Using Manual Mode (Auto)

[thechill_mix]

Now I've had this car for nearly three months. 1.8 LS. Love the car. Biggest issue was not so much the power but the transmission's willingness to downshift and hold the power lol. Not a very giving transmission... loves to stay in sixth gear as much as possible.

So after messing with the M-Mode I've come to find that it's better in two common situations. And this is probably helpful for those with either a 1.4 or 1.8 although the 1.8 taps out of high end torque a bit quicker. Luckily both cars have good low end torque. When you're stopped before an uphill road; starting off in first gear and then careful running up to gear five will give you the most take off power. Another situation is driving in hilly terrain.... at times the auto wants to keep it in sixth rather than downshift and hold it in fifth. Sometimes it does and holds it there. But rather than leave it to chance put the trans in M5 to assure the transmission will hold the car in fifth gear and keep the hilly drive smoother and more punchy. Then obviously you revert back to D when you're over the hill, etc.

Am I doing this wrong? Lol.

 

[RMinNJ]

I think your doing it right.. I have not had my car in the snow yet but I hope it holds gear in M mode.. I need it to stay in the gear I want while driving around curves and down hills.

 

[thechill_mix]

Unless the computer senses a change in speed or otherwise that could damage the transmission it will hold gear. It won't let you damage the car.

 

[ChrisJ]

Instructions on how to operate an automatic transmission.

 

[thechill_mix]

lol... I'm not used to the manual mode

 

[robsander]

In manual mode it will not shift to 6th when tapped until its either 43 or 44 MPH I am verrry certain of that. It sucks if you have an old lady in a Lincoln going 41 in a 45, you want to pop it in 6th and save a lil gas cuz you might be there a while haha but "nay!" says the tranny, "you shall remain at higher rpms as you sit behind Blanch on her way to bingo!"

10.27 1/8 mile

 

[robsander]

Unless the computer senses a change in speed or otherwise that could damage the transmission it will hold gear. It won't let you damage the car.

True enough. Although if you're constantly downshifting into the highest possible speed/rpm, I.E. a 23ish mph downshift into 1st from second, and really making it whine when coming to lights and stop signs may be "allowed" by the ecm but I'd probably expect some ticking lifters rather soon :-{

10.27 1/8 mile

 

[shorebreeze]

Makes sense to me. Where I've found the manual mode useful is on windy, hilly roads where I can see what's coming but the car cannot.

 

[ChrisJ]

In manual mode it will not shift to 6th when tapped until its either 43 or 44 MPH I am verrry certain of that. It sucks if you have an old lady in a Lincoln going 41 in a 45, you want to pop it in 6th and save a lil gas cuz you might be there a while haha but "nay!" says the tranny, "you shall remain at higher rpms as you sit behind Blanch on her way to bingo!"

10.27 1/8 mile

I took this picture the 1 day I had a Cruze loaner with an auto.
I couldn't believe how much I disliked it over our manual Cruze. I ended up driving it in manual mode because full auto was just annoying and when I saw this I was speechless. I had slowed down a hair by the time I took the picture which is why the tach is so low. I wanted to drop it down from 1500 to 1k like I often do in our cars when in traffic.

 

[hammrdwn510]

Leave in gear till needle is in the red part of tach or it's starts bouncing erratically, otherwise you're doing it wrong

/thread