Yes, comon from driving manual...I know that this manu-matic is no comparison, but I am surprise there was a difference between 04 vs 05's manu-matic. If mines would show as "Gear 4" and it upshifts for me then I wouldn't even use it. It's almost pointless because you don't even know what gear you are on. I mean nothing against 04 models...don't get me wrong...no flaming either. The biggest thing that bothers me with automatic is I hate that everytime you let go of the gas it upshifts. With manu-matic, at least on local streets sometimes I like cruising with the flow and stay in lets say 4th gear and gas/break etc and the manu-matic still maintains it in 4th gear instead of doing all the stupid upshift/downshifts. I know there's a lag for A/T. At the same time, I like going down a local street lets say on 2nd gear at like 4,000rpm and then let go of gas and gas it again when I feel like it. With manu-matic its possible, with "D" it's not because the second you let go of gas it upshifts.

 

Of course, you can always downshift to 1st from a stop and row the gears from there in an 04. The biggest problem with any manu-matic is the engine braking.

I mentioned before, that's it's not a good idea too slow down by downshifting in the G's. it puts enormous stress on the tranny and will shorten it's lifespan.

In an SMG this is totally different.

 

Hmm...so you are saying there is a difference in dropping from 3 to 2 in engine braking in manu-matic mode vs let's say a 6mt coupe dropping from 3 to 2 for engine braking? Not that I do much engine braking using manu-matic. I just like to use it on local streets where I can stay in just one or two gear for a long time instead of the stupid "D" where it upshifts for you when I let go of gas.

I know it's not good like that...I do it all the time in my accord.

 

No, I'm saying that engine braking in any manu-matic is not good for the tranny. A manu-matic's only goal is too give the driver some input in too what's going on.

Your in "D" you want too speed up, you push the shifter to the Manual gate, downshift and your off. That's about all it's good for. As for downshifting, it's a No-No. Our AT cars are just that, they're fast, they're well made, but they do a better job of handling rev's, fuel mapping & shifting than any driver input.

 

Yes I understand you are saying engine braking in manu-matic is not good. But is there a difference in engine braking in manu-matic vs manual transmission engine braking? I would think it's the same thing and if it is then engine braking is not good for A/T or M/T and not just our G A/T but any M/T car in this world.

 

No, engine braking in an MT car is a necessity. Your driving along, you brake, you shift down,,the clutch is taking up all of the stress on an MT. On an AT there is no clutch, the tranny is doing the work. it's different.

My next car will be an M3, probably 6 MT, if I go with the SMG I can really appreciate the differences in the gearboxes then.

 

Ok...that makes sense that the MT's clutch takes the abuse. As for SMG, if I would to buy a M/T, I rather get one with a clutch. Tapping gears just don't feel manual plus in SMG how do you pop into neutral? If you are coming to a red light on 4th gear, what do you think? Tap it 3 times to get back to 1? For my M/T accord when I see a light in front of me I just pop it to N and let it glide to a stop.

Hmm...then what hurts the transmission more? Leaving it in "D" and the stupid transmission constantly does unnecessary shifts when you let go off the gas and then back on the gas OR you constantly drive in manu-matic mode and maybe occassionally does engine brake when you are dropping a gear down to corner?

 

Leaving the car in "D" is fine, that's why the car shifts before redline and downshifts sometimes unneccesarily..it's basically taking the "kid glove" approach to the tranny.

of course the manu-matic feature is there to be used and it should be used. I just don't brake with it in manu-matic (i.e. downshifting too slow down). You can downshift for optimum acceleration sure, as I mentioned before and have a lot of fun with it.

Actually, there's a couple of good threads about members modifying the "lag-time" on up-shifts & down-shifts..do a search.

 

Thanks for all your quick replies. The reason I use manu-matic and not use "D" is because:

1) Too used to driving manual and I need to keep myself busy with manu-matic or I'll be bored out of mind.
2) I always use it on local streets because I don't like how "D" makes unnecessary shifts, especially upshifting when you let go of gas.
3) I don't really use it to do engine braking but maybe coming down a hill or like on a slippery hill or something then I'll use it.
4) Manu-matic is much better merging in highway or cutting across lane because you are in the gear that you want instead of wasting time flooring the gas pedal and waiting for the car to shift.
5) I like the feel of manual when you go local streets and rev it up like 4,000rpm or 5,000rpm and then let it slowly go down by itself. I like hearing the engine noise like that. For "D" the second you let go of gas, it upshifts.

You can tell how much I still like driving manual, but giving the fact that I really want an awd and they don't come in manual, I had to sacrifice something. I took the awd route and drop the manual. The other choice of car was actually a TSX with manual but I think I'll out grow the horsepower on that really quick and I'll regret not getting the 280 horses G. Either way, I'll find something to complain.

Question, if you are on D and there's a light in front of you, does popping it to N the same like popping in N for M/T? I do that all the time in my accord but does that hurt the A/T?

 

Why would you put it into "N" at a stop? leave it in "D" or "1", brake torque it at about 1500 rpm and your away mate.

 

I usually shift from D to N at a dead stop because I don't like holding the brakes.

 

Andrew is right, the SMG works off of a hydraulic clutch, and yes there is a CLUTCH but with no clutch pedal! You can do clutch upgrades and all of that, it has a D mode but still isnt full automatic and yes you roll back like you are in neutral from a dead stop, the SMG tranny is amazing but with some flaws, i went for the 6spd though!

 

I think that you are inflicting more damage shifting the trans in/out of gear.

The torque converter is a fluid coupling that takes the strain off of the trans at a stop, with the only byproduct being some heat.