Switch from "S" to "D"
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,356
Likes: 105
From: Mesa AZ
Switch from "S" to "D"
I was wondering if anyone has tried or knows if you can switch from "S" to "D" while you are on the throttle at WOT or at least a good amount of throttle without hurting the tranny? Is "D" and "S" the same mechanical position and "S" is just a position that tells the computer to go into sport mode and enable the paddles?
Here is why I ask, say you are doing a road race and want to manually downshift for a turn but want the auto to kick back in when back on the straight away. Anyone that knows the A6 knows that once you touch the paddles it will never auto upshift again until you go out of "S" and come back. Just curious if anyone has tried it or knows the internals of the shifter. Seems to me if you could you would have the best of both worlds when handling turns when you have to slow down significantly and then have to imediately get on the gas.
Here is why I ask, say you are doing a road race and want to manually downshift for a turn but want the auto to kick back in when back on the straight away. Anyone that knows the A6 knows that once you touch the paddles it will never auto upshift again until you go out of "S" and come back. Just curious if anyone has tried it or knows the internals of the shifter. Seems to me if you could you would have the best of both worlds when handling turns when you have to slow down significantly and then have to imediately get on the gas.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,922
Likes: 4
From: Cheektowaga NY
St. Jude Donor '08
I have went from paddles to D while moving at speed and it was fine. As far as doing it on a track....I don`t know if it would hurt the tranny, but like i said, i have done it at various speeds and never felt that it was hurting anything but that doesn`t mean it isn`t.
One example was, while i was at the track testing out my new mods, i forgot to put it in S mode while making a pass down the 1/4, mid-track i relised that i was in D and pulled back to S while at speeds of about 110mph. I only did that once but i didn`t feel anything when i did it.
One example was, while i was at the track testing out my new mods, i forgot to put it in S mode while making a pass down the 1/4, mid-track i relised that i was in D and pulled back to S while at speeds of about 110mph. I only did that once but i didn`t feel anything when i did it.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,356
Likes: 105
From: Mesa AZ
I have went from paddles to D while moving at speed and it was fine. As far as doing it on a track....I don`t know if it would hurt the tranny, but like i said, i have done it at various speeds and never felt that it was hurting anything but that doesn`t mean it isn`t.
One example was, while i was at the track testing out my new mods, i forgot to put it in S mode while making a pass down the 1/4, mid-track i relised that i was in D and pulled back to S while at speeds of about 110mph. I only did that once but i didn`t feel anything when i did it.
One example was, while i was at the track testing out my new mods, i forgot to put it in S mode while making a pass down the 1/4, mid-track i relised that i was in D and pulled back to S while at speeds of about 110mph. I only did that once but i didn`t feel anything when i did it.
P.S. I lived my whole life in Youngstown, little town outside of Niagara Falls. Nice to see someone from home on the forum.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,922
Likes: 4
From: Cheektowaga NY
St. Jude Donor '08
I didn`t feel anything and i was at WOT(Full throttle) going down the 1/4 track.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 82,175
Likes: 1,319
From: McKinney TX
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24
I was wondering if anyone has tried or knows if you can switch from "S" to "D" while you are on the throttle at WOT or at least a good amount of throttle without hurting the tranny? Is "D" and "S" the same mechanical position and "S" is just a position that tells the computer to go into sport mode and enable the paddles?
Also, there is a slight other difference between "D" and "S." In "S" without using the paddles, the tranny will hold the lower gears a little longer if the car is being driven "in a competitive manner."
2008 owner's manual, page 2-28.
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.
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.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 17,373
Likes: 6
From: Chatsworth California
Yes, you can switch back and forth between "D" and "S" any time, but I'd hesitate about doing it during WOT.
Also, there is a slight other difference between "D" and "S." In "S" without using the paddles, the tranny will hold the lower gears a little longer if the car is being driven "in a competitive manner."
2008 owner's manual, page 2-28.
Also, there is a slight other difference between "D" and "S." In "S" without using the paddles, the tranny will hold the lower gears a little longer if the car is being driven "in a competitive manner."
2008 owner's manual, page 2-28.
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