I leave my 08 C Class in D S when I drive I never switch gears using the triptronic. I miss my Acura which had an excellent shifting capability. I tempted to shift on this but felt I would kill the tranny. So how do you safely shift. When I am at a yield sign I am looking for some pep, or the times you need that extra oompth to past the "yellow light" or when you want to cut the guy off next to you.

 

If you put the gearshift to the minus sign and hold it for a sec, your car will downshift to the lowest gear for passing a car. The reverse applies for holding it towards the plus. It's not a tiptronic, it's more of a gear limiter.

 

so as I am driving if I hit minus it will give extra pep to pass someone? If I hit plus it will pull the car back to slowdown?

 

As previously, stated, the (-) is more like a limiter. It is not a true "M" mode. If you find it is just not adequate and want more power and control but really like everything else about the C-class (and don't need e.g. 4Matic), then maybe you want the C63.

 

Or a manual transmission.

 

Agreed (I should have stated this obvious option)! If more power (rather than control) is the priority, then maybe C63.

 

And, also depends on wallet fatness!! Long $$$ way from C300 stick to C63, but the manual trans brings along alot of the fun factor of driving a C!

 

it is defintely fun driving stick in a C

 

I find that i do use the "-" alot. In "city" driving I usually drive in the 4th gear, i also downshift when i take a turn and know want to be able to pick up speed fast.

 

The + and - are for rev matching, not manual shifting.

Read this article for more details.

 

Ok I know our cars don't have the agressive gear box as a "gtr" but why can't we use our + - as a manual shifter?.. I find it gives me great control of where I wants my rpm's

 

The Acura TL has an awesome TripTronic. I feel if I am driving and I want to kick it - or + that I will ruin the tranny sometimes it sound like that. So from what I gather when it needs extra pep kick it into - then kick it back to + to go to normal D mode.

 

I actually like the shifting compared to other models. I find it to shift "quickly" when shifting under 4k but over that it holds the gear which gets annoying because not everyone wants to redline.

Its funny because our 09 S550 shifts horribly because it will not do what you want. The C actually tries to shift when you tell it to.

Our 08 SL550 is another story as it comes with the awesome M button (C,S,M all on one button). That car is very fun to shift in M mode!

 

I drove a 328i in triptronic, and found it laughable how much better it responded to gear shifts compared to our C300.

Regardless, if I am ever in a "get there ASAP" mood, I play around with the gears.

 

now it makes sense. both previous cars, A4 and 328xi were manual. loved it. the C300 i got was automatic (couldnt find one in stick anywhere and couldnt wait for delivery). yesterday i tried to play with the (+) (-). at a light i pushed the S button then took off, clicked to the right at about 5,000 RPM but it didnt catch, it redlined, then 2-3rd gear changed way after i pushed to the right. i thought to myself, "this is stupid". i am still confused as to how this works. fearing a blown tranny, i quit playing around with it. i miss my manual

 

when your shifting at least for me in "s" the gear holds if your not actually drag racing or something or slamming down on the gas its uncomfortable. In "c" even though it still lags its much better. In the past I had a mini cooper and it shifted responsive

 

If you just want to pass someone quick, you hold the gear knob all the way to the left, this will select the lowest safe gear, for maximum acceleration. Hold it to the right, to go back to drive.

You can also just play around and change gears yourself. It will let you play with them as long as the RPM isn't too high for that particular gear, and it will also downshift if you're slowing, and you can't prevent that.

 

Bought a steering wheel to replace my worn steering wheel. New wheel does not have the plus and minus. Can this be interchangeable and not care bout plus and minus?