When I was using the touch-shift today, I was wondering if when you go 1 --> 2 --> 3 --> 4 --> D, is the D a 5th gear or is it just to set the car into fully automatic? I guess what I'm asking is, is the automatic transmission 5 gears or 4 gears?

 

5 gears. depending on throttle placement and speed, switching to D may not engage 5th gear, but it will be in "auto" mode. after it reads D, if you nudge it once more, it will shift into 5th.

 

Yeah, the touch-shift is not a true "automated manual." The gear you set is the maximum gear, much like downshifting on the older style automatics. Although you set the gear, the transmission is not forced into that gear, you're only "suggesting" a gear.

Using touch-shift to upshift, like 1 to 2 for instance, will not guarantee a shift, only changing the gear limit to 2.

Redlining on your "limit" gear will force an upshift, and the computer will automatically increment the number. That's how you can do launch starts, just touch-shift to 1, get ready, and floor it. The tranny will shift for you.

You're better off using throttle control to adjust the shifting patterns. It's more predictable that way. I only use touch-shift if I need to get some more power to the ground while I'm driving.

 

Thanks for all the info guys. And Preyx, could you elaborate on what you mean by using throttle control to adjust the shifting patterns? Do you just mean, floor it everytime you can so the computer learns that you're a reckless speed demon?

Edit: oh yeah, thanks dswildfire, I had NO idea you could get it into 5th gear after you're in D. I'll try it tomorrow.

 

he means backing off slightly on throttle when you want it to shift. on old cars with vaccum boosters (i dont know bout the new ones), lifting on throttle caused a vaccuum that made the car shift. similar programming here. lifting on throttle will cause an upshift.

for example, at 1/2 to 3/4 throttle, by lifting gently at just before 4000 will cause a shift at 4000 nine out of ten times. however, if you floor it for a bit, and let off throttle quickly, it will hold gear, anticipating you entering a turn and needing power to exit.

 

Yeah, you can learn to 'breathe' the throttle to shift. I prefer this to using the selector, it shifts quicker and keeps the revs higher. It's impossible to do from 1>2 because it's so short, but works the rest of the time. On/off/on the throttle as quick as you can, going a little deeper when you go back on, but stay off the kickdown button becasue that seems to confuse it.

 

Oh, and if I'm bored, I usually re-apply pressure on the gas pedal just as it upshifts, and if you do it just right, without forcing a downshift, it kinda "kicks" into place as you accelerate, like a manual car. :p

BTW, setting touch-shift to "D" implies 5th gear, you don't need to force it by pushing right again. Pushing right on the gearbox while in "D" tells the tranny computer that you "want" it to upshift. If you're a stickler about mileage you'd probably be using this a lot. For instance, if you do a hard acceleration and you've leveled off but the tranny is still high-revving in a low gear, push the stick right while in "D" to pretty much force an upshift. It helps at certain times. Like when you're going 45 in 2nd gear...