Does driving stickshift really make you a better driver?

[Rupert]

Well, I'm leaving my office now, so maybe I'll grit my teeth and try it out.  I'll let you know.  I really avoid redlining it since it really doesn't do the engine any favors, but a redline here or there won't hurt anyone.... right?

Dude, there's no problem at all with redlining an engine, at least one in good condition. That's why there's a redline at all; so you don't go passed it, which can eventually damage the engine. I used to redline the Miata almost daily.

[TBR]

Dude, there's no problem at all with redlining an engine, at least one in good condition. That's why there's a redline at all; so you don't go passed it, which can eventually damage the engine. I used to redline the Miata almost daily.

I know that, and I am not sure what your point is. I don't do it for the sake of the engine, I do it to save gas and for my own sanity.

[Rupert]

Like I said, to me it seems like most automatics hold gears for too LONG. I don't want to go up to 4500 before it shifts if I am just driving around town. That's annoying to me.

So back off the throttle, eh? Also, just because you put the gear lever in a higher gear, doesn't mean the transmission is gonna actually do it for you. The gear the selector is in is not the gear the transmission is in; it's the highest gear it will go in. So, if you have the lever in 3rd and you want to be in 2nd, downshifting to 2nd will get you there. But if the lever is in 3rd, the transmission is in 3rd, and you want to be in 4th, moving the selector to 4th won't necessarily do anything. The transmission will decide when to shift to 4th. Having the selector in 4th gives it the option of 4th only.

Test and see. Put the lever in second, start from a standstill. Accelerate steadily until it shifts to 2nd, then immediately move the lever to 3rd. Keep accelerating at the same steady pace. It won't shift to 3rd until it wants to (right combination of throttle input and engine speed, I believe). You might have to try a few different rates of acceleration. I don't know about new fancy 150 speed automatics, but this is how older ATs work.

[Rupert]

I know that, and I am not sure what your point is. I don't do it for the sake of the engine, I do it to save gas and for my own sanity.

Shit, sorry, replying to Sax. See above...

[Cookie Monster]

Dude, there's no problem at all with redlining an engine, at least one in good condition. That's why there's a redline at all; so you don't go passed it, which can eventually damage the engine. I used to redline the Miata almost daily.

My parents think it's bad for the engine to go over 3k rpm.

[Rupert]

Your parents are wrong.

But I see you know that.

It took a while, but I convinced my folks that I know more about cars than them. 

[TBR]

So back off the throttle, eh? Also, just because you put the gear lever in a higher gear, doesn't mean the transmission is gonna actually do it for you. The gear the selector is in is not the gear the transmission is in; it's the highest gear it will go in. So, if you have the lever in 3rd and you want to be in 2nd, downshifting to 2nd will get you there. But if the lever is in 3rd, the transmission is in 3rd, and you want to be in 4th, moving the selector to 4th won't necessarily do anything. The transmission will decide when to shift to 4th. Having the selector in 4th gives it the option of 4th only.

Test and see. Put the lever in second, start from a standstill. Accelerate steadily until it shifts to 2nd, then immediately move the lever to 3rd. Keep accelerating at the same steady pace. It won't shift to 3rd until it wants to (right combination of throttle input and engine speed, I believe). You might have to try a few different rates of acceleration. I don't know about new fancy 150 speed automatics, but this is how older ATs work.

Seems to shift when immediately when I move it, but maybe I am wrong. I don't exactly drive an AT very much.

[NomisR]

WTF?  What's with the stupid debate over stupid stuff like AT??!

[Rupert]

Seems to shift when immediately when I move it, but maybe I am wrong. I don't exactly drive an AT very much.

If it's the old style AT, and it does that, then it would have shifted at the same time or earlier if you had let it shift by itself.

I have a lot of AT experience in a wide range or conditions... Unfortunately. x_x There's a reason I've only owned one vehicle for five months with an AT.

[Rupert]

WTF?  What's with the stupid debate over stupid stuff like AT??!

This post can work with any thread on the board, just replace "AT" with the relevant topic.

[NomisR]

This post can work with any thread on the board, just replace "AT" with the relevant topic.

  True

[CALL_911]

BMW's Steptronic is terrible when it comes to shifting for you. Even SMG shifts for you.

I thought Audi's Tiptronic was amazingly good at holding gears.

Tiptronic is no better than Steptronic at holding gears.

Manumatics suck.

[the Teuton]

Manumatics suck.

I think I can agree with you on this.

They're really not that fun at all, and they are all too willing to upshift when you need more low-end grunt to get up a hill.

[hotrodalex]

I got my brother's Saturn up to redline on Sunday. I always wondered how much "performance" the performance switch on the console would provide, so I switched it on and floored it. Got that sucker to redline with ease.

[sportyaccordy]

I think I can agree with you on this.

They're really not that fun at all, and they are all too willing to upshift when you need more low-end grunt to get up a hill.

The manumatic in the G35x I drove was excellent. Better than any of the either rubbery or heavyweight shift actions & either super long stroke or weird to engage clutches of any manual Nissan I've driven. And the best part of it was, when I didn't want to shift anymore... just tip the lever over back to drive.

I'm convinced... manual-like ratios for the first few gears with super cruiser top gears, obedient manual shift controls & rev match downshifting can make a decently powered auto car pretty entertaining, with the convenience of automatic shifting available as well. To me, seems like a win-win.

[saxonyron]

Dude, there's no problem at all with redlining an engine, at least one in good condition. That's why there's a redline at all; so you don't go passed it, which can eventually damage the engine. I used to redline the Miata almost daily.

I ran the test this AM on the highway.  Left it in manumatic 3rd and ran it up to redline.  She snapped off a perfect shift at redline (6,800RPM).  I was doing around 95ish at that point, but the engine sounded so glorious I couldn't pay attention to the speedo.  I realized one other reason I don't run to redline too often is that to get there, you really need to be mashing the gas and driving like you stole it.  I'd get pulled over even more than I do already, so I'll be keeping it closer to 5,000 rpm. 

[Rupert]

That's one reason why I like slow cars. You can hit redline without breaking the law too much.

[saxonyron]

That's one reason why I like slow cars. You can hit redline without breaking the law too much.

[MX793]

That's one reason why I like slow cars. You can hit redline without breaking the law too much.

There is something to the old adage that it's more fun to drive a slow car fast than drive a fast car slow. 

[J86]

That's one reason why I like slow cars. You can hit redline without breaking the law too much.

I think that's why I don't really get impassioned about new cars like I do older ones.  With newer cars, the performance is justmostly academic

[Rupert]

I think that's why I don't really get impassioned about new cars like I do older ones.  With newer cars, the performance is justmostly academic

Yes, fully true.

[Rupert]

There is something to the old adage that it's more fun to drive a slow car fast than drive a fast car slow. 

Also fully true.

[Colonel Cadillac]

I ran the test this AM on the highway.  Left it in manumatic 3rd and ran it up to redline.  She snapped off a perfect shift at redline (6,800RPM).  I was doing around 95ish at that point, but the engine sounded so glorious I couldn't pay attention to the speedo.  I realized one other reason I don't run to redline too often is that to get there, you really need to be mashing the gas and driving like you stole it.  I'd get pulled over even more than I do already, so I'll be keeping it closer to 5,000 rpm. 

Interesting. I guess I was wrong, I thought my mom's A4 upshifted early in manual mode, but I guess not.

[AltinD]

Once in a deserted stretch I put the DSG in Sport mode and flored it till 124 MPH (200 kph) then I kind a slowed down and at 112 MPH (180 kph), the car downshifted to the 5th. LOL

[sportyaccordy]

Man I have been driving my mom's RX300 all week... coming back to my Accord has been a welcome change. I was really set on buying an automatic car but I think I would get bored with it very quickly.

[dazzleman]

That's one reason why I like slow cars. You can hit redline without breaking the law too much.

But breaking the law is the best part of it....



[I'm in BADASS mode again...]

[Rupert]

I see that.

[dazzleman]

I see that.

With your attitude about not wanting to break the law too much, it's no wonder you haven't been able to score a nice juicy speeding ticket yet.  That's pretty bogus and lame, dude....

[Rupert]

Ha, not for trying. Did I ever tell about the time I passed an undercover cop going 90 on a backroad, cut a lot of apexes, almost passed someone with oncoming traffic, and then got out of the ticket?

[dazzleman]

Ha, not for trying. Did I ever tell about the time I passed an undercover cop going 90 on a backroad, cut a lot of apexes, almost passed someone with oncoming traffic, and then got out of the ticket?

That's pretty impressive. 

How did you get out of it?