Originally Posted by spiitz
first gear is not intended for downshifting, its solely a starting gear in most cars. The amount of jarring it produces can damage the gears quickly. Plus, your gonna be at redline almost instantly and have to shift again. If your breaking system fails you might consider first gear to stop your car in an emergency.
If that were true then first gear would not have any synchros... every manual I've driven I have downshifted into first when slowing down. Not all the time mind you but plenty of times and it has already been posted, I think the term I've read over and over is to "blip" the throttle to match the RPM's...
Anyhow... onto the Autostick... it would seem that it truly does "learn" your driving habits and I routinely "downshift" with my autostick for nearly every stop. I checked yesterday and today and found that if I am decelerating slowly it wouldn't shift into first until around 15 - 18 mph. However if I am going along at 45 or more and need to slow down quickly it has consistently shifted into first just over 20 mph and a few times close to 25. I'm sure the computer takes into account your current gear, RPM's and speed (acceleration or deceleration).
It does not like going from D to say 3rd or 2nd and takes a second or two. However, I have found that if you are already in say 4th and go to 3rd and then to 2nd, as you're slowing down it is much more responsive and takes less than a second.
Now as far as up shifting, I've yet to see any human (or monkey for that matter) shift as fast as an automatic...
For those "purists", and I used to be one... I wouldn't trade this transmission for anything. Because I can choose when to shift, I rarely go more than 1/2 or 3/4 throttle and it is a joy to drive. If I had the 6 speed for the normal driving I do I'd end up looking like a lop-sided Stretch Armstrong with a frog-like, muscle bound left leg and right arm! Although I am concerned that I'll end up with a "Nintendo" like thumb injury...
