is it all right to do so? my dad tells me its ok to just down shift one gear down from D and not to give it any gas when doing so. i haven't heard that much of people doing this, so want to get your guys input

Well my truck is a auto and I do it all the time for hills and corners I should hit 200k soon and no tranney problems. The computer should save it from doing anything bad.

I was always told (from the old school boys), when you down shift an auto to the appropriate gear for that speed range, thottle up to increase speed, not to use it for slowing down. That's what the brakes are for. And I haven't had any problems in any of the autos so far.(knock on wood)

Make sure you're driving a rental if you're gonna downshift from "D" to "R"...that's always fun.

Make sure you're driving a rental if you're gonna downshift from "D" to "R"...that's always fun.


i'm no professor or anything but isn't R above D? lol

It's a downshift alright. The tranny will be down on the ground in pieces. ;)

It's a downshift alright. The tranny will be down on the ground in pieces. ;)

lol true be that, seriously though; even though the A4 is a competitive tranny downshifiting is pretty much a bad thing just for slowing down? my cousin claims that there kits out there that allow auto trannys to take the stress from downshifiting

A little downshifting with an automatic is fine. As long as you're not abusing it, it will handle it. The only thing you are doing is raising the trans fluid temp and probably adding a little extra wear. If you do it all the time you'll have to change your trans fluid more often and probably won't get as many miles out of your transmission before it craps out well past 100K miles.

I've shifted many a C4 Ford from D to R....at moderate forward speed to boot....and they survived. LMFAO!

I've shifted many a C4 Ford from D to R....at moderate forward speed to boot....and they survived. LMFAO!


what is wrong with you?!?!?!? did you eat paint chips and or grow up under power lines as a child??

what is wrong with you?!?!?!? did you eat paint chips and or grow up under power lines as a child??



Based on this response and many others I have read, I have deduced that you my friend have lead a sheltered life. You are probably quite boring in person. lol.

Based on this response and many others I have read, I have deduced that you my friend have lead a sheltered life. You are probably quite boring in person. lol.


lol like homer simpson would say: "Feeling stupid? I know i am!"

Downshifting like you're describing is usually for controlling descent speed on a steep hill or mountain, negating an automatic's tendency to "coast" downhill.

If you're wanting to kick down a gear for acceleration, why not just step on it?