YotaLex

I see people mentioning down shifting into 1st being rough... I drive around town a lot in Sport > Manual mode.

If I let my car shift into 1st by itself it scares me (makes a clunk noise)
It seems manually downshifting into first, with my foot on the brake, when it drops down around 1k. (Works best for me at red lights.... I don't get the loud and jerky clunk like the car does on its own.)

Is my tranny gonna explode?? Lol.
I figured manual mode would be less strenuous than Auto. The 8 speed is always picking and choosing a new gear it seems.

airvtec

iTrader: (1)

The way I see it, these are both wear and tear parts. Sure the tranny lasts a whole lot longer, but why put more wear on the tranny unless you have to. Brakes are made for stopping and slowing down. Brake pads are much cheaper. I would assume a tranny that is constantly used for down shifting will see more wear than one is not.

Drone619

I agree with Airvtec, its a lot cheaper to replace brake pads than tranny parts. Only time I manually downshift is when I have to slow down fast and when I'm on a track to be in the right gear in turns.

SubOrbital

If they didn't want you to do it, they wouldn't give you a way to do it...going beyond that, the tranny brain will stop you from doing something 'stupid' anyway.

I'd just say away from forced/manual 1st gear downshifts. They're needlessly harsh.

AshyAnklez

YES. Caution stay away from 1st gear.

AshyAnklez

Interesting feedback. Thanks for the input. I will continue to downshift with pleasure.

blckbrd

Totally agree! Downshifting when needing to slow or take a turn is one thing but when approaching a red light or stop sign I'll just use the brakes.

lolfunxion

iTrader: (25)

Care to explain? First is bad even if you put it into "M" at a stop light and it defaults to first? Why is it bad?

Thanks

SubOrbital

If you put it in M at a stop light, you're not moving so it's fine. Downshifting to first while moving is a lot of stress on the moving parts - it will even shift much harder 2-1 than say 3-2 ever would and it's definitely something you can feel.

BEING in 1st gear is not objectively 'bad' per se. DOWNSHIFTING to 1st from another gear whilst moving is just a poor choice.

ISFpat

iTrader: (10)

I drive with the first 3 gears and never shift above 3rd gear because I don't want to wear down the last 5 gears.

On city streets I only use the first and second gears.

Works great for me.. mpg is somewhat bad though.

otbevo

iTrader: (1)

The reason the 2 to 1 shift is harsh is because the torque converter unlocks, not because it's being rough on components per say

lolfunxion

iTrader: (25)

Got it, thanks for the info guys!

I8ABMR

I use my paddles ALL the time . Love that rev match noise . ISF it !! Use it . Just saving it for the next guy if you don't .

Defratos

^ +1

V8Lex

Rev Match + exhaust is one of the main reasons I bought this thing.

That downshift blip is vicious! - R32 owner that thought it was a F sport.