Automatics with paddle shifters and full manual mode?

[Fred Smith]

Which cars have automatic gearboxes with paddle shifters, AND have a fully manual option whereby if you press the button and put it in manual mode the car will literally NEVER change gear unless you have initiated the change with the paddles? It will literally let you destroy the engine, or simply cut out further acceleration at the red line, it will never ever ever change up even if it thinks you are over-revving it?

[nikaiyo2]

BMW DCT pretty much does this, but it will change down if you are in too high a gear.

[Fred Smith]

nikaiyo2 said:

BMW DCT pretty much does this, but it will change down if you are in too high a gear.

So it doesn't do it then!

To be clear, which automatic cars with paddle shifters have a manual override button and NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER change gear for you. Literally, they are automatics with a manual overide, and if you press the manual override button the car is precisely as likely to change gear for you as if you were in a manual with a stick shift, ie 0% likely?

Second question. If such a car exists does it have the facility to default to manual mode, so you could literally tell the dealership to put it in manual mode for you, and you could then leave the showroom and treat it like a manual for ten years of ownership without ever being reminded that it can change gears for you if you wanted it to?

[tomsugden]

My Audi S5 does this if you move the gear selector to the left and use the paddles. If you don't move the gear selector over it will go back to auto.

[Nexus Icon]

Fred Smith said:

Which cars have automatic gearboxes with paddle shifters, AND have a fully manual option whereby if you press the button and put it in manual mode the car will literally NEVER change gear unless you have initiated the change with the paddles? It will literally let you destroy the engine, or simply cut out further acceleration at the red line, it will never ever ever change up even if it thinks you are over-revving it?

The A110 in track mode doesn't change up, I know that, it just pings off the limiter. I was fairly surprised one day accelerating onto the A34 at Winchester. I'd forgotten I'd left it in track mode whilst messing with the settings sat in the line of traffic coming off the M3.

[Fred Smith]

Nexus Icon said:

The A110 in track mode doesn't change up, I know that, it just pings off the limiter. I was fairly surprised one day accelerating onto the A34 at Winchester. I'd forgotten I'd left it in track mode whilst messing with the settings sat in the line of traffic coming off the M3.

I almost wish you hadn't answered!

I have no desire to spend more than £5k or £10k on my next car, so I won't be buying anything even close to new (why did the mods put this in the car buying sub forum when I was asking out of interest and to discuss why more autos don;t have this feature? This thread is now in the wrong sub forum.)

But sod's law, one of the few appealing modern cars actually does come with waht I regard as a must-have feature... damn, I want one more than I did before!

[omniflow]

Every automatic car with paddle shifters that I have owned has worked in exactly the same way.

They will never change up automatically
They will always change down as you slow down - to prevent the engine from stalling.

This applies to cars from BMW, Alfa Romeo, Jaguar and Maserati ranging in age from 2007 to 2019.

[Krikkit]

Why is a McDonalds mode useful? Maybe I'm missing out but I don't think I've ever wanted to hit the limiter in a car for more than a fraction of a second

[budgie smuggler]

tomsugden said:

My Audi S5 does this if you move the gear selector to the left and use the paddles. If you don't move the gear selector over it will go back to auto.

So it wouldn't change down and would allow it to stall (e.g. if you were stationary then put it into 6th gear at tried to set off)?

Another question is does it ignore the kickdown button (under the accelerator - literally slamming the pedal to the floor and keep pressing
a little further)?

I have a car with DSG and overrides your chosen gear in both scenarios above. I know you can however have at least the kickdown function mapped out,.

eta- it will also not allow you to change down to a gear that would be over the redline

Edited by budgie smuggler on Thursday 19th June 14:07

[MikeGTi]

I can't imagine a manufacturer saying "yeah, I'll make it so you can just lunch the engine"

[Deep Thought]

Had it as described in my M2 DCT and now in my C43 with the 9G-Tronic box - the car will change gears rather than risk damaging itself.

I see that as a good thing.

Why would you want to be in the "wrong" gear for more than a split second?

[BlackTails]

I ve had true autos with paddles. In “manual” mode They always change down once the revs drop too low for the gear. From memory a rev limiter cuts in if you try to overrev.

Dual clutch autos (PDK). Flick the shifter to the left to put it in “manual” mode: same.

Single clutch automated manuals in manual mode. Same.

Three pedal manual: pretty sure I ve had some years ago that will allow you to overrev an engine to death and also to stall it in a gear that s too high.

I suspect - but don t know - that the downshift is there to protect the engine as much as a rev limiter.

Mildly curious as to why you want a car that lets you destroy its engine in at least two ways.

Edited by BlackTails on Thursday 19th June 14:19

[MikeGTi]

My DSG shifts up and down automagically, even when in manual.

The ZF in my Alfa only shifts down automagically in manual, it doesn't shift up at the limiter. Good job the engine's not some Italian thing.....

[scot_aln]

Deep Thought said:

Why would you want to be in the "wrong" gear for more than a split second?

Always helpful for our next thread on consumer rights and returning cars after the OP decided to utilise such a poor implementation of tech to allow an engine to destroy itself

[Fred Smith]

MikeGTi said:

I can't imagine a manufacturer saying "yeah, I'll make it so you can just lunch the engine"

I am not sure my answer....

(1) But they wouldn't be saying that would they, theyd be saying "if you want to drive a manual and take responsibility yourself for what gear you are in we will let you, just like in a normal manual car"

or

(2) Which is precisely why I'll stick with a manual car - the moment a manufacturer puts in an auto gearbox they treat you like a kid, and I've not wanted to be treaten like a kid by anyone since I was about 14.

[Deep Thought]

Fred Smith said:

(2) Which is precisely why I'll stick with a manual car - the moment a manufacturer puts in an auto gearbox they treat you like a kid, and I've not wanted to be treaten like a kid by anyone since I was about 14.

As is your prerogative.

[Fred Smith]

Deep Thought said:

Had it as described in my M2 DCT and now in my C43 with the 9G-Tronic box - the car will change gears rather than risk damaging itself.

I see that as a good thing.

Why would you want to be in the "wrong" gear for more than a split second?

(1) I don't want to be in the wrong gear, I want to be in the gear I choose to be in
(2) I don't want to think I am in one gear and then suddenly find I'm in another one
(3) The whole point is I don't want a car that damages itself or changes gears so it doesn't damage itself. I want a car that let's me drive in a way that risks damage, or drive exceptionally carefully so no chance of damage, or anything in between, exactly as I choose, because it's my F-ING car, not the manufacturer's car.

[Deep Thought]

Fred Smith said:

(1) I don't want to be in the wrong gear, I want to be in the gear I choose to be in
(2) I don't want to think I am in one gear and then suddenly find I'm in another one
(3) The whole point is I don't want a car that damages itself or changes gears so it doesn't damage itself. I want a car that let's me drive in a way that risks damage, or drive exceptionally carefully so no chance of damage, or anything in between, exactly as I choose, because it's my F-ING car, not the manufacturer's car.

You're getting yourself all upset.

It would appear an auto isnt for you.

Noone is forcing you to get one.

Thats fine. I think we can all live with that.

[Evanivitch]

Fred Smith said:

(1) I don't want to be in the wrong gear, I want to be in the gear I choose to be in
(2) I don't want to think I am in one gear and then suddenly find I'm in another one
(3) The whole point is I don't want a car that damages itself or changes gears so it doesn't damage itself. I want a car that let's me drive in a way that risks damage, or drive exceptionally carefully so no chance of damage, or anything in between, exactly as I choose, because it's my F-ING car, not the manufacturer's car.

It's pretty cool that you drive without a rev limiter, I wish I was that brave.

I was going to recommend a Hyundai Ioniq hybrid anyway. Should be within budget.

[davek_964]

I doubt there is a single car with an auto gearbox that won't change down. Even cars with manual gearboxes - but paddle change only - will change down.