Can you skip shift?

[Robbie51]

my father just bought a honda pilot and this subject was part of their discussion. the sales person said you should NOT skip shift, that it is bad for the tranny of any car. so now im confused? one professional advises it, recommends it and another says don't do it...i just started doing it so i guess i'll just stop to be safe. anyone have any takes on this???

[Westfield 11]

If you want to "short-shift" for economy, just leave it in drive. The software automatically puts it into 1 gear higher that I would like. It puts it into the torque curve, but it also puts it right into the noisiest part of the power-band: low RPM with large throttle openings. Bump it into manual mode and drop down a gear and the car smooths out and quiets down as the rpms jump up.

Coming up the steep hill in front of my house, it sounds like a diesel if I keep it in D.

[Westfield 11]

Originally Posted by Robbie51

my father just bought a honda pilot and this subject was part of their discussion. the sales person said you should NOT skip shift, that it is bad for the tranny of any car. so now im confused? one professional advises it, recommends it and another says don't do it...i just started doing it so i guess i'll just stop to be safe. anyone have any takes on this???

Until Honda starts making smarts I would only take their advice regarding Hondas.

[Robbie51]

Originally Posted by Westfield 11

Until Honda starts making smarts I would only take their advice regarding Hondas.

he wasn't asking about Smarts. he was asking in general for any car.

[Capt. Jack]

Thought I'd get in on the "skip shift" conversation. In one of my test drives in the smart I found the paddle shifting delightful, and there is a time when skipping a shift seems just fine. If you are getting on it pretty strong to get up to speed, and then just want to hold that speed, it worked nice and smooth to go, for example from 3rd to 5th with just one extra click and then cruise in 5th at that speed. I wouldn't recommend trying to accelerate by skipping shifts. As was mentioned in previous posts, there's not enough torque for that, but after getting up to speed, and then just holding a cruising speed, it seems fine to skip up. It's all a matter of getting in tune with the car and getting a feel for what makes it work smoothly. I think of the old race car driver Graham Hill from back in the 60s, who was compared to an artist whose car was the paintbrush and the road the canvas. It was all about smoothness and flowing together. He wasn't a gear bangin', tire smokin' driver, but a gentleman who knew how to make a car go fast, but in a gentelmanly way. I picture driving the smart like that....almost an art form.

[Robbie51]

Originally Posted by Capt. Jack

Thought I'd get in on the "skip shift" conversation. In one of my test drives in the smart I found the paddle shifting delightful, and there is a time when skipping a shift seems just fine. If you are getting on it pretty strong to get up to speed, and then just want to hold that speed, it worked nice and smooth to go, for example from 3rd to 5th with just one extra click and then cruise in 5th at that speed. I wouldn't recommend trying to accelerate by skipping shifts. As was mentioned in previous posts, there's not enough torque for that, but after getting up to speed, and then just holding a cruising speed, it seems fine to skip up. It's all a matter of getting in tune with the car and getting a feel for what makes it work smoothly. I think of the old race car driver Graham Hill from back in the 60s, who was compared to an artist whose car was the paintbrush and the road the canvas. It was all about smoothness and flowing together. He wasn't a gear bangin', tire smokin' driver, but a gentleman who knew how to make a car go fast, but in a gentelmanly way. I picture driving the smart like that....almost an art form.

paints a nice picture in my head....can't wait to cruise with the top down. I miss having a convertible.

[spdickey]

I've been double tapping a few times both up and down when needed. No problems. I usually do it when slowing down for a light, then needed the quick shift down to 2 or 3 to get going again quickly.

Double up is not usually needed unless I'm really stepping on it, and with this car that usually doesn't work!

[24-42]

Capt. Jack & Robbie51;

Something Graham Hill, Strrling Moss did that I learned was 'Heel & Toe' shifting. Can't do it in a Smart, no clutch.

Donald LaFavor