re: Shifting Techniques For Autos
 

Hi all, was wondering what the convention is for getting though turns real quick with an auto Tranny.

Do you :
a) Leave it in D
b) Leave it in D with overdrive Off
c) Manually shift down to 3rd, 2nd or 1st

I personally prefer using method (c) but worry about destroying the tranny in the process. The car definitely feels more stable with the gears locked up through tighter bends.

Which do you guys prefer???

technique
 

from D i press the hold button and then gear down to 3rd then i just shift to second with the hold button still on and accelerate into the corner

Re: technique
 

Hi Loch,

That's exactly how I do it too..... only worried about killing the auto box.... do you think we are causing more harm than good doing it this way?... Leaving it in D causes the car to wallow and go wide mostly... and just understeer when we hit the trottle and the tranny kicks down.... not good when speeding through any curve...

I always hear that manually shifting autos is bad, I don't know why on computer controlled ones have that problem too (I need to read more about how transmissions work). I noticed though if you let off the gas pedal and the tranny would normally upshift, it makes a weird clunk... usually holding in 2 or 1 though...so I don't really do it.

A Clunk?.... that doesn't sound good..... my auto doesn't do that.... but you're right about lifting off the throttle and and tranny upshifting. Stability would be a problem when you get on the throttle again as the tranny will kick down again, usually applying more power than the tyres can take..... should have just gotten a manual (eyes to the heaven)

How about left foot braking..... or even heel toe... anyone tried that?... The theory would be that with the throttle still open whilst braking, the tranny would not upshift like it would if you lift off.... just a thought.

No, no it's not good at all I suppose. What year is your car by the way? Mine is a 1993, so it may be old technology compared to yours :D

Mine's a 2002 1.6L..... we don't get the 1.8s or the 2.0s over here..... that would be the Mazda 6's territory......

It's has a computer controlled auto tranny I believe.....

technique
 

i got the 1.5 lantis (protege in the US)
i drove a 98 corolla a while ago and let me tell you, mazdas arent known for good transmissions
the corolla shifting was so smooth and controlled
the mazda if i let off the throttle it downshifts and as soon as i give it throttle again it upshifts and that noise your talking bout i feel it in the trans wen shifting but dont hear it
try changing the transmission mount which is under the battery
i change my tranny fluid once a year to try to preserve the life but damn the computer seems not to know what it wants its just so damn sensitive to throttle.

i sometimes just leave the hold button in so i can gave smooth acceleration even tho it accelerates slowly with it in
we here in barbados get the mazdas (also mostly 99% of the japanese cars) straight from japan since we drive on the left hand side of the road like the japanese do

and as for the question if it would destroy the auto transmission i think it will can anyone give me some info on if it will?

downshifting in auto = bad
 

ok, maybe the sudden JOLT that you feel, coasting in say 3rd or 4th gear and slamming the shifter down one notch isn't enough for you to understand, downshifting in an automatic transmission is NOT recommended...especially with a mazda protege... my transmission is a rebuilt, due impart to my actions downshifting... i was a moron and found out the hard way. if you would like to down shift while coming into a turn, or say even into a red light to give you some extra braking distance and be a little extra easy on the brakes, hitting the hold button on the shifter, and easing on the brake will allow you to stop a HELL of a lot faster. just word to the wise that this method will not work when slowing down from a speed lower than about 35mph, as first gear has already probably been shifted into. as for accelerating, say you're stuck behind some ass hole, or just going up a hill, keeping your foot equally pressed on the accelerator and hitting the hold button will knock it down to the next gear and give you some more of that higher end torque and hp, taching on about 1,500 rpms to your tach. if you're completely stopped, and you have the hold button in, as mentioned by others, you will notice a loss in pick up, however, a smoother shift. i think it's some different design though from what you guys were mentioning though, cause in the 94 lx auto trans... there is no over-drive feature, usually slamming the pedal to the floor gives you that JUMP you need (if i'm right) by shifting quickly to the previous gear, maxing it out and then jumping back into the next gear, however at a higher rpm than before... capiche?