When is Tap Shift useful?

[TopSpeeder]

When do you use the A6's tap shift rather than just letting the computer shift for you? I have read that the computer is very good at shifting on the drag strip - at least for noobs and average Joes. Is this true?

What about spirited-but-legal driving on a lonely, curvy public road? Is tap shift 'better' or just more fun? Does the computer ever put you in a wrong gear?

[shroomjohn]

Tapshift is defiantly better to hold the gear in the curves otherwise just for screwing around computer is better for sure on the strip

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by TopSpeeder

When do you use the A6's tap shift rather than just letting the computer shift for you? I have read that the computer is very good at shifting on the drag strip - at least for noobs and average Joes. Is this true?

What about spirited-but-legal driving on a lonely, curvy public road? Is tap shift 'better' or just more fun? Does the computer ever put you in a wrong gear?

Its my understanding that GM programs their autos fairly well, if you want to have fun in M ... so be it. But leaving it in S will rarely let you down. Thats based purely on 2nd hand knowledge though.

[SScattergunSS]

We just got back from Yosemite, and I'll tell ya, being able to keep in in the gear you want when you want it, sure beats the heck of off how it always wants to end up in 6th gear when you leave it on it's own!!!

[AmericanMuscle4.6GT]

for when you want to have some fun and shift on your own



by the way.....do all of the automatics have shifter paddles on the steering wheel? (noob question)

[SGOS252382]

Originally Posted by AmericanMuscle4.6GT

for when you want to have some fun and shift on your own



by the way.....do all of the automatics have shifter paddles on the steering wheel? (noob question)

Yes they do.
They're on the back side of the steering wheel. There are some fake paddles sticking up in front to indicate where the paddles are located on the badk side of the steering wheel. When you're holding the wheel, you can feel them with your finger tips on the back side.

Paddle shifts are good for road racing (around a track with turns). You can use the paddles to hold a gear, which really helps when going fast around turns.

But any type racing in a straight line (drag racing or from a roll), the computer does a lot better job of shifting. The computer also down shifts into the appropriate gear a lot better - like going from 5th to 2nd gear from a 50mph punch.

[nvpliers]

Originally Posted by SScattergunSS

We just got back from Yosemite, and I'll tell ya, being able to keep in in the gear you want when you want it, sure beats the heck of off how it always wants to end up in 6th gear when you leave it on it's own!!!

+1

[HDDAN]

It is usefull when there is someone next to you at a light and you are not sure if you are going to race them or not. If you are in either automatic mode and it shifts into second when you ease away from the light, it will not downshift back to first. If you are in Tapshift, you are in control and it will not shift into second untill you press the button.

[SGOS252382]

Originally Posted by HDDAN

It is usefull when there is someone next to you at a light and you are not sure if you are going to race them or not. If you are in either automatic mode and it shifts into second when you ease away from the light, it will not downshift back to first. If you are in Tapshift, you are in control and it will not shift into second untill you press the button.

Yeah, once you get past 15 mph or so, the tranny will not drop down to 1st gear. So you're left with 2nd gear from a 15+ mph roll.

Just be ready to make a real fast shift to 2nd gear. It comes really really fast from a low speed roll.

[2SSARMY]

13.3 out of the computer shifting is my best ET
13.5 with me shifting with paddleshifters

S > paddle

[Mr. Wyndham]

I would imagine TapShift would be useful going through the curves...many comment on the systems "delay" between pressing the button and the actual shift...but frankly, if you time things accordingly -- TapShift can be a benefit on a curvy road, or a racetrack compared to automatic 'S' mode.

[Gman8]

With the risk of sounding like a complete d-bag I must admit I have no clue how to use the paddle shifters. I tried it out and the car stopped by itself. Can someone explain how I can use these?

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by Gman8

With the risk of sounding like a complete d-bag I must admit I have no clue how to use the paddle shifters. I tried it out and the car stopped by itself. Can someone explain how I can use these?

Stopped by itself? Hmmm....


When you're stopped (you can do this while driving, but it's safer to be at a stop when fiddling with things in the car). Shift the handle into "M". Then, as you start moving (obviously hit the gas) you can use the positive paddle/button shifter behind the right side of the wheel to shift UP. And you can use the one on the left, negative, to shift down.

When and where you do this could be in a book somewhere because there are many situations...but if you're racing, you'd upshift near redline to stay in the powerband and get the fastest acceleration out of your car....and you'd downshift going through corners as you decelerate...again, to stay in the powerband and exit the corner accelerating.

Does that help any?

[jtzako]

D mode kindof annoys me and I only use it during rush hour to conserve gas. S mode is great for the most part. I only would use M in a situation where I wanted to hold a lower gear or was in some curvy area where I didnt want it shifting at a bad time.