ecohen2

Does anyone have any thoughts about shifting the car manually into 1st when you are sitting in slow creeping traffic?

I was curious because in 1st the engine stays in gear, in 2nd it seems to ride the clutch..

Thanks,
Ed

2012C63AMG

Welcome to MCT, this is the big negative of the transmission is handling this day to day stop and go traffic. Best bet is to leave it in 2nd, if your stuck in traffic consider just putting the car in C mode, keeps it in 2nd gear which gives you plenty of torque to get the car moving.

Unless you want to ride it in 1st gear and just use the engine as a brake and get some throttle control practice of being smooth accelerating and slowing down using throttle control, helped me learn the car better doing it this way and also helps to build up muscle memory into a smooth 1st gear power roll into

ecohen2

Yeah, our traffic is so slow that I can stay in 1st gear and under 2k RPMS for quite a while. In second I hear the car engaging and dis-engaging the clutch to keep me at a slow speed. I figured it was easier on the car to keep it in first and just cruise along at a whopping 5-10 mph...

skaarlaj

Put it in s, or s+, and you'll start off in 1st. I hate the idea of starting in 2nd regularly myself.

TTA850

I use S+, but I also use S+ (or M) for all driving and only use C for inclamant weather or while the engine (oil) is warming up

BiturboSF

Sounds like New York city traffic

ecohen2

I actually prefer New York traffic to DC... Here we have too many drivers from too many places that don't understand the basics about driving in bad weather or traffic.. New York is aggressive but for the most part, people know what they are doing.