4200/GS auto mode kickdown

[mjheathcote]

Like most, I drive 99% of the time in manual mode.
Cruising on the motorway over the weekend, and coming out of one of the many 50 zones, with a clear road ahead, I thought to myself that I had never used kickdown in auto mode. I have now!
It immediately dropped a couple of gears, and been in sport, did a double declutch engine blip at the same time, and launched itself towards the horizon at great acceration!
I don't think I could have completed the sequence so smoothly myself in manual mode, would probably have not dropped so many gears at once for a start. It's clever stuff. Only had it four years!

 

[StuartW]

What a nice surprise to come across, you'll clearly be using that more regularly from now on!

 

[mjheathcote]

Well, normally, in an evertaking situation in manual you would drop gear(s) and then throttle accordingly. The auto mode kickdown I would be afraid of too much power breaking traction, not knowing what it's going to do, you have committed to full power at a gear you don't know it's going to give you! Might be too much!
You defo need a dry road in a straight line!
That's the problem with the 3200 auto I guess, unless you drop down a gear manually, kickdown gives you everything with turbo boost as well, can be too much if the road is not perfect.

 

[StuartW]

Yes, fair enough. My 3200 was a manual but even dropping down manually and kicking it with the twins kicking in, it was pretty terrifying and so easy to lose that back end. You do have to treat these cars with the upmost without a doubt!

 

[Contigo]

I kickdown in the auto 3200 in Sport mode when we first got it and boy was It fun! Mate following was convinced I was going to stack it as I snaked all the way up the road narrowly missing the central reservation.

I use the 2nd and 3rd gear selector now when making progress as it seems to hold onto the gears for much longer and there's nothing worse than an up change mid corner!

 

[highlander]

I use kickdown frequently for overtaking but you are right, there is a lot of power in the 32 that goes to the back wheels in one big lump with the twins so caution is required as you pull out to complete the manouvre! cant beat the feeling though!
like phil, I also make use of 2&3 around corners in town to stop up changes.

 

[rossyl]

Like most, I drive 99% of the time in manual mode.
Cruising on the motorway over the weekend, and coming out of one of the many 50 zones, with a clear road ahead, I thought to myself that I had never used kickdown in auto mode. I have now!
It immediately dropped a couple of gears, and been in sport, did a double declutch engine blip at the same time, and launched itself towards the horizon at great acceration!
I don't think I could have completed the sequence so smoothly myself in manual mode, would probably have not dropped so many gears at once for a start. It's clever stuff. Only had it four years!

****. I regret never having tried this.

 

[mjheathcote]

That's why I posted, it's not something you would normally try with the Cambiocorsa, mostly not driving in auto.
I think it could be quite addictive though. You just sit there, stamp the throttle into the carpet, and hang on. It's that double declutch with larini blip followed by the larini scream that follows, more, more!

 

[conaero]

Forgive my ignorance, having not driven autos much. Mike, I assume you were in 5 or 6th in Auto, revs were low as you slowed, you floored it, it dropped the cogs automatically and launched for the horizon?

Ill give it a go next time

 

[CatmanV2]

Hmmmm. Don't think the roads will afford enough grip tonight.

C

 

[VMSRTI]

I dont even know if my auto function works tbh!

But this sounds like fun so im going to try it.

 

[mjheathcote]

You see, nobody has ever used 'kickdown'!
Was doing 50 coming out of roadworks on the M62 in 5th, floored it, it did a big double declutch with blip to match the gear selection of 3rd and launched itself!
It's just if you where doing it yourself, you would drop gears in preparation, then mash the throttle. It was 'i want to go now no fannying around please' response that was impressive. I guess you would get the same response mashing the throttle in 5th and then double flipping the down paddle. It's really knowing if dropping 2 gears at once would be suitable at your current speed. In Auto it makes the correct calculation!

 

[conaero]

OK, so rolling start, Auto kick down it is then!

 

[mjheathcote]

You will be pleasantly surprised. If you have enough road it will auto shift up too. Non auto in sport of course you hit the rev limiter if you aren't fast enough!

 

[CatmanV2]

You do know that the system won't *let* you select a gear that will make the engine go over redline at your current speed?

Clearly it wont tell you that would be a *stupid* gear to use, but surely a man of your calibre can deal with that.

C

 

[mjheathcote]

You do know that the system won't *let* you select a gear that will make the engine go over redline at your current speed?

Clearly it wont tell you that would be a *stupid* gear to use, but surely a man of your calibre can deal with that.

C

Yah I realise that, but you could end up telling it to say go into 2nd, but only have 1000 rpm left before having to change up again, but in auto, it would select 3rd, with a more worthwhile amount of rpm available before having to change up.

Basically the gearbox ecu can select the perfect gear than the driver could calculate in the 'kick-down' condition.

 

[Gooner]

Well that certainly works a treat...

 

[mjheathcote]

Well that certainly works a treat...

...launched towards the horizon at great acceleration?

 

[CatmanV2]

Yah I realise that, but you could end up telling it to say go into 2nd, but only have 1000 rpm left before having to change up again, but in auto, it would select 3rd, with a more worthwhile amount of rpm available before having to change up.

Basically the gearbox ecu can select the perfect gear than the driver could calculate in the 'kick-down' condition.

Yep. I really suspect you're more than capable of getting the gear right as well

C

 

[CatmanV2]

Well that certainly works a treat...

Not had the nerve with the state of the roads round here.

C