Second gear

[gregwatson]

Does anyone use second gear to pull away? Sounds stupid maybe, but all the other V8's I have owned (automatics) would pull away in second unless you told them otherwise. I've tried it a few times in the GTS-R and it does seem to produce a smoother pull-away, and I doubt it's hurting the clutch any more than using first...

[2 Smokin Barrels]

Why would you want to do that?

[gregwatson]

Well I'm getting wheelspin in third, so flooring it in first is really somewhat pointless. Pulling away in second is slightly smoother than first but more importantly you're in a gear that has a chance of deploying the car's full torque, and you've got one less gearchange to fit in as you accelerate...

[2 Smokin Barrels]

Ain't whizzing your way through the gears part of the fun? I would've thought that a measured used of the throttle in first, and then working through the gears would still be quicker, even allowing for the extra shift.

[gregwatson]

Dunno. Suppose it depends how quickly you run out of first gear, and how easy it is to change gear quickly - not that easy with these gearboxes I suspect. I love the meaty feel of the gearchange but it doesn't like being rushed...

[booster]

It should be fine as long as you aren't doing drag starts every time you come to a set of lights...

[BigNige]

Yeah, I use it sometimes.

Have used 4th by accident before now too.

[gregwatson]

After all there must be some reason why the autos pull away in second... Especially given that they have fewer gears to start with..

[DAVE52]

All the autos i've had if you select 2nd to pull away it went 1st-2nd!?

[ringram]

A few people have done rear gear changes you might make the first couple of gears more usable and add economy with a gear change.. Of course you will lose some acceleration which might well defeat the whole purpose but its a thought.

[hainser]

Had to go to Bath today & on the way back the car was sliding all over the place when pulling away from junctions/lights. I noticed the Traction was off but the button didn't work, on or off?! So I used second all the time to pull away which seemed to work Ok.
Stopped at a garage for fuel & when I started up the traction was back on, and the button worked too.
You think you got worries!!

[raggyman]

hainser - I find sometimes when you start the car when it is is rolling slightly the traction control don't kick in as it should...

Besides.... that is the Anti-FUN button...



>> Edited by raggyman on Sunday 11th December 00:33

[hainser]

That's interesting Raggyman, I might try that one later; I'm in Portsmouth today visisting family so the distraction will be welcome!!
As for 'anti fun' button, I was trying to beat a 'smeghead' in a BMW X5 to the single lane from the dual carriageway lights. I made it, just, and it wasn't pretty either!! There are times when traction is definitely needed.

>> Edited by hainser on Sunday 11th December 08:22

[raggyman]

Yeah, might be a bit different in a V8. The anti-fun button doesn't do much on a V6, cause it takes a while for the engine to get back some grunt.

In London today, but down back home tonight for a roast dinner...

[stevieturbo]

Most autos will only take off in 2nd if there is a winter setting or similar, as it is less likely to produce wheelspin.

Doing it in a manual is a little odd, and it will wear the clutch faster than normal.
The gearing on the T56 is reasonable tall to start with, so I doubt that even launching hard using 2nd would give any benefits to acceration. It would just wear the clutch faster.
A decent controlled launch in first would be much better.

[gregwatson]

Well, my Alpina definitely selects second by default, unless you (a) go to Switchtronic mode and select first, or (b) floor it (in which case it quickly downshifts to first. And I'm 99% certain my 928GTS used to do exactly the same.

[V6 JDT]

That's the trouble with BMW's. Too complicated.