Ferrari Mailing List: Re: NFC AT ALL!!! Automatic shifting in a GM

[Hans E. Hansen (FList]

Totally not necessary - unless if the transmission "hunts" between
3rd and 4th gears.  Many from the '80s era did, but it's not common
on something as recent as a 96.

Basically - try driving it in "OD" and see if it behaves weird.  If so,
use "D".  I'll bet that you won't see anything that would make you
want to continue shifting it manually.

Hans.  (ex-GM dealer)

On 6/17/08, LtWacko [at] aol.com <LtWacko [at] aol.com> wrote:
> Again, NO Ferrari content but I figured I could get an answer from you
> guys...
>
> I was riding in a 1996 Bonneville with a female friend.  While  driving, she
> would start in "D".  When we got up to speed (45mph), she  would "shift" the
> car into "D overdrive".  I said "what are you  doing?"  She said her long-time
> former ex-boyfriend said that it will make  the transmission last longer.  Now
> if it had been any other person, I would  have my doubts.  Her ex-boyfriend
> is one hell of a driver.  Corvette  enthusiast/hobby racer and the ENTIRE
> family was seriously involved with  the SCCA.  So, he's a car guy and it 
> makes me
> wonder if there is any truth  or what are the origins of his advice.
>
> I can sort of see some of the logic.  In the city, keeping it out of
> overdrive keeps the torque convertor from locking up at 45 mph and shifting 
> in  and
> out of it.  Is that any good?  Bad?  More harm in shifting it  yourself?
> Applies to GM transmissions only?  I vaguely remember this  advice being 
> popular in
> the early eighties, but I was a puppy then....   okay, not quite .
>
> So guys, what do you think?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Rodney
>
>
>
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