Brake Downshift....a little hazardous sometimes

[Bogie]

OK, I do a lot of rush hour driving in and around the DC area. A lot of that traffic does about 20 mph poking along. I've found the transmission "brake" downshift likes to kick in about that speed.

So here's the problem. Normally, if I need to slow down, I apply the brakes. This lights up my brake lights which tells the guy (or gal) behind me that I'm slowing down. On occasion I'm coasting along perfectly with traffic...keeping nice pace with car in front....and car behind keeping pace likewise with me. And then the electronic wisdom circuit decides to downshift me, which (at that speed) is equivalent to applying moderate braking. I quickly fall off the pace and the person behind me, with no brake light warning, is on their way to collecting my bumper.

I'm sure the gear braking is nice on hills and the like, but I sure wish it would just leave me alone on a flat surface at constant speed.

[xmicro_Redline]

That is no different than havng a 5 speed like me. My brake lights are rarely on, people need to pay attention. I have 3 forms of 'braking" 1) foot off gas 2) disengage clutch 3)hit brake at all times it changes my pac and only 2 of them give warning to the driver behind me.

We are so spoiled by automatics

[OlSkyDriver]

Originally Posted by xmicro_Redline

That is no different than havng a 5 speed like me. My brake lights are rarely on, people need to pay attention. I have 3 forms of 'braking" 1) foot off gas 2) disengage clutch 3)hit brake at all times it changes my pac and only 2 of them give warning to the driver behind me.

We are so spoiled by automatics

The biggest problem, of course, is the bad habit many people have of driving too close to the car ahead of them, and not paying attention. And it seems to be even worse in slow moving traffic. But with all that said, I prefer to slow down via downshifting over braking.

[Bogie]

Originally Posted by xmicro_Redline

That is no different than havng a 5 speed like me. My brake lights are rarely on, people need to pay attention. I have 3 forms of 'braking" 1) foot off gas 2) disengage clutch 3)hit brake at all times it changes my pac and only 2 of them give warning to the driver behind me.

Well, I drove a stick for 8 years in this traffic, and I used all three of your above techniques. I'm telling you that unless you are doing (1) at high RPM, none of those three things come close to what an auto down shift does to you at those speeds. This isn't trans braking in your CURRENT gear, this is DOWNSHIFT braking...at 20 mph....straight and level.

[xmicro_Redline]

Originally Posted by Bogie

Well, I drove a stick for 8 years in this traffic, and I used all three of your above techniques. I'm telling you that unless you are doing (1) at high RPM, none of those three things come close to what an auto down shift does to you at those speeds. This isn't trans braking in your CURRENT gear, this is DOWNSHIFT braking...at 20 mph....straight and level.

Maybe so, but your point was that it is dangerous and my counter point is that people need to keep distance and watch what the heck they are doing!

Believe me I drive 50 Miles EACH WAY to NYC (just south of the World Trade Center Site) and back to my house every weekday. That can take as little as 1 hour or as much as 4 hours (like it did yesterday). I have a Honda CRV 5 speed and no what it is like in traffic to New York City. There is few places in this country worse or even as bad as that. So I understand people riding you hard.

I have driven behind SKYCRUZR many many times with the automatic and I never had to hit my brakes hard due to him coast downshifting, so maybe something is wrong with your SKY. Hang out with the local club and get in another AUTO SKY and see if you have the same issue.

Anyway that is

[cerberus]

Just curious. Does the downshifting happen in all auto modes. Yeah, don't know much about the auto, so the question may not make sense.

[Ciel Gris]

<Cough> <Cough> 3 peds is the way to go!

[Blue Thunder]

Originally Posted by cerberus

Just curious. Does the downshifting happen in all auto modes. Yeah, don't know much about the auto, so the question may not make sense.

I have an auto and it does it in mine as well. It took a little getting used to.

[Rick Tinley Park]

It's a throwback to teh old Saturn SC2 -- did (does in my 97) same thing...