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What do you think, manual or auto downshift for a CLK55?

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Old Jun 23, 2004 | 12:19 AM
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rev
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2002 CLK55
What do you think, manual or auto downshift for a CLK55?

So I'm driving around the Beltway in the fast lane, and I see a truck weaving traffic in my rear view. I'm going about 10-20 over, keeping pace with the car in front of me.

Next I see that the the truck in question is barreling down on my rear. Since there's not much room on my right anyway, and I don't feel like slowing down just to let him pass and repeat his game with the next guy, like he's some kind of a VIP or emergency respondent, I try to wait for a bigger break in the right lane traffic traffic. He changes to the middle lane and barrels down hard on the car in front of him. I know unless I slow down he's going to cut me with just inches to spare. So I drop the hammer and pull on him. I'm not playing games, I just don't want this guy cutting me that close. He then proceeds to weave traffic in the middle to the right lane, gets directly in front of me and slows it down to about 0-5 below. He paced me like that until he had to exit. I would've passed the *******, but didn't want to be reckless or take the chance that he'd try to cut me off. Remember there were other cars around.

My ? is this. I didn't really drop the hammer until he was beside me, and then I didn't pull on him as much as I would have liked. With the CLK55(208 if it matters), is it best to manually downshift or leave it in the full auto mode for a faster 70-90 time?

Long live the CLK55(and my fellow driver's)! Be safe!

Thanks!
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Old Jun 23, 2004 | 12:54 AM
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1951 Caterpiller D6
Unless you drive hard all day long, I've found that the adaptive slushbox is slow on the auto kickdown compared to a manual downshift. On 2K and up models, pull and hold the shifter to the left while flooring the throttle is supposed to find the right gear but it still takes too long for my taste.
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Old Jun 23, 2004 | 04:29 AM
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Re: What do you think, manual or auto downshift for a CLK55?

Originally posted by rev
He then proceeds to weave traffic in the middle to the right lane, gets directly in front of me and slows it down to about 0-5 below. He paced me like that until he had to exit.
What an a$$hole!
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Old Jun 24, 2004 | 05:09 AM
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C 320 CDI 4M W204 / C43 AMG (W202) / C 220 CDI T (S203) / ZX-10R Ninja
An friend of mine which was at a AMG driving event told me to take the 2nd and 3rd gear in such cases. The automat take to much time to shift down so it's better to do it by your self.
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Old Jun 26, 2004 | 12:57 PM
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2nd gear at 70mph?
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