I have heard some people talking about manual shifting an auto or holding the shift? how do you do this? also the trans go shift kits says you can choose between auto shift or full manual control? can anyone shed light on this for me?

 

As I understand it, you just shift the tranny manually. As in: put it into first, then second, then third, and the all the way into overdrive.


I've never actually tried it though.

 

You can hold the shifts back manualy shifting a regular auto trany. What i mean is say when you floor it it shifts at 4500. If you keep it in first you can make it shift anywhere above 4500 you want, but you cant make it shift earlier than it would normaly.

 

I always manual shift my th350c

Not really for any other reason that it sounds good...


But if you want to beat on the tranny get into the habit of manual shifting it, by shifting manually you increase the line pressures in the tranny. which in the end may get you a few more miles out of that tranny.

 

Without installing a shift kit, holding an automatic in gear will only stay in gear until a specific rpm then it will still upshift by itself.

When the kits specify auto shift or full manual, autoshift usually means if you leave the tranny in D(OD), the tranny will shift by itself through the gears but you can also manually shift through the gears and the tranny will stay in the gear you select without automatically shifting depending on rpm. Full manual means just that. If you put the tranny in D (third gear), it will start in third gear and quickly burn up the clutches trying to do so if you repeatedly keep doing that.

With a full manual you can also shift into a different gear at any time. With a normal transmission lets say you're trying to manually shift the tranny. Start in first and launch at WOT. Second gear will probably come quickly as the rpms will climb quickly. You're now in second gear but going into third gear at high rpm may not always give you the best performance. If you short shift into third gear and you're still at WOT, the tranny still won't shift until the rpm set by the governor is reached. With a full manual, you can launch in first, quickly shift to second then quickly shift to third without having to go through the entire rpm range at WOT.

For a street car, manually shifting an automatic becomes annoying after a while. The potential is really on the race tracks. Even doing autocrossing. Shift into second and leave it there unless you have a long straight stretch where you need another gear. With a full manual, the tranny won't up or downshift as you're on and off the throttle.

 

I just have to say it, why not have a manual trans. if you want to shift. It gets the adrenaline flowing, and you have more control, I feel. It's defnitely worth the hassle even if you have to deal with a t5, and converting. I do have more respect for automatics now just because of the strip, even though I don't know enough to talk about them. If your driving it on the street without everyday constant traffic, I don't see why you wouldn't want one. Maybe to some it's too hard not to chirp gears and beat on the car more.

 

soon enough...

On a side note, i manually shift my automatic everyday pretty much. I dont like how the car bogs in overdrive going up hills and such. When racing the car is best left in D anyways so its just fun to mess with the auto. The car is boring enough with an auto in it...i gotta at least try and make fun with what i got.

soon enough...

 

T-5s are easy to blow and converting to a stronger manual tranny is expensive- not to mention manual transmissions are harder to find. And this way if you don't feel like shifting then just put it in drive and you're good to go. Seems like best of both worlds (minus the whole inefficiency of autos and excessive weight).

 

and the fact that they are boring...

Ill take 90 degree traffic no a/c clutchin till im an old man before i buy another automatic sports car. For drag yes the auto is where its at but im into taking my car around twisty mountain roads and automatics just suck.

 

Yes boring comes to mind. But i'd have to say i'm still rather impressed with the capability of my t5. I do however have a big ego when it comes to driving stick, I consider myself very good at it. I think it all has to do with how you beat on it, there's a right way too, and not. But I only put about 10 thousand miles on it, so I can't really talk about the strength of them, even though I did beat on it quite often. The mileage was unknown. People need to make decisions up for themselves, otherwise I wouldn't have a t5 right now, because of everything i've read. I just don't like the fact of an automatic sports car, seems to ruin the term sports car, but yes I agree other options are expensive. Too expensive.

 

LOL, I just pulled a trailer through 30 miles of bumper to bumper traffic on my way home this afternoon. Took me 45 minutes to get past this one section 3 miles long. Around here I would not drive a standard.

 

I used to manually shift my car quite often, I still do when I am in the mood, but I decided that my gas seems to be more important to me than douching around on the roads.

At times I wish I had a manual, but after hearing alot of negative things about the T-5, I learned to be skeptical about them.


I think an auto would do fine without assistance, but if you are in the mood for it and if it gives you the option I see no reason as to why not.

 

So (just to be clear) can you downshift an auto?

 

Just as you would a manual. - not so much as to over-rev the motor, but otherwise, yes.
- Also, as stated, manual up-shifting actually ups the psi in the trans, which means better clutch engagement.