Changing to/from Automatic Mode

[Prospero]

Can this safely be done when the car is moving, or does the car have to be stopped?

[SmartCard]

Can be done at anytime while driving. I typically go from D to manual when slowing to 35 - 40 and the automatic has left it in 5th gear, too high of gearing for that speed IMO.

[Flashman]

I go from Manual to Automatic whenever my phone rings or I want to play with stereo or gps.

[vwW12]

Originally Posted by Prospero

Can this safely be done when the car is moving, or does the car have to be stopped?

I do it all the time either way if I need to fiddle with something.

It only backfires on me when I put it on manual and then forget is no longer on auto, which has happened to me a couple of times. But the car autoshifts on redline anyway, so no great loss.

I have this idea that the "transmission box" we see inside the passenger cabin is no such thing. Is it basically a big joystick with no mechanical link to the actual transmission? Can anyone clarify?

[jwight]

You are correct; no mechanical linkage to the transmission. The lever/paddles just tell the computer what you want - the computer tells the transmission to do it.

PS - I'm sure the gearheads can come up with a more technical version.

[MrJack]

I like to think of it as "drive by wire."

[theguywiththelongestname]

I switch from manual to full-auto while drinking coffee...and can switch at any speed in any gear...

[SylenThunder]

An interesting think that I noticed was, when I took the initial test drive, the car downshifted while braking, and I was able to override the gear changes when in auto. I have not been able to do this in my Smart. It would be really nice to leave it in auto, and still be able to downshift at will. Also the automatic downshifting when braking was really nice.

[rawlus®]

the car does downshift automatically when braking. if you're in 5th and come to a stop it will go to 1st. slowing will often reduce gear to lower gear depending upon specific conditions as well.

[SylenThunder]

no... by the auto downshift... I meant that it would shift down the gears to assist in braking... same way I do when in manual mode, so that you use less brake and use more engine braking. The demo cars on at the dealership brake like that and I was wondering why they do and I don't.

Although they did **** a bit rougher, so maybe they have the old tranny and I have the new one. (I say this because there were a lot of complaints about the old system and there was a new one put out that shifts smoother, and since mine shifts smoothy.....)