Good advice! also depends on what rear gear set you have! so you need to take it out and test for yourself. Just do what CorvetteBob suggests and you will be good to go!
Gears/MPH in automatics???
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 843
Likes: 1
From: Carlisle PA
Gears/MPH in automatics???
We bought an automatic 99 coupe so my wife would be able to drive it from time to time
( it's been 5 weeks and she has yet to drive it). I also enjoy the automatic (most of the time)
particularly in stop and go (intown) traffic, etc. But then there are times when it would
be nice to have a stick shift. I love to hear the sound of the engine/exhaust when i am in lower gears.
My question: Can someone explain to me what the "rules" are for driving an automatic
in the different gears at certain speeds? In other words, how fast can/should I go in 1st,
2nd or 3rd gear? Also, when is it safe to downshift to a lower gear like 3rd to 2nd or 2nd to 1st? Is it based on your mph or tach reading?
Any help/advice will be greatly appreciated.
( it's been 5 weeks and she has yet to drive it). I also enjoy the automatic (most of the time)
particularly in stop and go (intown) traffic, etc. But then there are times when it would
be nice to have a stick shift. I love to hear the sound of the engine/exhaust when i am in lower gears.
My question: Can someone explain to me what the "rules" are for driving an automatic
in the different gears at certain speeds? In other words, how fast can/should I go in 1st,
2nd or 3rd gear? Also, when is it safe to downshift to a lower gear like 3rd to 2nd or 2nd to 1st? Is it based on your mph or tach reading?
Any help/advice will be greatly appreciated.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,386
Likes: 0
From: Just a little outside San Antonio, Texas
There are two topics on CF that always get a lot of traffic: manually shifting an automatic and whether BSMs are spawned by Satan. 
I like shifting my A4 from time to time but mostly just leave it in 3 for around town and D for highway driving. My shift tables are a little off on the top end but I should be fixing that issue shortly.
OK, gang, chime in.
I like shifting my A4 from time to time but mostly just leave it in 3 for around town and D for highway driving. My shift tables are a little off on the top end but I should be fixing that issue shortly.
OK, gang, chime in.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,315
Likes: 17
From: Near Jacksonville Fl.
Originally Posted by vette99coupe
We bought an automatic 99 coupe so my wife would be able to drive it from time to time
( it's been 5 weeks and she has yet to drive it). I also enjoy the automatic (most of the time)
particularly in stop and go (intown) traffic, etc. But then there are times when it would
be nice to have a stick shift. I love to hear the sound of the engine/exhaust when i am in lower gears.
My question: Can someone explain to me what the "rules" are for driving an automatic
in the different gears at certain speeds? In other words, how fast can/should I go in 1st,
2nd or 3rd gear? Also, when is it safe to downshift to a lower gear like 3rd to 2nd or 2nd to 1st? Is it based on your mph or tach reading?
Any help/advice will be greatly appreciated.
( it's been 5 weeks and she has yet to drive it). I also enjoy the automatic (most of the time)
particularly in stop and go (intown) traffic, etc. But then there are times when it would
be nice to have a stick shift. I love to hear the sound of the engine/exhaust when i am in lower gears.
My question: Can someone explain to me what the "rules" are for driving an automatic
in the different gears at certain speeds? In other words, how fast can/should I go in 1st,
2nd or 3rd gear? Also, when is it safe to downshift to a lower gear like 3rd to 2nd or 2nd to 1st? Is it based on your mph or tach reading?
Any help/advice will be greatly appreciated.
You can do the same for the other respective gears using the same rpm.
Oh and do this only on dry pavement at any time or you may find yourself looking the way you just came.
As far as up shifting let the computer do it for you, you'll only bang the rev limiter once manually up shifting, then you'll need to clean your pants and seat!
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,471
Likes: 0
From: Prosper TX
If your 99 is a 2.73 rear end, you should be able to (based on my '04 testing on this subject) get very close to 56 MPH in first, 102 in second. I haven't had a chance to do a third gear top end check but I have pushed it to 138 with no issues and had plenty of room left. I am guesing 148 to 152 is what I should be hitting. Fourth should be good to 170ish.
I agree on the 3rd for in town (sub 50 MPH) and Drive for anything 50+. I don't know if this was true on the 99s, but second gear starts are for low traction situations. Use 3rd or 1st for launching if you are looking for max power.
And be damn careful about down shifting when near a shift point on the RPM range. IF you down shift way high, the (again 04 autos) will protect you and stay in the original gear (tested this by accident and then repeated it to be sure). But near a shift point and you can jump the RPM over redline.
I agree on the 3rd for in town (sub 50 MPH) and Drive for anything 50+. I don't know if this was true on the 99s, but second gear starts are for low traction situations. Use 3rd or 1st for launching if you are looking for max power.
And be damn careful about down shifting when near a shift point on the RPM range. IF you down shift way high, the (again 04 autos) will protect you and stay in the original gear (tested this by accident and then repeated it to be sure). But near a shift point and you can jump the RPM over redline.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 668
Likes: 35
From: Lantana, TX
Just to follow up on Skull One, my 2.73's take me to 165 in 3rd while 4th can't be used at any speeds above 120-ish since at that speed any additional gas I give it to go faster shifts into 3rd and stays there. The manual states this that top speed is achieved in 3rd which is a 1:1 gear while 4th is an overdrive.
Upshifting is something I rarely ever do manually, I'd rather concentrate on the road and my grib on the seat when it grabs second at 55. At times I'll hold it in 1st or 2nd while going through some of the local mountain loop drives and will manually shift between those two gears. 3rd is nice in town to keep the rpm's up with the 2.73's as was mentioned before.
I've heard it mentioned before that the car will not shift into a lower gear if you are going over the allowed speed for that gear, even if you manually shift into that gear. Meaning it will not go into 1st if you're cruising at 65mph and succeed at moving the gear selector into 1st on an automatic. I admit I haven't felt the need to test that information myself but wondered if anyone else had read that as well. EDIT: Just read your post again Skull hehe :o guess I got caught with an itchy trigger posting finger.
Upshifting is something I rarely ever do manually, I'd rather concentrate on the road and my grib on the seat when it grabs second at 55. At times I'll hold it in 1st or 2nd while going through some of the local mountain loop drives and will manually shift between those two gears. 3rd is nice in town to keep the rpm's up with the 2.73's as was mentioned before.
I've heard it mentioned before that the car will not shift into a lower gear if you are going over the allowed speed for that gear, even if you manually shift into that gear. Meaning it will not go into 1st if you're cruising at 65mph and succeed at moving the gear selector into 1st on an automatic. I admit I haven't felt the need to test that information myself
but wondered if anyone else had read that as well. EDIT: Just read your post again Skull hehe :o guess I got caught with an itchy trigger posting finger.
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 have a 01 A4 with 2.73 gears. Soon to have a shift kit and a Predator reprog - but... right now it's stock except for a Blackwing and Stingers out back.
I drive the A4 like I stole it because I want to hear the Stingers in powerband all the time. And I actually *like* the popping on decellaration.
I always shift well before redline - at about 5000 rpm. I downshift based on my kickdown - so if I am travelling in OD on the highway at 80mph, and I go WOT - and it shifts to 3rd and then 2nd automatically, I figure I can downshift to 2nd at 80mph without a problem.
I haven't broken anything - yet.
Anyone with real mechanical knowledge (versus my empirical "try-it-and-see-if-it-breaks" knowledge) care to chime in???
Edit - just saw the other posts as I sent mine in!!
I drive the A4 like I stole it because I want to hear the Stingers in powerband all the time. And I actually *like* the popping on decellaration.
I always shift well before redline - at about 5000 rpm. I downshift based on my kickdown - so if I am travelling in OD on the highway at 80mph, and I go WOT - and it shifts to 3rd and then 2nd automatically, I figure I can downshift to 2nd at 80mph without a problem.
I haven't broken anything - yet.
Anyone with real mechanical knowledge (versus my empirical "try-it-and-see-if-it-breaks" knowledge) care to chime in???
Edit - just saw the other posts as I sent mine in!!
Last edited by EG@EnglandGreen; Nov 17, 2004 at 12:06 PM. Reason: Other members already chimed in!!!!
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,471
Likes: 0
From: Prosper TX
Originally Posted by Vette-Dream
Just to follow up on Skull One, my 2.73's take me to 165 in 3rd while 4th can't be used at any speeds above 120-ish since at that speed any additional gas I give it to go faster shifts into 3rd and stays there. The manual states this that top speed is achieved in 3rd which is a 1:1 gear while 4th is an overdrive.
Originally Posted by Vette-Dream
I've heard it mentioned before that the car will not shift into a lower gear if you are going over the allowed speed for that gear, even if you manually shift into that gear. Meaning it will not go into 1st if you're cruising at 65mph and succeed at moving the gear selector into 1st on an automatic. I admit I haven't felt the need to test that information myself but wondered if anyone else had read that as well. EDIT: Just read your post again Skull hehe :o guess I got caught with an itchy trigger posting finger
but wondered if anyone else had read that as well. EDIT: Just read your post again Skull hehe :o guess I got caught with an itchy trigger posting finger
. But since I had, I figured a second test couldn't hurt 
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