how do you use your Semi-auto?

Mp5978

Member
:
Acura TSX
This might be a silly question, but do you still leave your foot on the pedal as you up shift or you release the accelerator, up shift and then foot back on the pedal?
 
Leaving your foot on the gas is fine. It shifts just as you were in regular automatic mode. My P5 is the 1st automatic I've ever owned, and it's quite a nice change being that I drive in LA traffic :)
 
There really is no need to lift your foot ... Sportshift or no, it's still an automatic at heart and, where it counts, at the mechanical level. It's not a stick without a clutch ... that kind of clutchless shifting can only be found on $80k M3's. All it does is allow you to choose at what RPM you want to switch gears ... or drop a gear for a lil bit of oomph.
 
AndrewSilverMP5 said:
that kind of clutchless shifting can only be found on $80k M3's.

Nearly messed myself when I test drove that M3 you speak of, it's quite amazing. The RX-8 paddle shifters look fun, however the 4-spd feature somewhat defeats the purpose of the investment.

I've yet to use the sportshift on my car, figured I'd wait till I hit the 1,000 mile ODO reading to ensure a proper "break-in" on the transmission. Numerous Mazda reps told me that you can leave the gas pedal depressed during shifting, (as mentioned) there's no clutch involved. However for the sake of the components involved letting up a bit on the throttle isn't the worst idea.
 
its a yuppie standard transmission, imo

but to answer your question, i use my semi-auto frequently, its much more accurate than burst, especially at 300m
 
also, excuse me for being callous and ignorant, but i am a candid person:

why would you buy a sports car or something like and try to make it faster with an automatic? i dont care what you say, the only cars that have an equal auto/standard are the ferraris...theres just something about an automatic transmission that makes me sick
 
RazorP5 said:
why would you buy a sports car or something like and try to make it faster with an automatic?

I don't think the issue of the "auto-stick" is a higher speed. Actually, automatic transmission in the case of the Pro5 is at a disadvantage to the manual tranmission in three lights:

1. We've only got 4 gears, ya'll have got 5.
2. We had to pay $800+ more for our cars than you did.
3. We're always at the butt end of car junkie jokes.

For me the auto-stick was more useful for driving in frequent stop-n-go traffic and low speed driving (sub-60 mph) with frequent turns, stops or acceleration. It gives you so more freedom over the tach.

However I certainly don't all of a sudden simulate an F1 race in my Pro5 with my "auto-stick." Not to mention, as fun as my P5 is, it's far from a sports car.
 
RazorP5 said:
also, excuse me for being callous and ignorant, but i am a candid person:

why would you buy a sports car or something like and try to make it faster with an automatic? i dont care what you say, the only cars that have an equal auto/standard are the ferraris...theres just something about an automatic transmission that makes me sick

Sometimes, it's just the better choice to opt for automatic. I would have loved the 5-speed, but my girlfriend nor my family can drive manual, and they use the P5 from time to time.

I want to mod my car because I want a bit more pep and zoom than comes stock, can you blame me ? I'll be keeping this car for the next 4 years, why not ?
 
i rather drive a stick in stop n go traffic, auto is garbage and all automatic cars should be shot off to the sun along with old people who drive below the speed limit
 
I bought my P5 becuz my parent(Co-sigher) couldn't drive a stick. And I never want it to compare the semi-stick to a Ferrari now. That's way outta our league here. And your right, who in their right mind want an auto in a sports car?. It make me sick too!
 
nocar said:
i rather drive a stick in stop n go traffic, auto is garbage and all automatic cars should be shot off to the sun along with old people who drive below the speed limit

Riiiiight, and the Mercedes SLR made in collaboration with McLaren is crap because it has an automatic mode. :rolleyes:
 
nocar said:
i rather drive a stick in stop n go traffic, auto is garbage and all automatic cars should be shot off to the sun along with old people who drive below the speed limit


That used to be my mentality, when I was 16 and wanted to race everything that moved :) And actually the P5 is my first automatic car. I'm now 27 and I'm really enjoying the comfort of an automatic.
 
Heh, I'm only 19 and I'm all for comfort :D But it seems to be the other way around, my dad loves driving my P5 instead of his Audi because it's more "fun" whereas I like to drive my MB more than my P5 because it's more comfortable! Odd eh?
 
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