Semi-Manual Discussion (manual mode on the A/T)

[MrBlack]

Main question, if I put the shifter to M, will I see any improvements on my mpg?
Second being, when I put it in M is it better or worse for my car in any way?

 

[Sonic]

Other than on supercars, auto transmissions with "manual modes" have always been a gimmick. I would guess that MPGs will be roughly the same. It isn't worse for your car, unless you are redlining it. It is in no way better for your car.

 

[MrBlack]

Ok, not what I was wanting to hear haha, but thanks

 

[jlslatton]

I would actually guess that your MPG would be worse. Simply put, you're not going to shift as optimally as the car normally would without your influence.

Now, I'm not talking about manual transmissions here. Just the gimmick "manual mode."

 

[Fit4Sonic]

I would actually guess that your MPG would be worse. Simply put, you're not going to shift as optimally as the car normally would without your influence.

Now, I'm not talking about manual transmissions here. Just the gimmick "manual mode."

Unless Honda knows something the rest of the auto world doesn't, I disagree with you and Sonic!

Based on personal experience with paddle-shifting in "manual mode" on my Fit, I not only get from 0-60 in less time using manual mode and (other things, like merging into high-speed traffic at rush hour), I get better gas mileage all the way around when using the paddle-shifters in so-called "manual mode".

The Honda Fit isn't even remotely close to super car status, but I can't consider it a complete "gimmick" either... not when considering my results.

I also have a friend who has a PT Cruiser GT (nicknamed GT Cruiser) with a manual mode "slap shifter", and he wil verify similar results with his, as opposed to straight automatic shifting.

My mileage results are based on [manual] calculations... not using the Fit's average fuel economy gauge.

 

[jlslatton]

Interesting. Thanks for the first hand experience!

 

[Sonic Drivin']

Part of my commute is on a really hilly road and I find I DO in fact get better fuel economy shifting manually not to mention saving on brake wear by downshifting on hills..

When manually shifted at the correct time I only need to downshift in to 5th to pull ALL of the hills. When in drive it'll downshift in to 4th to pull the same hills while maintaining the same speed...

Using cruise makes matters even worse...

Doug

 

[RockTheShazbot]

I personally would think it wouldn't effect mpg strongly one way or another. My only experience driving a car with this type of transmission is the cruze I rented. The average mpg did go from 35 down to 29 in the 3 days I drove it but keep in mind I beat the hell out of the car and floored it everywhere I went. Hey it's a rental

 

[warbirdfan]

Agonizing Commute

I commute from past Front Royal to Falls Church in Virgina via the infamous I-66. Those of you who know it know it's the worst rush hour in the DC metro area. There's a lot of stop-and-go and I'm finding myself preferring the manual mode simply because I don't like it when the tranny can't make its' mind up which gear to be in.

 

[speedog]

Don't know diddly squat about the "Front Royal to Falls Church in Virgina via the infamous I-66", but I do know that I do lots of stop-and-go on my daily 32km commute especially in the PM and my auto 1.8 seems to have no problems picking it's gears. Maybe it's a case that one always needs to learn the idiosyncrasies of the automatic that a particular vehicle is equipped with and adjust accordingly - my Sonic's auto feels/works differently than my V8 equipped Trailblazer which was again different from my past two auto equipped Astro's and the auto equipped El Camino that resides most of the time in my garage.

Automatics - they are what they are. If you want what you believe are to be great shifts every time, then get a manual - every auto I've owned or driven is different and will require the driver to adjust accordingly, such is life with an auto. Then again, I got other things I'd rather be listening to or thinking about then the gears my auto is selecting - maybe that's a sign of age or a sign of being accepting things for what they are as I didn't care to get a manual to purposely have better control over what my car does. To each, their own.

 

[doreo]

i gotta say with "manual" mode i do rock far better mpg just have to pay attention more and not forget i put it into manual and try to rock 1st to long haha

 

[GhettoHippie]

I have a 1.8l auto sonic sedan. I have noticed that if I leave my sonic in drive with the petal to the floor it will tac out & shift right around 6300-6500rpm. If I put it in manual shift there is no bringing it up over 6000rpm without it falling on its face (rev limiter). Guess I'm going to have to check my warranty & see if having it chipped or tuned will void my warranty.

 

[RockTheShazbot]

You can do whatever you want to your car but if you add a part and that is the cause of the problem, then your warranty is voided. It depends on the dealer too. An example is if you put on an intake and your MAF goes bad, then that will not be covered under warranty, but if your suspension goes out, that is obviously not caused by the intake, so that would still be covered.

 

[Chevrolet Customer Care]

Semi-Manual Feature?

I have a 1.8l auto sonic sedan. I have noticed that if I leave my sonic in drive with the petal to the floor it will tac out & shift right around 6300-6500rpm. If I put it in manual shift there is no bringing it up over 6000rpm without it falling on its face (rev limiter). Guess I'm going to have to check my warranty & see if having it chipped or tuned will void my warranty.

Hi GhettoHippie,

If the modification you are doing to the vehicle, can be linked back to the problem it will not be covered. Hope this was helpful!

Vanessa-GM Customer Service

 

[Sonic]

There you have it.

 

[Sonic ls]

re: manual mode

just recently acquired a new 2012 silver grey sonic ls. First things first, the manual mode isn't a gimmick on this car; unless you are on a proper decline the engine will refuse to kick out of 4th gear, so using manual allows you to do so even at around 1500rpm in 4th gear. If you have the patience to learn how to use it it will both help you on fuel economy, and as long as you aren't sprinting from a stop in 1st gear. Manual mode actually offers quite a bit more performance versus being in auto mode. That being said, the time between shifts on the manual mode is about 3 times that of in the automatic mode, but if you get the hang of it, hitting + at 5800 so it will kick over around 6200 ( full throttle ) you can get a decent amount of whiplash from that car. You should test drive it yourself so you can understand wholly what it is capable of, but just remember it was designed as an entry level car, and a gas miser.

 

[bandita52]

do you shift the same way in "M" mode that has auto trans as you would if it was manual trans.

 

[doreo]

do you shift the same way in "M" mode that has auto trans as you would if it was manual trans.

if by just hit the + when u want to go up at a desired rpm (2k for mgp, or 6500 for speed) or w/e u wish then yes. if you mean something else like let off gas ect then no hehe.

 

[GunBlade]

I say that in this car you can actually save gas using the manual mode depending on your driving conditions. Manual mode helps on sudden increased inclines as you can downshift faster to keep your speed up and up shift faster then the computer since it seems to lag sometimes. On downhills its also a good way to save your brakes when going down slower speed mountains. Just pop it in a lower gear and coast. As for normal driving I find it helpful at times just because it seems like this car likes to get stuck in 4th or 5th gear for a abnormal time before the computer kicks in to up shift. Plus the auto will eventually learn how you drive. I remember when I bought the car brand new with only 4 miles it would always shift at 2k. Now it shifts at 3k-4500.

 

[Kodatech]

The manual mode on the sonic is a bit laggy for my tastes. If you are accelerating hard it just cant keep up. My wife's car has a manual mode and the shifts are instant.

When you tap the shifter for the next gear in her car it happens RIGHT NOW. That's the way it should be.

IMHO all of the automatic sonics need an updated TCM calibration to fix this issue. By the way my wife drives a Kizashi.