny? I thought, many years ago, that people were
told not to manually shift an AT. Is this still the case?

TIA

My previous 2 cars' owner's manual specifically recommended against
engine braking and changing gears with the throttle anywhere near
open, but they were older, mechanical automatics. My 2000 Legacy's
manual gives information on engine braking and changing gears. I guess
the electronic automatics can handle the gear changing and engine
braking that older automatics could not...

My 2 cents...

Nicolas

 

[Richard Chang]

I have a new OBW 2.5 AT. My first AT ever. For the past
30 years, everything I have ever owned has had a manual tranny.
Now I have this AT. I find that I get better acceleration
with lower RPMs if I manually select my gears. I can
also downshift and engine brake better if I do it manually.

I find that it's enough to downshift to 3rd on occasion and let the
computer worry about 1st & 2nd. I downshift to third to get on the
highway, especially when there's not much of a merge lane. This was real
useful the other day when a Honda Accord decided to hang out in my blind
spot. Getting from 45 to 75 is much quicker without the downshift.

-R.

 

[David Betts]

I have a new OBW 2.5 AT. My first AT ever. For the past
30 years, everything I have ever owned has had a manual tranny.
Now I have this AT. I find that I get better acceleration
with lower RPMs if I manually select my gears. I can
also downshift and engine brake better if I do it manually.

Will this hurt the tranny? I thought, many years ago, that people were
told not to manually shift an AT. Is this still the case?

Nope. Do it as much as you like.

David Betts
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Ragnar]

I too like to manually shift our new 05 OBW. However I am not the only
driver and others in my family prefer to let the trans shift itself.
Were I the only driver I likely would have chosen the manual.

Then teach them to drive a stick. Its not like its rocket science.

 

[finch]

This begs the obvious question: Why did you buy an auto if you're going to
shift it like a stick?

Sigh. Because the wife can't drive a stick and won't learn.
I wanted a car that she could drive as well (new kid and all that).
Just seemed like the thing to do.

 

[Rob Munach]

Nope. Do it as much as you like.

David Betts
(e-mail address removed)

It may not hurt it per se, but it will wear it out faster.

 

[John O]

Then teach them to drive a stick. Its not like its rocket science.

Some people just won't do it. It's the reality of families.

-John O

 

[Rick Courtright]

Then teach them to drive a stick. Its not like its rocket science.

True...

Rocket science is easy compared to teaching some people something new,
or that they don't want to learn.

Rick

 

[Jim85CJ]

It's pretty easy... there's the car... learn to drive it or don't drive it.

 

[Richard Chang]

Then teach them to drive a stick. Its not like its rocket science.

Some people just won't do it. It's the reality of families.[/QUOTE]

Teaching your wife/girlfriend to drive with a stick shift is on the
list of things you should not do if you want to keep your relationship.

It's there right under "Answering the question 'Does this dress make me
look fat?'"

-R.

 

[Edward Hayes]

I have the best of both. I use auto for my everyday very mild driving and
the computer has learned so I get good gas mileage with low shift points. I
over ride the mild computer setting by manually shifting when I want to
drive very spirited.

Some people just won't do it. It's the reality of families.

Teaching your wife/girlfriend to drive with a stick shift is on the
list of things you should not do if you want to keep your relationship.

It's there right under "Answering the question 'Does this dress make me
look fat?'"

-R.[/QUOTE]

 

[Marky]

I have a new OBW 2.5 AT. My first AT ever. For the past
30 years, everything I have ever owned has had a manual tranny.
Now I have this AT. I find that I get better acceleration
with lower RPMs if I manually select my gears. I can
also downshift and engine brake better if I do it manually.

Will this hurt the tranny? I thought, many years ago, that people were
told not to manually shift an AT. Is this still the case?

TIA

I can't answer your question but I find it rather rude that automatic
drivers are often looked down apon as though they are inferior or less
capable behind the wheel. If someone wants to drive an AT and use the
sportshift to get better performance this does not automatically mean they
should get a manual. It's a completely personal preference.

 

[Ragnar]

I can't answer your question but I find it rather rude that automatic
drivers are often looked down apon as though they are inferior or less
capable behind the wheel. If someone wants to drive an AT and use the
sportshift to get better performance this does not automatically mean they
should get a manual. It's a completely personal preference.

Sounds like someone is a little sensitive. Self-esteem problem?

 

[Marky]

Sounds like someone is a little sensitive. Self-esteem problem?

Is a bit of maturity too much to ask?