A6 trans: drive vs. sport
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 10,436
Likes: 4
From: Everett Wa
In sport the shift points are higher and it will down shift quicker. Also the shifts are firmer. For instance in drive the tranny will shift into 6th as low as 45mph, in sport it is more like 60mph. The only problem I have with sport is that it seems to hunt more in stop and go traffic.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 82,175
Likes: 1,319
From: McKinney TX
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24
If you'll read the owner's manual, it will tell you the tranny holds the lower gears longer in sport mode without the paddles.
See page 2-27 of the 2006 owner's manual (see below).
See page 2-27 of the 2006 owner's manual (see below).
While in automatic SPORT MODE (S), the
transmission computer determines when the vehicle is
being driven in a competitive manner and will select and
hold the transmission in lower gears and have more
noticeable upshifts for sportier vehicle performance.
transmission computer determines when the vehicle is
being driven in a competitive manner and will select and
hold the transmission in lower gears and have more
noticeable upshifts for sportier vehicle performance.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,254
Likes: 136
From: Short Hills, NJ
But yes 'S' mode does hold them longer than 'D'.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,027
Likes: 6
From: Shiloh Ohio
Nope won't hurt it at all.
I am pleasantly surprised no one has said it will not shift to first in sport mode when not using the paddles.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 485
Likes: 0
From: Spring TX
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,027
Likes: 6
From: Shiloh Ohio
If you shift to S and start to use the paddles then stop it will downshift on its own all the way to second but no further unless you paddle shift down to first.
But remember in S if you do not engage the paddles it will shift normally through all six gears up and down.
Now I wish I had not mentioned it.
I hope this does not start the dreaded will it shift to first argument.
the A6 can only start off in 2nd! 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,027
Likes: 6
From: Shiloh Ohio
I know what started the misconception. In the quick and dirty book to teach you how to drive your car it is worded very poorly. It does make you think it will not shift to first in S. But the owner's manual explains it better.
