Auto shift program
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Joined: Aug 2023
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From: Portsmouth VA
Auto shift program
I maybe should have known this but I put the shifter in S position and let it shift itself rather than use the paddles (first time I had done this). The shifting felt noticeably different (better) than in D. Does this position (S) alter the shift parameters when left to shift itself? 2009 base coupe.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2017
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From: Etobicoke (Toronto) Ontario
This is in my owner’s manual:
S(SportMode): When in S (Sport Mode), the transmission will work as an automatic until you use the Manual Paddle Shift Controls, which activates driver manual gear selection. See Manual Mode on page 9‐29. While in S (Sport Mode), the transmission will have more noticeable upshifts for sportier vehicle performance.
Note the bit about the paddle shifters. For the way that I drive, any additional sportiness is negated by the fact that you are stuck in manual shift mode for any use of the paddle shifters until you shift back into D, and I use the paddles frequently to downshift for engine braking. IIRC, if you leave it in S, and come to a stop, the tranny starts you off in second gear, not first.
S(SportMode): When in S (Sport Mode), the transmission will work as an automatic until you use the Manual Paddle Shift Controls, which activates driver manual gear selection. See Manual Mode on page 9‐29. While in S (Sport Mode), the transmission will have more noticeable upshifts for sportier vehicle performance.
Note the bit about the paddle shifters. For the way that I drive, any additional sportiness is negated by the fact that you are stuck in manual shift mode for any use of the paddle shifters until you shift back into D, and I use the paddles frequently to downshift for engine braking. IIRC, if you leave it in S, and come to a stop, the tranny starts you off in second gear, not first.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2024
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This is in my owner’s manual:
S(SportMode): When in S (Sport Mode), the transmission will work as an automatic until you use the Manual Paddle Shift Controls, which activates driver manual gear selection. See Manual Mode on page 9‐29. While in S (Sport Mode), the transmission will have more noticeable upshifts for sportier vehicle performance.
Note the bit about the paddle shifters. For the way that I drive, any additional sportiness is negated by the fact that you are stuck in manual shift mode for any use of the paddle shifters until you shift back into D, and I use the paddles frequently to downshift for engine braking. IIRC, if you leave it in S, and come to a stop, the tranny starts you off in second gear, not first.
S(SportMode): When in S (Sport Mode), the transmission will work as an automatic until you use the Manual Paddle Shift Controls, which activates driver manual gear selection. See Manual Mode on page 9‐29. While in S (Sport Mode), the transmission will have more noticeable upshifts for sportier vehicle performance.
Note the bit about the paddle shifters. For the way that I drive, any additional sportiness is negated by the fact that you are stuck in manual shift mode for any use of the paddle shifters until you shift back into D, and I use the paddles frequently to downshift for engine braking. IIRC, if you leave it in S, and come to a stop, the tranny starts you off in second gear, not first.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 4,928
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From: Etobicoke (Toronto) Ontario
It’s been a while since I’ve tried it. As I say, ‘if I recall correctly’. Seems like it launched from 2nd after stopping in S. Or maybe it was in 2nd when I stopped and just stayed there. I’ll experiment next time I’m out. I’m also not sure if the tranny programming is the same in that way for all years.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2024
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I have a 2010 A6 - I am not sure there would really be a way to know what gear it is starting in from S mode at a stop (without engaging the paddles) unless you counted the gear changes up to 6. I know you can definitely start and stop in 2nd gear from the paddles....but again, always assumed that it was launching from 1st. I am now certainly curious and might try counting gears next time I am out.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 2,338
From: Etobicoke (Toronto) Ontario
I have a 2010 A6 - I am not sure there would really be a way to know what gear it is starting in from S mode at a stop (without engaging the paddles) unless you counted the gear changes up to 6. I know you can definitely start and stop in 2nd gear from the paddles....but again, always assumed that it was launching from 1st. I am now certainly curious and might try counting gears next time I am out.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2013
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From: Charles Town WV
2024 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified
2022 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Do yourself a favor and get a trans tune with TUTD enabled. This way you can downshift to the selected gear in Sport and the car will still auto upshift at the right RPM... You'll be shocked how much a trans tune wakes these cars up, GM really neutered them from the factory.
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Instructor
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 224
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From: So Burbs Twin Cities
I have an '06 6-speed ATX. I've done the F1 mod so it paddle shifts like a real car. As other's have said, in S mode it shifts a little better than D mode, but still sucks. When using the paddles the tranny will downshift to 2nd as you come to complete stop, not 1st. I frequently do take off in 2nd, just not aggressively. I suspect that in S mode, if you don't use the paddles, it'll take off in 1st, but don't know and don't care. As far as taking off very aggressively in S mode, the tires can spin then it upshifts, kinda bogs and back down to 1st. I have not made a habit of hard take offs, but it seems for best results take off in 1st with paddles engaged, paddle to 2nd just before 6k (that suggests to the tranny that you'd like to shift up, it takes a while to shift) then push the shifter to D and let it automatically upshift after that. 2nd gear red-lines at about 85 MPH.
The TUTD sounds like a plan. Plz tell us more.
The TUTD sounds like a plan. Plz tell us more.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 6,338
Likes: 5,115
From: Charles Town WV
2024 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified
2022 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
here's some awesome literature on it that can explain it way better than I can but its def the move. Especially if you enjoy spicy highway rolls...
https://www.ssforums.com/threads/how...e-only.197298/
https://www.ssforums.com/threads/how...e-only.197298/
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 240
Likes: 100
For curiosity I tried to figure out what the "S" mode was doing when paddles were not engaged. In my 2010 the "S" mode is definitely starting in 1st gear, as I counted from a stop more than once from there up to the gear change to 6. So same as "D". However, it stops in 2nd in "S" mode if paddles are engaged - but I usually paddle shift down to a stop while engine breaking, so never really realized the difference.