I searched for this, but didn't see what I was looking for in the archives.

Can we manually shift auto trans in the Z like a Porsche or vette with paddles? I know it will manually shift, but can you slam up through the gears so to speak, and as importantly can you drop gears going down the hill at appropriate speed to slow down? The porsche I drove would allow you to really deccelrate rapidly using the tranny. Will the Z perform like it's cousins?

Thanks.

 

The 5AT tranny has the manual shifting mode also know as tiptronic. The car is able to downshift while going downhill, but wouldn't recommend it as it puts pressure on your engine to brake manually.

 

Huh, I would not think the pressure of downshifting on the engine would be any different between standard and auto. I did not really question whether the engine could take it or not. I have never heard of anything wrong with using the engine to slow you down as long as you don't over-rev it. As a matter of fact it is normal in trucks. Does anyone else feel this is an issue for the engine, bearing in mind RPM's would be appropriate?

It was the tranny I was most concerned with taking the abuse. Does anyone have any info on the tranny? Can I treat it like any other "tiptronic"?

 

You want to rev your engine least as possible. You should use your brakes, rather than downshifting. brake pads are cheap.. but your tranny is expensive.

 

so many tranny jokes latley. thank my junoir high humor. yeah, when you trick people into thinking you are somthing you are not, you may get ruffed up.

 

yes you can, and it is designed to do so.

 

There has been one person installed paddles and from the looks of it, its not that hard to do, but finding a quality set of paddles will run you atleast $500.00.

I personally reccomend the Momo Automatico Shortened Shift ****. Best $100 I have spent on the car. There is a how to on this thread for the install, takes about 10 minutes. Lowers the **** about 1.5 inches and is the same size as a usual manual shift ****.

 

Thanks gralark, I wasn't sure if it was a psuedo (Sears) tripT or a real one. I have to say I have driven a lot of vehicles for a lot of years and the only negatives I ever heard from downshifting was over-revving and toasting a clutch. Downshifting was always recommended, at least back in the day. The issue I am aware of is trying to manually shift an auto trans. They were not made to take that for long until the last, what 10 years, since the tripT showed up in McL's, Porsche, now vettes. I am not suggesting not using brakes or downshifting like crazy all the time, but the occassional drop of a gear rather than or in addition to braking should be fine with a tripT. How would you set up for the occ hard corner but for dropping gears and braking, then you are in the gear you need for the exit.

Anyway, thanks for the info. TGFW=Thank God For Warranties.

 

As long as you don't over-rev the engine, using engine braking doesn't hurt your engine or tranny since you are using engine compression to slow down. The tranny, both MT and AT, are designed to transmit power to the wheels or retard power coming back from the wheels. In the case of the 5AT, the tranny is designed to help protect itself from bad drivers. If you try to shift into a gear that would cause the tranny to over-rev, it will delay or cancel your shift command. The rev-limiter will also kick in if you do manage to get it to shift.

On the track, you probably wouldn't use engine braking that often because it would be too hard determine how much throttle and brake is needed to get the desired effect in a racing situation. You'll just have to learn how to heel-toe or get an AT. In a race, who gives a damn about how much brake pad you have left as long as you can still slow down and stop. New ATs with adaptive transmissions might change this though. On the road, engine braking makes great sense. It saves on wear on the brakes, as long as you don't over-rev or overheat it doesn't damage the tranny or engine. You are using the engine/tranny cooling system to dissipate the heat generated from slowing down. The brakes have no such cooling system and must rely on air to cool the heat. You get shorter stopping distance. If you are in gear, you can control the car in an emergency situation without having to re-engage the clutch.