how to use automatic 6 speed?
- Thread starter killaj131
- Start date
Obviously Tyler
New member
It'll downshift on its own whenever you drop just under 1k rpms.
qwed94
New member
^^^^^^^
Exactly. And you dont get an "upshift" light. So pay attention. It will shift down to 1 at a stop, but it will not upshift at all without your input. (I know that sounds obvious and Im not trying to be-little you). Its just that I have forgotten that myself too. You remember when you are turning a high number of RPMs and not shifting.
Seriously Killaj 131. That was NOT a dumb question to ask. I didnt ask that question, and got a huge surprise the first time. Of course leave it in "D" and no worries.
Exactly. And you dont get an "upshift" light. So pay attention. It will shift down to 1 at a stop, but it will not upshift at all without your input. (I know that sounds obvious and Im not trying to be-little you). Its just that I have forgotten that myself too. You remember when you are turning a high number of RPMs and not shifting.
Seriously Killaj 131. That was NOT a dumb question to ask. I didnt ask that question, and got a huge surprise the first time. Of course leave it in "D" and no worries.
sprchik
New member
I've wondered about the M feature myself...
I've never driven a manual before. Theoretically I understand how to operate a manual, but I've never actually DONE it. And there's no clutch to push in (one less thing to screw up!), so M mode makes manual driving sound even easier.
But I think I'm still a little bit intimidated to try out the M mode... on my first brand-new car. I so don't want to eff it up in any way, LOL.
I've never driven a manual before. Theoretically I understand how to operate a manual, but I've never actually DONE it. And there's no clutch to push in (one less thing to screw up!), so M mode makes manual driving sound even easier.
But I think I'm still a little bit intimidated to try out the M mode... on my first brand-new car. I so don't want to eff it up in any way, LOL.
sx sonic
New member
As long as you up shift before the car redlines you're all good! 
I'm not 100% on this Auto as I have a manual trans but, I've driven and worked on enough of them to have a good understanding of them (inside and out).
Each request for a shift is sent to the TCM (transmission control module), analyzed and basically given a "yep listen to the driver" or a "no disregard the drivers command, he/she crazy". Basically when you move the lever to the next gear or hit a button you are "requesting" a gear change and not actually manually "engaging" another gear.
Every auto trans I've ever seen will downshift for you below a certain point, like say 1,000RPM.
Many will upshift for you if you don't manually "request" the next gear. but I do not know if they all do, I've heard some don't and I know some won't until redlining! . Assume if you don't upshift you "might" damage your engine and you'll be ok
I'm not 100% on this Auto as I have a manual trans but, I've driven and worked on enough of them to have a good understanding of them (inside and out).
Each request for a shift is sent to the TCM (transmission control module), analyzed and basically given a "yep listen to the driver" or a "no disregard the drivers command, he/she crazy". Basically when you move the lever to the next gear or hit a button you are "requesting" a gear change and not actually manually "engaging" another gear.
Every auto trans I've ever seen will downshift for you below a certain point, like say 1,000RPM.
Many will upshift for you if you don't manually "request" the next gear. but I do not know if they all do, I've heard some don't and I know some won't until redlining! . Assume if you don't upshift you "might" damage your engine and you'll be ok
TheFallenAngel12
New member
I have a 1.8 Auto and ive used my "M" mode many times now. its quite simple to use really. When driving with it in drive just pay attention to when the car shifts up on a regular and pay attention to when you brake and what speed the car usually shifts down and that will give you an idea of when you need to downshift and upshift when in M mode. From my use, i have to upshift and downshift when needed. the car doesnt downshift for me. but, like i said, ive gotten pretty good with it that its no biggie for me to up and downshift it myself. I use it esp when im stuck sitting on an incline and have to take off from a complete stop. If i dont then the car will over revv when taking off and waste fuel. This way i have more control over when it shifts and it really takes off when i use M mode too a nice feature to have.
Id say take your sonic on a road that you know wont be congested with lots of traffic like a country road and practice with it. Once you get use to using it its nothing to use. I was skeptical at first to use mine because i didnt want to screw the car up. but i gave it a shot and love it. Oh, and if you dont hit that shift up button when it needs to shift, it dont shift on its own for you, it will keep revving until you hit that button...oops...lol
a nice feature to have. Id say take your sonic on a road that you know wont be congested with lots of traffic like a country road and practice with it. Once you get use to using it its nothing to use. I was skeptical at first to use mine because i didnt want to screw the car up. but i gave it a shot and love it. Oh, and if you dont hit that shift up button when it needs to shift, it dont shift on its own for you, it will keep revving until you hit that button...oops...lol
Luv2xlr8
New member
I noticed its a bit slow when you use the manual mode when shifting up and a bit jerky sometimes downshifting.
If your thinking taking your auto to a drag strip and using the manual mode, I think you will get a slower time than using the "D" mode. In "D" mode, when your RPM's get to a certain number eg.5500rpm, let off the throttle quick and back on right away and it'll shift a lot quicker than using "D" mode.
If your thinking taking your auto to a drag strip and using the manual mode, I think you will get a slower time than using the "D" mode. In "D" mode, when your RPM's get to a certain number eg.5500rpm, let off the throttle quick and back on right away and it'll shift a lot quicker than using "D" mode.
Obviously Tyler
New member
The cars won't redline due to the rev limiter. And you won't damage anything by accidentally reving to high rpms so don't worry. It's designed so using the Manual feature won't hurt it. Have a blast with it, that's all. Push it to the floor and shift at 6k rpms lol.
Wlyup just remember that it takea a few moments to shift so don't hit the button to late and hit the rev limiter lol I've done that a few times. And the tune with tcm makes me like the m mode but I deff won't use it at a strip or when I try to drive fast its more for economy imo
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Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2
Swordsmith
242hp/252 ft-lbs BNR EFI
I had to drive a Focus loaner car a few weeks back when my Sonic was in the shop, and I got to play around with its M mode, which looks like pretty much the same as the one on the Sonic. I really liked it, I hate to admit that, but I think the next car I buy will probably be an automatic, even though I've been driving stick almost exclusively for 32+ years, and the rare times when I was stuck with automatics, I always hated it.
My complaint with automatics is that they force you to shift when the factory thought shifting was best, not in response to conditions or the type of driving you want to do right at that moment. But the truth is, 95% of the time, the automatic does a fine job of picking its moments, and it's easier to let it handle the decisions rather than do it yourself. With M mode, I was able to take over and short shift or push the redline, depending on my mood, when I wanted to, and then slip right back into D. No clutch to worry about, altogether, I was pretty satisfied.
I wouldn't buy a Focus, mind you, but now I sort of wish I'd picked up the automatic when I got my Sonic.
My complaint with automatics is that they force you to shift when the factory thought shifting was best, not in response to conditions or the type of driving you want to do right at that moment. But the truth is, 95% of the time, the automatic does a fine job of picking its moments, and it's easier to let it handle the decisions rather than do it yourself. With M mode, I was able to take over and short shift or push the redline, depending on my mood, when I wanted to, and then slip right back into D. No clutch to worry about, altogether, I was pretty satisfied.
I wouldn't buy a Focus, mind you, but now I sort of wish I'd picked up the automatic when I got my Sonic.
Obviously Tyler
New member
Well said. I love my auto although I wish the Sonic had a "slapstick" rather than the dinky little button. Manual transmissions are dying off anyway.
MrSnuggles
New member
I still wanna see someone on here with the Auto to be the "Fastest sonic" lol
It's been discussed on here quite a lot between the turbo Auto and Manual.
Shoot if I had the means I would attempt, but since reality is well.... reality. Not for me.
I love Auto, and seeing how they had an article and study about how almost all Exotic cars are switching to tip tronic or w/e its called (Like the GTR), it brings up a great possibility for many with a lot of money but can't drive stick or choose not to... For example, All Porsche's are no longer gonna be offered in stick. Correct me if i'm wrong, but thats what I read recently.
If i had a week more before i bought my sonic i would be driving the 5 speed... *Darn* you College! :blankface:
It's been discussed on here quite a lot between the turbo Auto and Manual.
Shoot if I had the means I would attempt, but since reality is well.... reality. Not for me.
I love Auto, and seeing how they had an article and study about how almost all Exotic cars are switching to tip tronic or w/e its called (Like the GTR), it brings up a great possibility for many with a lot of money but can't drive stick or choose not to... For example, All Porsche's are no longer gonna be offered in stick. Correct me if i'm wrong, but thats what I read recently.
If i had a week more before i bought my sonic i would be driving the 5 speed... *Darn* you College! :blankface:
sx sonic
New member
Many Exotics have been going away from conventional manuals for awhile. Passenger cars are going away from conventional auto's too (manuals have been disappearing in america for awhile). BUT they aren't remotely like an auto in your sonic or a pickup truck or dad's old chevelle.
They are in essence a manual trans with the ECM controlling the clutch and shifting. On Exotics the trans might not shift unless the driver tells it to, on a passenger car the ECM will shift the trans on it's own and normally allow the driver to also shift as they desire.
Tiptronic, DCT (dual clutch trans) are a couple examples.
Like a manual they don't lose power between the engine and trans. Has clutches, gears, and shift forks.
Like a normal automatic they will shift on their own (exception for some Exotics), and not mess up a shift (exception several F-1 cars).
And DCT's, tiptronic, etc can do this all in lightning fast time often shifting in ~0.3 secs with some exotics shifting almost instantaneously.
When engineered right they are amazing transmissions. MPG and power transfer like a manual, easy driving like an auto.
SUPER SONIC BOOM
Member
See, I told ya so, I absolutely love my auto, I wouldn't ever say that before!
Yeah, auto's with manual modes are the best of both worlds that simply can't be beat, sticks are dinosaurs nowadays lol! I'll take it even further, I wish it had paddle shifters on the steering wheel instead, sh*t the damn Fit has 'em why not us?
Yup, got it for my wife too since she can't drive stick, who knew it was so damn fun to drive!
Yeah, don't ya know that the GT-R just about beats anything it races, even cars costing twice as much & with way more power/less weight. The damn thing's a ****ing beast, Godzilla for sure, & it keeps on getting better/faster every year!
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