2008 justa Clubman automatic:

When I use the manual-shift option by moving the shift lever to the left, the car will automatically shift down when slowing to a stop, but only to 2nd gear. If I want to move off in 1st, I have to shift it there. However, if I'm not in a sporting mood, is it OK to move off in 2nd? Car doesn't seem to mind - no obvious feed back like lugging, lurching...

I shift manually because, while I like the throttle response and tightened steering response of Sport Mode, I am less enamored of the shift-point adjust change and "loss" of 6th gear in routine driving (though it's not bad for spirited motoring).

 

It will also shift up for you if you stay on the gas.It's fine to start off in second.

 

OK, if you have it in manual shift mode why are you not doing the downshifting? Try putting it in 'sport' mode and doing manual shift. It gives you more control over the shifting, ie, it won't up shift till almost redline and it won't let you downshift if it would result in too high rpm.

I suspect it is not shifting into first because you are in manual mode and in that mode really is set up only to keep you from doing dumb things.

When not in 'full race' mindset I actually like the auto in 'sport' mode (not manual). It shifts about the same time I would if I were selecting, including down shifts. And it does downshift into first at full stops.

charlie

 

Not manuallly downshifting 'cause it costs gas, which is also why I am not simply putting it in Sport Mode and letting it control the shifting - I am trying to "beat" the car's best gas mileage when left to its own devices.

 

I was under the impression (not sure why other than I may have read it here somewhere) that when you go to manual mode the car also goes to sport mode automaticlly?

 

You need to press the sport button for sport mode.

 

I'm near the end of a test to do the same thing. I have a 2-month old justacooper, and ran a full tank of gas, doing city driving (commuting), with the auto tranny in manual mode. Now I'm near the end of a tank of gas, doing city driving (commuting), with the auto tranny in full auto mode. Based on what I'm seeing on the OBC, I think I'm going to get no appreciable difference in gas mileage. I should be near the end of the 2-tank test toward the end of this week, and will post the final results to this thread.

 

I completed my two-tank test. Here are the results:

First tank was shifting the auto tranny manually all the time. I up-shifted, but let it downshift automatically. Of course, it downshifts only to 2nd gear. I tried to up-shift at about 2000 rpm as much of the time as possible.
439 miles at avg speed of 26.7 mph, used 13.267 gals of Shell 93, OBC = 34.7 mpg, hand calc = 33.09 mpg

Second tank was allowing the car to shift automatically all the time. I still tried not to take off quickly or stop suddenly.
414 miles at avg speed of 26.9 mph, used 12.95 gals of Shell 93, OBC = 33.9 mpg, hand calc = 31.97 mpg

I seemed to do about 1 mpg better shifting manually. I attribute that to being able to take-off from stoplights in 2nd gear, and shifting at 2000 rpms almost all the time. For what it's worth.

 

To answer your question, it's normal for it to downshift only to 2nd gear in manual mode. If you want the extra power from 1st you have to manually downshift to 1st. I don't see a problem starting off in 2nd, 1st gear's ratio makes it almost useless, it's too short.

I agree with you that in Sport Mode the throttle response and tightened steering is great, but also hate the higher shift points and lack of 6th gear. As I've said before, I wish we could program the Sport Button to give you any combination of tighter steering, increased throttle response and in the automatic, higher shift points. I would program mine to only give me the increased throttle response and tighter steering. Sometimes I might just want the tighter steering or just the increased throttle response... Mini are you listening??!!

 

When coasting in gear the car uses no gas. Only when you depress the throttle (or idle the car) does any gas get burned. More gas is burned during idle revs than coasting in gear (engine braking). You can downshift all you want and it won't cost you any more at the pump.

 

This is why I drive a stick!
I'd drive 100 MPH in an automatic without knowing it.

 

What's the difference in idle (no throttle) and coasting (no throttle)? I was not aware that the engine was not operating when coasting.

I guess that means it determines that the car is moving with the throttle closed so no gas injected and ignition off?

Then it restarts the engine when you touch the throttle or the car stops (goes to idle)?

charlie