AutoX in an automatic

[Mr_Q]

So I know from experience in older 5.0 autos to generally run in 3rd gear (D).

With these new five speeds though..I am thinking 3rd gear for most the turns, then pop it in to 4th (D) on the straights, then manually shift back down in to 3rd *after* I start braking as not to fry the auto transmission.

Whatcha think?

And please keep the, "why didn't you just buy a manual" remarks at bay.

 

[squares98]

And please keep the, "why didn't you just buy a manual" remarks at bay.

I was thinking more along the lines of buying a top end mountain bike and suddenly deciding you wanted a street bike so and put street tires on it...It will work but it still excels in its designed enviroment much better.

 

[Mr_Q]

hahah
Yes I am one of the few crazy ones that actually uses his autos for things sane people normally don't do.

autoX
drifting
snow skiing

 

[Mike97gt]

autos can be pretty good for auto x I have seen a lot of F-body guys do this. just make sure you use a good trans cooler and I think how you are doing the shifting now will work fine.

 

[Mr_Q]

From street racing I know that it's not ideal, but it is an option.

The biggest hurdle is learning to effectively left foot brake. i.e. MASSIVE TRAIL BRAKING.

 

[mandopickr]

'Auto'x

A couple of years ago (2005?) the SCCA National Autox title went to a auto Mustang. I autoxed a 2001, and the only problem I had was big sweepers where you wanted to drag off some speed but keep your rpms up. It tended to push through the corner. I could start (about 3700 rpm) and run in 2nd gear up to about 70 mph, but only encountered 1 autox that needed that much speed. Most are below 65, as required by the safety stewards.

 

[351CJ]

Why didn't you just buy a manual?

But seriously, the easyest thing to do is to just compare the gear ratios between the 4R70 and the 5R55

5R55S 3.22 2.29 1.54 1.00 0.71
4R70. . . . . 2.84 1.55 1.00 0.70

So you can see 1st gear is much taller in the 5R55 and 3rd, 4th & 5th ratios are almost idential to 2nd 3rd & 4th in the old 4R70.

So if you used 2nd in the 4R70, in the same situation you'll use 3rd in the 5R55.