Shifting an A4
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,703
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From: Don't taze me 'Bro! VA
Shifting an A4
Is it abusive on the transmission to shift it on a regular basis?
What I am refering to is sometimes I run around in "3" and when I decel I will drop it into "2". This is strictly around town type driving.
Upshifting is a different story. That seems really weird! Anyway, is any of this bad news for the tranny?
What I am refering to is sometimes I run around in "3" and when I decel I will drop it into "2". This is strictly around town type driving.
Upshifting is a different story. That seems really weird! Anyway, is any of this bad news for the tranny?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 24,129
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From: The Beautiful Pacific Northwest
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09, '14-'15-'16-'17-'18
Originally Posted by Blowtorch
Is it abusive on the transmission to shift it on a regular basis?
What I am refering to is sometimes I run around in "3" and when I decel I will drop it into "2". This is strictly around town type driving.
Upshifting is a different story. That seems really weird! Anyway, is any of this bad news for the tranny?
What I am refering to is sometimes I run around in "3" and when I decel I will drop it into "2". This is strictly around town type driving.
Upshifting is a different story. That seems really weird! Anyway, is any of this bad news for the tranny?
Supporting Tuner
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 51,896
Likes: 39
From: ================== Houston, Texas www.englandgreen.com ================== Necessary Evil™ __________
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
I shift all the time - no problems so far
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Los Angeles
Originally Posted by CarolVettes
I bought the A4 so I can worry about the rest of driving and not have to shift.
but i do know where he's comin from..wondered the same thing myself in the past.. ...btw, your vette looks like it's ready to rumble carol...nice.. 
Pro
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Putting a 50¢ sticker of the U.S. Flag on a $50,000 import does not make one a patriot.
I have heard both sides of this argument.
The way I see it is if GM wanted you to only use drive "D", they would not have included first "1", second "2", and third "3" on the transmission selector.
These cars are designed and tested, and tested again. I seriously doubt that the GM engineers would allow you to shift the A4 if it caused premature ware.
I think that alot of people buy into the myth that the A4 is fragile. From my personal experience, it is quite the contrary. Think of it this way, how may posts do you see about the A4 blowing up? Not many. And most people have mods around here.
Dont get me wrong, the A4 can blow up. Either though a defect in the transmission or throwing too much power at stock internals.
I say shift it, have fun!
AZC5
The way I see it is if GM wanted you to only use drive "D", they would not have included first "1", second "2", and third "3" on the transmission selector.
These cars are designed and tested, and tested again. I seriously doubt that the GM engineers would allow you to shift the A4 if it caused premature ware.
I think that alot of people buy into the myth that the A4 is fragile. From my personal experience, it is quite the contrary. Think of it this way, how may posts do you see about the A4 blowing up? Not many. And most people have mods around here.
Dont get me wrong, the A4 can blow up. Either though a defect in the transmission or throwing too much power at stock internals.
I say shift it, have fun!
AZC5
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Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,675
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From: Hayward (Bay Area) CA
Honest advise
I shifted the AT tranny all the time in my previously owned Mustang. Now GM A4 may be a miracle tranny. But my Mustang's tranny go messed up with all this shifting within 14-17K miles or so. I got it rebuilt, and was told never to do it again. I also did some research on Hot Rod, and other sports car magazines. Don't know exactly which magazine I read, but it was an article CLEARLY for shifting AT trannys. It was highly NOT recommended. SO now, I don't shift my A4 on the Vette, but once in a while I do do it. Thats the reason why I'm thinking of changing AT oil/filter now to always keep it running in good shape. I'm not an expert, but my 2 cents...and what I've learnt 
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 35,976
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From: San Clemente California
Upshift and downshift mine all the time and never had a problem. Somtimes I find myself sitting at a light too long and pop it into "N" to relax my right foot from the brake for a while then when the light changes, I'm off shifting her again as needed.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 35,976
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From: San Clemente California
Originally Posted by 93aqua
Whats the benifit of shifting an automatic?
Supporting Tuner
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 51,896
Likes: 39
From: ================== Houston, Texas www.englandgreen.com ================== Necessary Evil™ __________
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
Originally Posted by 93aqua
Whats the benifit of shifting an automatic?
The Vette is a sports car but I hate pressing a clutch in traffic. So I got an A4 and shift it like crazy.
EG
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 307
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From: Perry Hall MD
Originally Posted by AZC5
I have heard both sides of this argument.
The way I see it is if GM wanted you to only use drive "D", they would not have included first "1", second "2", and third "3" on the transmission selector.
These cars are designed and tested, and tested again. I seriously doubt that the GM engineers would allow you to shift the A4 if it caused premature ware.
I think that alot of people buy into the myth that the A4 is fragile. From my personal experience, it is quite the contrary. Think of it this way, how may posts do you see about the A4 blowing up? Not many. And most people have mods around here.
Dont get me wrong, the A4 can blow up. Either though a defect in the transmission or throwing too much power at stock internals.
I say shift it, have fun!
AZC5
The way I see it is if GM wanted you to only use drive "D", they would not have included first "1", second "2", and third "3" on the transmission selector.
These cars are designed and tested, and tested again. I seriously doubt that the GM engineers would allow you to shift the A4 if it caused premature ware.
I think that alot of people buy into the myth that the A4 is fragile. From my personal experience, it is quite the contrary. Think of it this way, how may posts do you see about the A4 blowing up? Not many. And most people have mods around here.
Dont get me wrong, the A4 can blow up. Either though a defect in the transmission or throwing too much power at stock internals.
I say shift it, have fun!
AZC5
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 10,227
Likes: 96
From: not far enough from Chicago
Originally Posted by 93aqua
What’s the benefit of shifting an automatic?
Last edited by StevieB; Apr 8, 2005 at 04:50 PM.
