Automatic Driving Tips: Powerbands and using Autostick etc.
 

Hi Everyone,

I am still getting "acquainted" with my newly acquired 2004 Crossfire NA automatic and really am loving the driving experience. It has replaced my 2001 HD Roadking in the "adrenaline dept" so I am in the process of figuring out how to best drive the Crossfire.

And by "drive", how to really push it in turns, twisties, etc. Basically transferring all of my routes and rides over to the XF.

The first few drives I didn't mess with the Autostick. Just kept it in D and was really impressed with the punch the XF had in addition to the handing. Very motorcycle-like! :D

I was surprised how low the powerband was. Tach was reading at around 2400 or so. Still plenty of giddy up mind you, but that got me thinking of finding different power bands.

Well, Friday I went out on one of my routes and worked with the Autostick and basically kept it in 3rd gear while out on the county highways. I was running it at 4000-4500 rpm's which put me in the 55-75 mph range. This really made the car reach a new level of fun for me. The car seemed to love the higher rpm powerband and I love how it could snap your head back at anytime! Plus I had more control decelling into corners and really hammering the gas on the exit of the turn.

Is it OK to push it at the higher rpm's like this? I'm hoping so since I'm nowhere near the redline on the tach. I would love to hear how others are driving/pushing their automatics.

How are you using the Autostick for curves, twisties, elevation changes, etc...

I have the dates blocked off for the Fall Dragon Run and I can't wait to see other Crossfires driven aggressively. I'm sure it will be an eye opening experience and one that will help improve my driving.

Thanks for reading!
Craig

Re: Automatic Driving Tips: Powerbands and using Autostick etc.
 

4000-4500 is NO problem.
You want to REALLY have fun, contact latemodel21 about his paddle shift kit !

BTW, don't know if you know it, but you can put it in "1" when stopped, then put the pedal to the metal, the TCM will shift up and down as determined by RPM.
( if you HOLD the stick to the left, it will go to 1, hold it to the right and it will go back to "D" )

Re: Automatic Driving Tips: Powerbands and using Autostick etc.
 

Yeah, I was playing with "going through" the gears as I would run through small towns. I think I was getting the hang of it. I would get first up to 5500 then 2nd up to 5500 then settle into 3rd at 4000.

The XF didn't seem as happy running through small towns in 2nd running at 3000-3300. I could see engine temp go up a little while in 2nd. Is it me just getting used to the higher rpm's at 2nd going through 25 mph towns? On the Roadking 2nd gear through small towns was a good powerband.

Hate lugging! : )

Re: Automatic Driving Tips: Powerbands and using Autostick etc.
 

7000 ? Redline is 6200, and TCM should upshift at this RPM.

Re: Automatic Driving Tips: Powerbands and using Autostick etc.
 

Hmmm? My auto na roadster will not shift out of first either if you put it in first gear, don't care how many rpms you rev to, it will not shift past whatever gear you put it in, in town driving I leave it in 4th gear, transmission has a slight shutter when it shifts to fifth gear running around town, normal shift point for my car seems to be 2200 rpms under normal in town driving.

Re: Automatic Driving Tips: Powerbands and using Autostick etc.
 

It's true ! It's true.
Stop, press brake HARD, put in 1st, rev to about 2200, then release brake and pedal to the metal and hold on !
Mine shifts 1-2-3-4 at about 5600-5800 RPM. ( never went to 5/D, that's too fast for me )

How do you SRT6 1/4 mile guys do it ?

Re: Automatic Driving Tips: Powerbands and using Autostick etc.
 

Whoops, my bad! For some reason I had 7000 on the brain. Make that 5500 rpm's when going through the gears.

Re: Automatic Driving Tips: Powerbands and using Autostick etc.
 

I can't wait to try this!!!!!

Re: Automatic Driving Tips: Powerbands and using Autostick etc.