how do you use your Semi-auto?

[mooS mooS]

when I want speed from a Manual .... I'll Drive my '72 Colt baby Charger

when I want Comfort .......and AC .... I'll drive the P5 =p

with hundred degree days more often than not... guess what I'm driving ? lol

 

[EXA4DRIVER]

You think comfort is good at 27 , try 45 !!!! (2thumbs)

That's awesome P5LawnMan!!!!

 

[EXA4DRIVER]

Heh, I'm only 19 and I'm all for comfort 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?

Damn, 19 and already has two, nice rides. I wish I were you when I was 19

 

[EXA4DRIVER]

These were all my manual tranny cars before I had the automatic P5. After 12 years of driving manuals, its a nice change to have an automatic tranny

89 VW Jetta GLI 16V
91 Honda Civic Si
93 Toyota MR2 Non-Turbo
95 Nissan 200SX SE-R
98 Mitsu Eclipse GS-T
01 Audi A4 1.8T FronTraK

 

[UBlink]

Don't engage in blanket ageism -

OK, I'm 50 and holding out for a manual P5 with ABS. I had manuals in my 240Z, Volvo 144 and 87 626GT turbo. For the last 6 years I've been driving an automatic Taurus w/ the 200 hp V6 (practicality finally got the better of me), but in a car the size and style of the P5 only a manual will do. The only problem so far is how to deal w/ a cel phone in a manual tranny. While test driving a P5 I got a cel phone call I was expecting while exiting the freeway - trying to turn, downshift, and keep up with a phone at the same time was the pits. I'll be looking for some sort of handsfree solution. Any thoughts are appreciated.

 

[P5LawnMan]

UBlink Nokia has a nice hands free cradle with lots of mounting options , speaker installs under dash and microphone above visor. Got it at ATT phone store , about $200 , installed by Sound Advice. Might work for MP5 , mine is in my F-350 work truck. (lol)

 

[Buff]

Here is my list:

76 Datsun (Nissan for all you youngins') pickup
84 Ford Mustang GT
88 Honda Accord
81 Toyota Corolla (got married, gave the wife the Honda)
87 VW GTI 16V
95 Dodge Neon
96 Ford Mustang GT

all with manual but somewhere in there I had an automatic 67 Volvo 142 fro 6 months

I was nearly 40, got tired of manual, went to an auto Ford Explorer.

I am now 41 and back to the world of a manual P5. It has never been better.

 

[hakushi no sakura]

Anyways, sorta back on topic, who actually shifts their automatic? My P5 is an '02 model, so it doesn't even have sport shift. My MB has touch-shift, basically the exact same thing, but I only used it once; the minute I drove off the dealer's lot, and never again. Does it even do anything other than being a marketing thing? Yeah yeah, I know, you can downshift for more power, but if you're so desperate for power, you could just floor the pedal and it kicks down to the lowest gear anyways right? Actually, wait, it doesn't seem to do that in the P5, never really noticed, but I haven't really been pressed for power in the city anyways. Plus the P5 is no good on the highway, it floats around.

 

[Matthew]

i feel you silver

 

[REMillers]

Untill you get on a track course you won't truely understand the extra strength of the sport shift. It doesn't really help in straight performance over a manual. However take it around a track and it is bars above a normal Auto. Now it doesn't offer the same gear/rev control of a manual but it comes close.
Its a nice blend of both worlds for those of us that get in ALOT of traffic that just want to relax. But then when it comes time for the twistys it is nice to knock it over and goooo.

Other than for quick merges and cornering I really don't use the sport shift that much. And no I don't lift off the throttle.

 

[Mp5978]

I think I miss something, but has anyone ever downshift on the sport shift?

 

[fkmp5]

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.

hehe.. sorry that last reason, although very true, made me chuckle.. but hey, my last car was a 3-speed automatic dodge neon!! so I feel your pain.. be happy with the 4 gears you've got..

i've never actually driven an autostick though.. it must be nice to be able to fall back to regular automatic mode at will-- lord knows i would love to have it for my commute home from work..

 

[REMillers]

I think I miss something, but has anyone ever downshift on the sport shift?

Yep many times for merging or setting up for a corner.

 

[pr5toAZ]

I always use to Sport Shift and never lift off the gas
(unless i'm close to redlining). I hate manuals, what a pain in the ass, but i love haveing the control of shifting. I donwshift all the time, when cornering, passing, or even for engine braking. Plus it is good for mountain driving.

 

[Mp5978]

wow, cool....I never really done that. I alway that would ruined the tranny. Maybe i'll try it to today.

 

[REMillers]

Downshifting it won't really hurt the tranny.
It won't let you go from 4th to 1st etc. etc.
Typically I don't downshift to 1st instead if coming to a stop I'll let it downshift by itself.
Even in sport shift the car will automatically go to 1st when you come to a complete stop.

 

[vlad]

I've been playing around with the sportshift a lot lately. I always take my foot off the gas when shifting. I noticed that this allows for the transmission to shift much more smoothly. I only hit the gas once I feel that the gear has been engaged. Whenever I keep my foot on the gas the tranny jumps into gear rather abruptly (esp. when shifting up). I also love to downshift and use light engine braking when I'm on a highway with stop lights on it (I try to time the light changing to green while keeping off the breaks and having power ready on the green) . Keep in mind that these tranny's don't have the best reputation so take it easy on them. Personally my experience with this transmission has led me to think that shifting gears with the foot on the gas is fairly abusive and I am basing this on the cars response. If the car shifted the same with the foot on the gas as when not in sportshift mode I would not have a problem with keeping my foot on the gas but it noticeably does not. Has anyone else noticed this?

 

[monki]

but in a manual, you dont release your gas pedal when you shift gear anyway ??

 

[REMillers]

Yes in a manual you do let off the gas pedal quickly unless you are trying to rev-match.

 

[spazspike]

Ironically, I'm finding more and more P5s to be automatic than manual... at least by me in NJ & DC. Obviously the number one reason is the constant stop & go traffic of the eastern seaboard.

I've only got 130 miles on my car and have used the sport-shift at sub 40mph speeds and have been extremely gentle thus far. However the one time I did have it engaged I forgot to upshift as I'm so used to the "automatic" automatic. The manual states that the CPU (or whatever it is) will advise the tranmission to shift up automatically at redline (6500rpm) regardless of what you choose.

Mazda also recommends the following paterns...

15mph: 1 to 2
25mph: 2 to 3
40mph: 3 to 4